Department of Justice

Code of Professional Responsibility for the Practice of Forensic Science 

The following Code of Professional Responsibility for the Practice of Forensic Science (Code) 

defines a framework for promoting integrity and respect for the scientific process.

1 Forensic 

science providers, both practitioners and agencies, including its managers, must meet 

requirements 1-15 enumerated below. Requirement 16 specifically refers to the responsibility of 

forensic science management rather than individual practitioners.

1. Accurately represent relevant education, training, experience, and areas of expertise.

2. Be honest and truthful in all professional affairs including not representing the work of others 

as one’s own.

3. Foster and pursue professional competency through such activities as training, proficiency 

testing, certification, and presentation and publication of research findings.

4. Commit to continuous learning in relevant forensic disciplines and stay abreast of new 

findings, equipment, and techniques.

5. Conduct research and forensic casework using the scientific method or agency best practices. 

Where validation tools are not known to exist or cannot be obtained, conduct internal or 

inter-laboratory validation tests in accordance with the quality management system in place.

6. Handle evidentiary materials to prevent tampering, adulteration, loss, or nonessential 

consumption of evidentiary materials.

7. Avoid participation in any case in which there is a conflict of interest.

8. Conduct examinations that are fair, unbiased, and fit-for-purpose.

9. Make and retain contemporaneous, clear, complete, and accurate records of all examinations, 

tests, measurements, and conclusions, in sufficient detail to allow meaningful review and 

assessment by an independent professional proficient in the discipline.

10. Ensure interpretations, opinions, and conclusions are supported by sufficient data and 

minimize influences and biases for or against any party.

 1 These provisions are not intended to, and do not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable 

at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, 

employees, or agents, or any other person.
11. Render interpretations, opinions, or conclusions only when within the practitioner’s 

proficiency or expertise.

12. Prepare reports and testify using clear and straightforward terminology, clearly 

distinguishing data from interpretations, opinions, and conclusions. Reports should disclose

known limitations that are necessary to understand the significance of the findings.

13. Do not alter reports and other records or withhold information for strategic or tactical 

advantage.

14. Document and, if appropriate, inform management or quality assurance personnel of 

nonconformities2 and breaches of law or professional standards.

15. 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.

3

16. Inform the prosecutors involved through proper laboratory management channels of material

nonconformities or breaches of law or professional standards that adversely affect a 

previously issued report or testimony.4

 2 Nonconformities are any aspect of laboratory work that does not conform to its established procedures. An 

evaluation of the nonconformity risk is appropriate to deciding whether or not reporting is necessary.

3 Agency practice may vary depending on the status of the case or due to safety concerns.

4 Prosecutors have independent reporting requirements based on codes of professional responsibility and ethics.