Interim Solutions

There are many factors that can improve the quality of forensic science such as research, accreditation, and standards implementation. Independent of these long-term initiatives, there are a number of interim improvements that can be accomplished that further enhance scientific practices, and support quality assurance measures for forensic service providers and stakeholders who rely on their work. The Interim Solutions Subcommittee developed near-term recommendations that are consistent with fundamental forensic science examination, scientific practice, and quality management principles, which included reporting requirements for all work performed, root cause analysis, defining terminology, and language for expressing the limitations of results of analyses.

Interim Solutions Subcommittee Members

Work Products Archive

Automated Fingerprint Information Systems (AFIS) Interoperability
Initial Draft Recommendation on AFIS Interoperability (Introduced at NCFS Meeting #6 – April 30-May 1, 2015)
Final Draft Recommendation on AFIS Interoperability
Recommendation on AFIS Interoperability (Adopted at NCFS Meeting #7 - August 10-11, 2015)

Root Cause Analysis
Initial Draft Recommendation on Root Cause Analysis (RCA) in Forensic Science (Introduced at NCFS Meeting #6 – April 30-May 1, 2015)
Final Draft Recommendation on Root Cause Analysis (RCA) in Forensic Science
Recommendation on Root Cause Analysis (RCA) in Forensic Science (Adopted at NCFS Meeting #7 - August 10-11, 2015)

Definitions
Initial Draft Views Document on Defining Forensic Science and Related Terms (Introduced at NCFS Meeting #4 – October 28-29, 2014)
Views Document on Defining Forensic Science and Related Terms (Adopted at NCFS Meeting #6, - April 30-May 1, 2015) CORRECTION ADDED February 2016

National Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility
Initial Draft Directive Recommendation on the National Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility for the Forensic Sciences (Introduced at NCFS Meeting #6 – April 30 - May 1, 2015)
Draft Directive Recommendation on the National Code of Professional Responsibility (Re-introduced at NCFS Meeting #8 – December 7-8, 2015)
Final Draft Recommendation on National Code of Professional Responsibility for Forensic Science and Forensic Medicine Service Providers
Adjudication Summary for Recommendation on National Code of Professional Responsibility for Forensic Science and Forensic Medicine Service Providers
Recommendation on the National Code of Professional Responsibility for Forensic Science and Forensic Medicine Service Providers (Adopted at NCFS Meeting #9 - March 21-22, 2016)

Transparency
Initial Draft Directive Recommendation on the Transparency of Quality Management System Documents (Introduced at NCFS Meeting #8 – December 7-8, 2015)
Final Draft Recommendation on Transparency of Quality Management System Documents
Adjudication Summary for Recommendation on Transparency of Quality Management System Documents
Recommendation on the Transparency of Quality Management System Documents (Adopted at NCFS Meeting #9 - March 21-22, 2016)