According to the 2014 BJS census, which was the most common accrediting body?

The most common accrediting body, according to the 2014 Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) census, is ASCLD-LAB. ASCLD-LAB stands for the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors - Laboratory Accreditation Board, and it is well-known in the field for its rigorous standards and extensive accreditation processes specifically tailored for forensic laboratories. Accreditation by ASCLD-LAB signifies that a laboratory meets high standards in quality management, technical competence, and operational integrity, which are critical in forensic science.

This extensive recognition is why ASCLD-LAB emerged as the predominant accrediting body in the census. Laboratories often seek this accreditation to assure clients and stakeholders of their capability to produce reliable and credible results, which is vital in both criminal justice and in maintaining public trust.

In contrast, while ASCLD, FQS, and A2LA provide important services and capabilities in laboratory accreditation, they do not have the same level of recognition or the same breadth of standards specific to forensic laboratories as ASCLD-LAB does, making it less common in the context of the BJS census.