NATIONAL COMMISSION ON 

FORENSIC SCIENCE

Template for Work Products

Type of Work Product: Views Document

Recommendation

It is the view of the National Commission on Forensic Science (NCFS) that, for purposes of their 

work products, the terms forensic science and forensic science service provider will be defined 

as follows: 

FORENSIC SCIENCE - The application of scientific practices to the recognition, 

collection, analysis, and interpretation of physical evidence for criminal and civil law or 

regulatory purposes.1

FORENSIC SCIENCE SERVICE PROVIDER - A person or entity that (1) applies 

scientific practices to recognizing, collecting, analyzing or interpreting physical evidence 

and (2) issues test results, provides reports, or provides interpretations, conclusions, or 

opinions through testimony with respect to such evidence.

Background

As a way to foster meaningful discussion and avoid misunderstanding, terms relevant to the 

work of the NCFS must be clear and understood by all. Much of the work of the NCFS centers 

on recommendations pertaining to people and groups dealing with topics and subject matter. 

These people, groups, topics and subject matter must be readily understood to facilitate clear 

understanding of the recommendations and any future action regarding them. 

The process of defining terms began with identifying those terms that are sometimes nebulous, 

but often possess multiple interpretations. Once identified, these terms were discussed as they 

relate to possible use by the NCFS, but more importantly, as they should be defined for the entire 

forensic profession and others that interact with it. 

The following are points noted and considered for each definition:

FORENSIC SCIENCE

This universal definition is rooted from notable sources that include forensic science professional 

organizations and well-known forensic science accrediting bodies. The principles of science lay 

at the foundation of the work performed, though not all activities in forensic science rely 

exclusively on laboratory experimentation and analysis. It is, however, the application of those 

principles, stated as “practices” in the definition, that lay the foundation for the activities related 

 

1 This definition is inclusive of digital evidence and the medical-legal community. 
to work performed in the forensic sciences. It was also agreed that the spectrum of forensic 

science reliance went beyond criminal applications in the law and, accordingly, included a nexus 

to civil law and regulatory matters. 

FORENSIC SCIENCE SERVICE PROVIDER

This universal definition is inclusive of both persons and entities, both of whom are capable of 

and responsible for providing forensic science services. There is intentionally no reference to the 

frequency of the qualifying activities. The definition was left broadened by design with the 

intent of narrowing the scope of coverage depending on how it is applied in later 

recommendations by this Commission. 

Recommended Implementation Strategy

All NCFS subcommittees will adopt these definitions, cite them as footnotes in their work 

products, and take the scope of the definitions into account when developing their own 

implementation strategies relating to policy or directive recommendations.