Latent Print Examination: Certification Requirement to Testify as Expert Witness

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Richard Fairchild (Rich)
Member
Username: Rich

Post Number: 5
Registered: 02-2012

Posted on Saturday, November 15, 2014 - 09:46 am:

America is among the many countries considering requiring individual expert certification for latent print examiners preparing reports or presenting testimony in court. In a report commissioned by Congress, the National Academies of Science (NAS) committee's first two recommendations included the following:

(a) establishing and enforcing best practices for forensic science
professionals and laboratories;
(b) establishing standards for the mandatory accreditation of
forensic science laboratories and the mandatory certification
of forensic scientists and medical examiners/forensic
pathologists—and identifying the entity/entities that will
develop and implement accreditation and certification;

The NAS report can be downloaded in PDF format for free from www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12589

...and the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) is now working on mandatory standards, best practices and guidelines as recommended in the NAS report. OSAC's website is www.nist.gov/forensics/osac.cfm

Dan Reigstad (Dreigstad)
Member
Username: Dreigstad

Post Number: 1
Registered: 10-2014

Posted on Tuesday, October 28, 2014 - 08:58 pm:

I am doing research for a college assignment and need to ask for help. Does anyone know of any states or countries that require, or are considering requiring, latent print examiners to be certified before they could testify in court as an expert witness?