Best Practices

• Must be documented
• Maintain consistent work through lab to lab
• Revised periodically
• Exceptions to the Standard Operating Procedure may be granted on a case by case basis.

Best Practices Include

• Quality Control: Documentation, Quality, Proof of Quality of Work
• Validation Testing: Maintain a list of validated and approved tools
• Proficiency Testing: Verifiable, Maintain proficiency, Keep up with new technology, Testing the System, Testing the Individual.
• Documentation: Everything must be carefully documented

Training

• A clear and well defined training program should be in place
• A qualified trainer should be designated
• Training should cover all the fundamentals of the discipline with competency tests to demonstrate mastery of each topic
• Should include overview of Forensic Science and scientific method
• Public speaking & courtroom testimony
• Should have a well defined start and end date
• Ongoing training is critical to maintaining proficiency in this field
• Training plans and requirements should be written down and clearly understood
• Can be internal and external as long as trainers are qualified

Examination Environment

• Adequate power and cooling is required
• Work space free of contamination
• Limited or Controlled access
• Mechanisms should be in place to prevent cross contamination
• Workstations should be powerful enough to run the tools, should provide enough ports of various kinds
• In most cases should allow examiner access to os
• Familiar pc to analyst
• Cables and batteries
• Write blockers, adapters, and storage media
• Need Documentation tools

Preparing to Begin Analysis

• Review any documentation submitted
  • Search Warrant
  • Consent to search
  • Service Request
  • Case Summary
• Prevent the "open ended" analysis
  • Look for anything illegal or useful
  • When am I done?

Standard Operating Procedure

• The purpose of a SOP is to create a clear set of guidelines for analysts to follow, set limitations and requirements that must be met, keeps everyone in their lane, inform observes
• Scope of your lab resources: equipment, capability of the personnel
• Not every situation can be addresses: specific enough for clear guidance, vague enough to allow some flexibility. Don't box yourself in.
• If you want people to do it - write it in the sop
• Ensure there are ways to create revisions, and handle how often they can occur.
• Make different sections to address each process or major points
• Number each section, also include references to other sections

Chain of Custody

• Critical component
• All transfers must be documented
• Who has/had possession of the items and when is critical
• Cross contamination
• Tampering
• Documentation should at minimum:
  • Date / Time
  • Location / Person From and To
  • Accurate description of the item