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B.
Demonstration of Competency
We began this book with a description of the “state of the practice” and a
historical perspective on how that state came to be. Because the early forensic
scientists were more or less lone practitioners of a yet-to-be-recognized dis-
cipline, each felt a pioneer of sorts. While this was certainly true a century
or even half a century ago, this trail-blazing mentality is no longer appropri-
ate. The profession has survived a rather tumultuous adolescence and has
achieved young adulthood, if not quite maturity. Government laboratories
abound, private laboratories are increasing, and both the courts and the
public now expect the presentation of scientific evidence in every trial.
With this increased exposure comes increased scrutiny. Although the
movement toward acquiring the accoutrements of professionalization began
around the middle of the century (Appendix A), it was not until the 1990s
that it really gained momentum. This was, at least in part, a reaction to
suggestions of government regulation of forensic activities, instigated by the
advent of DNA technology along with its potential power for both use and
abuse. While the acceptance of the need for accountability has been slow, the
community has finally come to grips with the reality of that necessity. We
will describe several programs that have been developed from within the
forensic community to provide a means for both laboratories and individuals
to demonstrate competency and adherence to minimum standards.
 
1.
Certification
A certification program for general criminalistics has been a long time in
coming. It was not until 1993 that a certification examination in criminalis-
tics was nationally available. Interestingly, only a certification program for
questioned documents examiners was, in the 1970s, implemented prior to
the general examination.*
* Document examination is not always considered part of criminalistics. The AAFS, for
instance, maintains a separate section for this specialty.
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