Project FORESIGHT Annual Report, 2023-2024

Abstract

Project FORESIGHT is a business-guided self-evaluation of forensic science laboratories across the globe. The participating laboratories represent local, regional, state, and national agencies. Economics, accounting, finance, and forensic faculty provide assistance, guidance, and analysis. Laboratories participating in Project FORESIGHT have developed standardized definitions for metrics to evaluate work processes, linking financial information to work tasks and functions. Laboratory managers can then assess resource allocations, efficiencies, and value of services—the mission of Project FORESIGHT is to measure, preserve what works, and change what does not. The benchmark data for the 2023-2024 performance period includes laboratory submissions for a variety of fiscal year definitions. However, all submissions have December 31, 2023 as part of their fiscal year accounting. The majority of submissions follow a July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 convention. Others follow a year that begins as early as January 1, 2023 (ending December 31, 2023) while the other extreme includes laboratories with a fiscal year originating October 1, 2023 and ending September 30, 2024