The Canadian Society of Forensic Science (CSFS) is a professional association aimed at maintaining professional standards and promoting and enhancing the study and stature of forensic science. Membership in the society is open internationally to professionals with an active interest in the forensic sciences.

History

The CSFS was founded on October 16, 1953 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The founding members were William Wallace Sutherland, Charles Geoge Farmilo, James Alexander Churchman, Blake B. Coldwell, and Leo Levi. The society officially became a non-profit corporation on April 10, 1963 with the signing of the Letters Patent under the authority of the Companies Act.

Present structure

The CSFS has an Executive Committee consisting of elected Officials and a Board of Directors. In addition there are several standing and special committees, including Awards, Finance, Membership, Nominating, Publication, Accreditation, Alcohol Test, Constitution, Drugs and Driving, and Informatics/Education.

The CSFS is further organized into sections representing diverse areas of forensic science, as follows:

• Anthropology
  Forensic anthropology
  Forensic anthropology is the application of the science of physical anthropology and human osteology in a legal setting, most often in criminal cases where the victim's remains are in the advanced stages of decomposition. A forensic anthropologist can assist in the identification of deceased...
  
  , Medical
  Forensic pathology
  Forensic pathology is a branch of pathology concerned with determining the cause of death by examination of a corpse. The autopsy is performed by the pathologist at the request of a coroner or medical examiner usually during the investigation of criminal law cases and civil law cases in some...
  
   and Odontology
  Forensic Dentistry
  Forensic dentistry or forensic odontology is the proper handling, examination and evaluation of dental evidence, which will be then presented in the interest of justice. The evidence that may be derived from teeth, is the age and identification of the person to whom the teeth belong...
  
  
• Biology
  Forensic biology
  Forensic biology is the application of biology to law enforcement.It includes the subdisciplines of Forensic anthropology, Forensic botany, Forensic entomology, Forensic odontology and various DNA or protein based techniques.- Applications :...
  
  
• Chemistry
  Forensic chemistry
  Forensic chemistry is the application of chemistry to law enforcement or the failure of products or processes. Many different analytical methods may be used to reveal what chemical changes occurred during an incident, and so help reconstruct the sequence of events...
  
  
• Documents
  Questioned document examination
  Questioned document examination is the forensic science discipline pertaining to documents that are in dispute in a court of law...
  
  
• Engineering
  Forensic engineering
  Forensic engineering is the investigation of materials, products, structures or components that fail or do not operate or function as intended, causing personal injury or damage to property. The consequences of failure are dealt with by the law of product liability. The field also deals with...
  
  
• Firearms
• Toxicology
  Forensic toxicology
  Forensic toxicology is the use of toxicology and other disciplines such as analytical chemistry, pharmacology and clinical chemistry to aid medical or legal investigation of death, poisoning, and drug use...
  
  

There are six types of membership in the society: Regular, Fellow, Emeritus, Provisional, Associate and Student. As of 2009, the society had 590 members of all types.

Journal

The society publishes the peer-reviewed

Peer review

Peer review is a process of self-regulation by a profession or a process of evaluation involving qualified individuals within the relevant field. Peer review methods are employed to maintain standards, improve performance and provide credibility...

, quarterly Journal of the Canadian Society of Forensic Science

Journal of the Canadian Society of Forensic Science

The Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal is a Canadian peer reviewed academic journal which publishes original research papers, comments and reviews relating to forensic science....

. It is devoted to the publication of original papers, comments, and reviews in all branches of forensic science, as well as other matters of forensic interest ( e.g., social sciences, law enforcement and/or jurisprudence). Abstracts from 1995 to the present are available online at the CSFS website.

Conference

The society holds a professional conference and Annual General Meeting. The location and specific dates vary each year.

Awards

The society gives out the following awards:

• Rita Charlebois Award, to provide financial assistance to a deserving candidate(s) to attend scientific meetings
• CSFS Memorial Award, to posthumously commemorate the contributions to forensic science in Canada of society members who have passed away
• CSFS Education Award, an annual award for promoting the field of forensic science
• The Derome Award, to honour those individuals who had been active in the establishment of the profession in Canada
• H. Ward Smith Award, to commemorate the contribution to forensic science in Canada of the late H. Ward Smith.