Modules In A Forensic Science Process
Modules in a Forensic Science ProcessILAC-G19:08/2014
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ILAC G19:08/2014Modules in a Forensic Science ProcessTABLE OF CONTENTSPREAMBLE .4PURPOSE .4AUTHORSHIP .41.Scope .52.Terms and definitions .63.General guidance common to all activity modules in the forensic science process .94.Activity modules in the forensic science process .184.1Initial discussion regarding scene of crime attendance .184.2Undertaking initial actions at the scene of crime .204.3Developing a scene of crime investigation strategy.214.4Undertake scene of crime investigation .234.5Assess scene of crime findings and consider further examination .264.6Interpret and report findings from the scene of crime.274.7Examination and testing.274.8Interpretation of the results of examinations and tests .304.9Report from examinations and tests including interpretation of results .32Annex A: Examples of disciplines undertaken by forensic units .34Annex B: Bibliography .36Annex C: Correlation chart .36Page 3 of 37
ILAC G19:08/2014Modules in a Forensic Science ProcessPREAMBLEILAC G-19, Guidelines for Forensic Science Laboratories, was published in 2002, with the purposeof: ". provide guidance for laboratories involved in forensic analysis and examination by providingapplication of ISO/IEC 17025." In October 2007, the IAF and ILAC Joint General Assembly resolvedthat a single top level document that approaches the forensic science process as a whole and providescommon guidance for both ISO/IEC 17020 and ISO/IEC 17025 in areas where the activities overlapbe drafted, and that the guidance be based on the guidance document to ISO/IEC 17020 for CrimeScene Investigation, already prepared by the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA) and theEuropean Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) (EA-5/03), and on ILAC G19 for forensiclaboratories. The task of preparing the document was given to Working Group 10 of the ILACAccreditation Committee (ILAC AIC WG10).The requirements that there is a single document, that deals with the forensic science process as awhole, and that it provides common guidance for both ISO/IEC 17020 and ISO/IEC 17025 in areaswhere the activities overlap, mean that the normal format of clause-by-clause guidance is not the mostappropriate approach in this instance. Providing guidance is further complicated because there is noclear and consistent distinction in forensic practice between the activities conducted at a scene ofcrime and those conducted in a forensic laboratory, nor is there always a clear and consistentdistinction in the administrative location of personnel involved in the activities. Thus, testing may beconducted at a scene and general examination of materials recovered from a scene may be conductedin a forensic laboratory. Equally staff conducting scene of crime examinations may be part of theforensic laboratory or may be located within a separate administrative entity.Finally, accreditation bodies can choose, as appropriate, to have accreditation programs which arebased on ISO/IEC 17025 and/or ISO/IEC 17020 for different parts of the forensic science process.However, the accreditation body should clearly describe which standard they intend to use for whichparts of the forensic science process and ensure that this is made clear to any organizations applyingfor accreditation. Appropriate applications of ISO/IEC 17020 and ISO/IEC 17025 should be made byaccrediting bodies based upon the presence or absence of testing in the segment of the forensic scienceprocess in question.The word ‘shall’ has been used in this document where there is a corresponding requirement inISO/IEC 17020 and ISO/IEC 17025; the word ‘should’ has been used to indicate a recommendationthat is generally accepted practice in the forensic science process.PURPOSEThis document is intended to provide guidance for laboratories, scene of crime investigation units andother entities, hereafter called forensic units, involved in examination and testing in the forensicscience process by providing guidance for the application of ISO/IEC 17020 and ISO/IEC 17025.AUTHORSHIPThis document has been produced in consultation with the Working Group 10 of the ILACAccreditation Committee and approved for publication by the ILAC General Assembly in 2014Page 4 of 37
ILAC G19:08/2014Modules in a Forensic Science Process1.ScopeThe guidance defines the purpose of the forensic science process and the series of steps from thetime a forensic unit is notified of an incident until the presentation of findings together with adescription of the activities that take place at each step.The guidance does not specify which International Standard should apply to the work beingconducted by the forensic unit. This is a matter for the conformity assessment body, in thiscircumstance this is the forensic unit, and the accreditation body concerned.Any testing conducted as part of scene of crime investigation shall be carried out according todocumented procedures and ISO/IEC 17020 may cover these procedures provided that therelevant clauses of ISO/IEC 17025 are considered.The forensic unit may undertake a combination of activities to which this document containsguidance. The accreditation to be granted shall be based on the activities for which the forensicunit applies for accreditation and the accreditation body shall apply the guidance which isrelated to those activities only.The activities may include the examination of a wide range of items and substances and requiretechnical expertise in multiple disciplines. A table is provided in Annex A listing some of theforensic disciplines being undertaken by forensic units.The techniques adopted in the examination and testing of forensic material cover a broad range;from visual examination to sophisticated instrumental procedures.The forensic science processThe forensic science process includes, but is not limited to:Initial discussion regarding scene of crime attendanceUndertaking initial actions at the scene of crimeDeveloping a scene of crime investigation strategyUndertake scene of crime investigationAssess scene of crime findings and consider further examinationInterpret and report findings from the scene of crimeExamination, testing and presumptive testing (including appropriate case assessment)Interpretation of the result of examinations and testsReport from examinations and tests including interpretation of resultsThe document is formatted based on the activities which may occur during the stages above anddoes not define time lines for the completion of an activity. It was developed to provideadditional guidance for specific sections within ISO/IEC 17020 and ISO/IEC 17025 and doesnot repeat the requirements of these standards, where the given explanations are sufficient. Itendeavours to provide interpretation or clarification and should be read in parallel with ISO/IEC17020 and ISO/IEC 17025 as appropriate.A forensic unit can have one single management system to cover all of its activities and all thecompetence standards to which it works, i.e. ISO/IEC 17020 and ISO/IEC 17025.Page 5 of 37
ILAC G19:08/2014Modules in a Forensic Science Process2.Terms and DefinitionsMany concepts of significance in the forensic science process are described by terms or aredefined in ways that are not consistent across jurisdictions. The guidance therefore defines thesefor the purpose of providing a common understanding of the meaning of terms used in thisdocument.2.1CompetenceCompetence is the demonstrated ability to apply knowledge and skills and, whererelevant, demonstrated personal attributes.2.2ContaminationContamination is the undesirable introduction of substances or trace materials toexhibits at any point within the forensic science process.2.3ContractA contract may be any written or oral agreement to provide forensic services.Note: a contract does not necessarily involve payment for the services and may bemandated by law and may need to be in accordance with local, regional or national legalrequirements.2.4Court StatementA court statement is a written report of the results and interpretations of forensictests/examinations submitted to the court. Such reports may be in a format prescribed inlegislation and may also be in electronic format. In addition, statements may besubmitted to law enforcement investigators, members of the judiciary and otherinterested parties.2.5Critical findingsObservations and results that have a significant impact on the conclusion reached andthe interpretation and opinion provided. In addition, these observations and resultscannot be repeated or checked in the absence of the exhibit or sample, and/or could beinterpreted differently.2.6CustomerThe customer is normally the organization and/or a person asking the forensic unit toperform all or a specific part of the forensic science process. This also includes the term‘client’. This may be an internal customer. If work is requested via legal mandate (e.g.court order) or if the results of examination/testing are to be provided to a member ofthe judicial system, then the judicial system may be considered to be the customer.2.7EquipmentEquipment refers to all tools, instruments, software, reagents and chemicals that areused as part of the forensic science process which need to be monitored and controlled.Page 6 of 37
ILAC G19:08/2014Modules in a Forensic Science Process2.8Examination/TestExamination/test has been used in this document to refer to sampling, analysis, visualinspections, comparisons, interpretations and opinions.2.9ExhibitAn exhibit is an item or sample recovered as part of an investigation. This includeseverything recovered in the forensic science process including swabs, whole objects,and debris and may include derived items like casts of footprints, finger mark lifts.Exhibits may sometimes be referred to as ‘evidence’.2.10FacilityFacility is any physical environment used to protect the integrity of exhibits, conducttesting, or support any other aspect of the forensic science process, for example,permanent premises, offices, tents, storage area, mobile office, mobile laboratory,vehicles of the forensic unit.2.11Forensic unitA forensic unit is a legal entity or a defined part of a legal entity that performs any partof the forensic science process.2.12ImpartialityActual and perceived presence of objectivity.Note 1: Objectivity means that conflicts of interest do not exist or are resolved so as notto adversely influence subsequent activities of the forensic unit.Note 2: Other terms that are useful in conveying the element of impartiality are:objectivity, independence, freedom from conflicts of interest, freedom from bias, lack ofprejudice, neutrality, fairness, open-mindedness, even-handedness, detachment, andbalance.2.13InvestigatorA person, however named, trained to perform scene of crime examinations and/orinvestigations. Other names used for this function are, for example, Scene of CrimeOfficer, Crime Scene Investigator, Scene of Crime investigator and Scene of CrimeExaminer.2.14Non-conforming examination and testingNon-conforming examination and testing refers to any aspect of the forensic unit’swork, including, scene examination, laboratory examination, sampling, testing, resultsor expert witness testimony that do not conform to the forensic unit’s policies,procedures or the agreed requirements of the customer. Examples are using equipmentthat is out of specification, misidentifying a drug or incorrectly interpreting a bloodpattern.Page 7 of 37
ILAC G19:08/2014Modules in a Forensic Science Process2.15Objective Examination / TestAn objective examination/test is an examination/test which, having been documentedand validated, is under control so that it can be demonstrated that all appropriatelytrained staff will obtain the same results within defined limits. These defined limitsrelate to expressions of degrees of probability as well as numerical values.Objective examinations/tests will be controlled by:documentation of the examination/testvalidation of the examination/testtraining and authorisation of staffmaintenance of equipmentand where appropriate by:calibration of equipmentuse of appropriate reference materialsprovision of guidance for interpretationchecking of resultstesting of staff proficiencyrecording of equipment/test performanceVisual inspection, qualitative examinations, comparative examinations and computersimulations are included in the definition of objective examination/test. In thisdocument the word examination or test refers to an objective examination or test.2.16Reference CollectionReference collection is a collection of stable materials, substances, objects or artefactsof known properties or origin that may be used in the determination of the properties ororigins of unknown items.2.17Reference MaterialA reference material is a material, sufficiently homogeneous and stable with respect toone or more specified properties, which has been established to be fit for its intendeduse in a measurement process.2.18SamplingSampling is a defined process whereby a part of a substance, material or product istaken to provide for testing of a representative sample of the whole. The process shouldbe based on statistically valid techniques, where possible. A sample is a portion drawnfrom a population for the purpose of examination/testing to determine the attributes ofthe whole. In forensic science, ‘sample’ is also used to describe physical objectscollected as exhibits, or sub-sets of these. These exhibits may be collected using criteriaother than conventional statistical criteria, for example, samples collected at a scene ofcrime. In this document the term sampling will be used for both purposes.In order to identify the samples that need to be taken, and the sequence of performingdifferent sampling, a sampling strategy, sampling plan and sampling procedures arerequired.Page 8 of 37
ILAC G19:08/2014Modules in a Forensic Science ProcessThe sampling strategy is the overall approach to sampling.The sampling plan is the method of implementing the sampling strategy.The sampling procedure is the method used to retrieve the sample.2.19Scene of crimeThe term ‘scene of crime’ is used to identify a scene of incident prior to establishingwhether a criminal or illegal action has taken place or not. The scene of crime is notsolely restricted to the location of the incident (primary scene of crime), but alsoincludes areas where relevant acts were carried out before or after the incident(secondary scene of crime). In addition to the obvious scenes of crime this may alsoinclude accident investigations, suspicious fires, vehicle accidents, terrorist attacks, anddisaster victim identification.Note: The forensic science process is not restricted to situations in which the incidentand purpose refer to the investigation of a crime. Other examples include civil litigation,parentage determination, environmental protection and control of gaming and othergambling-related activities. Where applicable, a victim could also be considered as ascene of crime.2.20SubcontractorA subcontractor is a legal en
European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) (EA-5/03), and on ILAC G19 for forensic laboratories. The task of preparing the document was given to Working Group 10 of the ILAC Accreditation Committee (ILAC AIC WG10). The requirements that there is a single document,
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