Long title, great document:
https://anab.qualtraxcloud.com/ShowDocument.aspx?ID=6732
From the
ANSI National Accreditation Board(ANAB) these are some great forensic principals for forensic work.
Guiding Principles of Professional Responsibility for Forensic Service Providers and Forensic Personnel
1. Are independent, impartial, detached, and objective, approaching all examinations with due
diligence and an open mind.
2. Conduct full and fair examinations. Conclusions are based on the evidence and reference material
relevant to the evidence, not on extraneous information, political pressure, or other outside
influences.
3. Are aware of their limitations and only render conclusions that are within their area of expertise
and about matters which they have given formal consideration.
4. Honestly communicate with all parties (the investigator, prosecutor, defense, and other expert
witnesses) about all information relating to their analyses, when communications are permitted by
law and agency practice.
5. Report to the appropriate legal or administrative authorities unethical, illegal, or scientifically
questionable conduct of other forensic employees or managers. Forensic management will take
appropriate action if there is potential for, or there has been, a miscarriage of justice due to
circumstances that have come to light, incompetent practice or malpractice.
6. Report conflicts between their ethical/professional responsibilities and applicable agency policy,
law, regulation, or other legal authority, and attempt to resolve them.
7. Do not accept or participate in any case on a contingency fee basis or in which they have any other
personal or financial conflict of interest or an appearance of such a conflict.
8. Are committed to career-long learning in the forensic disciplines which they practice and stay
abreast of new equipment and techniques while guarding against the misuse of methods that have
not been validated. Conclusions and opinions are based on generally accepted tests and
procedures.
9. Are properly trained and determined to be competent through testing prior to undertaking the
examination of the evidence.
10. Honestly, fairly and objectively administer and complete regularly scheduled:
- relevant proficiency tests;
- comprehensive technical reviews of examiners’ work;
- verifications of conclusions.
11. Give utmost care to the treatment of any samples or items of potential evidentiary value to avoid
tampering, adulteration, loss or unnecessary consumption.
12. Use appropriate controls and standards when conducting examinations and analyses.
13. Accurately represent their education, training, experience, and area of expertise.
14. Present accurate and complete data in reports, testimony, publications and oral presentations.
15. Make and retain 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. Reports are prepared in which
facts, opinions and interpretations are clearly distinguishable, and which clearly describe limitations
on the methods, interpretations and opinions presented.
16. Do not alter reports or other records or withhold information from reports for strategic or tactical
litigation advantage
17. Support sound scientific techniques and practices and do not use their positions to pressure an
examiner or technician to arrive at conclusions or results that are not supported by data.
18. Testify to results obtained and conclusions reached only when they have 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. Wording should not be such that inferences may be drawn which are
not valid, or that slant the opinion to a particular direction.
19. Attempt to qualify their 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 the jury.
