Membership

Active membership in the Association consists of individuals who are employed by a government agency involved in forensic sciences. This categorization includes persons actively engaged in forensic science as an examiner, analyst, practitioner, or supervisor.

Privileges: Active members have the right to vote and hold office in the Association as long as they are living within the Association’s geographic boundaries and their membership is in good standing. Active members do not lose their membership status because of retirement or a change of position, as long as they remain in good standing. The application process for active membership is governed by the Association By-Laws.

Life Active membership is limited to Active members of the Association who have paid their membership dues and assessments for the past twenty-five years continuously, and are no longer an employee of a government agency. Past Presidents of the Association who are no longer employed with a government agency are also eligible.

Privileges: Life Active members are eligible to vote and are entitled to all of the privileges of an Active member. Life Active members are excused from the payment of dues as well as any assessments required of Active members – this does not include registration fees to workshops or the seminars which are generally associated with the regular annual meetings or other special events.

All reputable persons, businesses, or organizations that are wholly or partially engaged in any of the various phases of the science of identification (but are not qualified for other memberships) are eligible to become Associate or Affiliate members. Associate membership is intended for individuals, while Affiliate membership is for businesses and organizations.

Privileges: Associate and Affiliate members are, in all respects, subject to the same rights and privileges as other membership types, except that they may not hold any office within the Association.

Honorary membership consists of persons who have performed some particular service for the Association or have in some way done some conspicuous thing for law enforcement. Such person or persons, upon motion of any member in good standing, may be elected by the Board of Directors or by the Association in conference assembled, to Honorary membership for a period of one year.

Privileges: Honorary members are not eligible to vote or hold office, and are excused from the payment of dues as well as any assessments required of Active members – this does not include registration fees to workshops or the seminars which are generally associated with the regular annual meetings or other special events.

Student membership is available for all persons who are full-time college students (12-18 semester/quarter credit hours) at an accredited college, and who are majoring in a law enforcement and/or other forensic science related field.

Privileges: Student members are not eligible to vote or hold office.