Overall Policies and Procedures
Overall Policies and Procedures
This domain tests the administrative and quality framework around latent print work: chain of custody, written procedures, validation, proficiency testing, audits, ethics, and courtroom limits. The exam rewards precise documentation and disclosure over general claims of “standard practice.”
Core rules
- Chain of custody is a continuous, documented record: item description, seal number, date and time, transfers, storage location, and every opening. A break must be documented and disclosed, not silently repaired.
- SOPs must be written, validated, version-controlled, and followed. Deviations require documentation and technical review.
- Quality assurance includes proficiency testing, independent technical review, audits, corrective action, and contamination controls.
- Ethics and testimony: conclusions must stay within validated methods and examiner expertise; disclose limitations, conflicts, and exculpatory information. The IAI Code of Ethics and accreditation standards such as ISO/IEC 17025 frame these duties.
Worked example A sealed evidence envelope arrives with the seal broken and no initials across the break. The examiner photographs the envelope, records the condition on the chain-of-custody form, notifies the case officer, and documents any examination. The examiner does not assume tampering, but also does not ignore the break. If the latent print later supports identification, the report and testimony must disclose the seal issue because it affects weight, not necessarily admissibility.
Traps
- Backdating or “fixing” chain-of-custody entries.
- Citing “lab policy” without a written SOP or validation.
- Testifying to statistical frequency or probability not supported by the method.
- Failing to disclose a break in custody or an unresolved discrepancy.
- Treating accreditation as a personal certification.