Competency and Proficiency

Table of Contents:

2.01. Is committed to career-long learning in the forensic disciplines in which he or she practices and stays abreast of new technology and techniques while guarding against the misuse of methods that have not been validated.
2.02. Expresses conclusions and opinions that are based on generally accepted protocols and procedures. New and novel techniques must be validated prior to implementation in case work.
2.03. Is properly trained and determined to be competent through relevant testing prior to undertaking the examination of the evidence.
2.04. Gives utmost care to the treatment of any samples or items of potential evidentiary value to avoid tampering, adulteration, loss, or unnecessary consumption.
2.05. Uses controls and standards, including reviews and verifications appropriate to his or her discipline, when conducting examination and analyses.

Clear Communication

3.01. Accurately represents his or her education/training, experience, and area of expertise.
3.02. Present accurate and complete data in reports, testimony, publications, and oral presentations.
3.03. Makes and retains full, contemporaneous, clear, and accurate records of all examinations and tests conducted, and conclusions drawn, in sufficient detail to allow meaningful review and assessment of the conclusions by an independent person competent in the field.
3.04. Does not falsify or alter reports or other records, or withhold relevant information from reports for strategic or tactical litigation advantage.
3.05. Testifies to results obtained and conclusions reached only when he or she has confidence that the opinions are based on good scientific principles and methods. Opinions are to be stated so as to be clear in their meaning.
3.06. Attempts to qualify his or her responses while testifying when asked a question with the requirement that a simple yes or no answer be given, if answering yes or no would be misleading to the judge or to the jury.

4.01. Does not misrepresent his or her affiliation with the IAI.
4.02. Does not issue any misleading or inaccurate statement that gives the appearance of representing the official position of the IAI.
4.03. Reports violations of this code of which he or she knows to the President of the IAI.
4.04. Cooperate fully with any official investigation by the IAI.