Course Description

This course, "Impartiality and Ethics in Forensic Science," aims to cultivate a deeper understanding of impartiality and ethics, as well as their significance in forensic science.  Participants will explore the principle of impartiality, the importance of maintaining impartiality, and review the impartiality requirements outlined in ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO/IEC 17020. This course will also examine the intricate connection between impartiality and ethics, highlighting their influence in shaping the culture of the management system and their role in daily decision-making.   Lastly, through discussions, reading materials, and interactive exercises, participants will develop a deeper understanding of impartiality and learn how to apply it in their daily activities as forensic scientists.  

Learning Objectives

  • Understand impartiality and its importance in the workplace
  • Learn the ISO/IEC 17025 & ISO/IEC 17020 impartiality requirements 
  • Realize the connection between impartiality and ethics
  • Gain an appreciation for how impartiality and ethics shape the management system culture
  • Recognize how impartiality and ethics play a role in decision making
  • Discuss an approach to ensure and facilitate impartiality in daily activities

Target Audience

Quality Assurance Managers, Laboratory Directors, Managers, and Supervisors 

Anyone wanting to learn more about impartiality and how to facilitate a management system culture of impartiality.

References

ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and ISO/IEC 17020:2011

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Before You Begin

    • Need Help? Got Questions? Contact Us

    • About Your Instructor - edutton
  • 2

    LIVE Online Training - Day 1

    • Day 1 - LIVE Impartiality and Ethics in Forensic Science
  • 3

    LIVE Online Training - Day 2

    • Day 2 - LIVE Impartiality and Ethics in Forensic Science

Instructor

RS&A Director of Quality Management Services

Emma K. Dutton, Ph.D.

Dr. Dutton is currently the contract Quality Manager and the Director of Quality Management Services for Ron Smith & Associates, Inc (RS&A). Prior to joining RS&A in 2023, Emma was an instructor/instructional designer for 10 years with ANAB and had the honor of training hundreds of forensic scientists covering a diversity of topics. Before joining ANAB, Emma served as the Quality Assurance Manager for the Oregon State Police's Forensic Services Division for 11.5 years. Emma is also the President and Owner of GreenTree Training LLC, which specializes in providing customized training, consulting, quality management, and course development services for forensic laboratories. Emma has been a member of ASCLD since 2005 and a member of AFQAM since 2003, serving as the AFQAM president-elect, president, and past president from 2004 to 2006. Emma lives in Oregon with her husband and two very spoiled dogs.

Course Schedule

🗓 Day 1: Foundations of Impartiality and Ethics

09:00– 09:30 | Welcome & Introductions

  • Review of course objectives
  • Ground rules and expectations

09:30 – 10:30 | Session 1:  The Concept of Impartiality

  • What is impartiality?  Importance & benefits
  • Bias and bias influencers
  • Types of bias
  • Implicit and explicit bias in everyday life and in forensics
  • Cognitive bias in forensics

Exercise: Bias or Not Bias

10:30 – 10:45 | Break

10:45 – 12:00 | Session 2: Impartiality and Conflicts of Interest

  • Understanding Impartiality and conflicts of interest
  • Types of conflicts of interest in case work and testimony
  • Identifying and managing conflicts of interest

Exercise: Conflicts of interest mapping

12:00 – 1:00 | Lunch 

Group discussion: Bias, Conflicts of Interest and Forensic Credibility

1:00 – 2:30 | Session 3: Principles of Ethics 

  • Definition and importance of ethics in Forensics
  • Core ethical principles in Forensics
  • Components of an ethical standard
  • Professional codes of ethics and expectations (e.g., IAI, AAFS, SWGs. ABs)

Discussion: Forensic ethical concerns

2:30 – 2:45 | Break

2:45 – 3:45 | Session 4: Impartiality and Ethics

  • The impartiality and ethics connection
  • Moral philosophy: Morals, Values, Ethics, Integrity
  • Developing personal and team ethics plans

Exercise: Evaluation of Moral Philosophy

Discussion: Can you be biased and still be ethical? Can you be unethical and still be impartial? 

3:45 – 4:45 | Session 5: The Framework for Ethical Decision-Making

  • Impartiality, ethics, and decision making
  • Step-by-step ethical reasoning 
  • Developing an ethical decision-making checklist

Exercises: Decisions, dilemmas, and lifeboats

4:45 – 5:00 | Recap & Reflection

  • Key learnings
  • Group reflection activity


🗓 Day 2: Shaping the Management System Culture

9:00 – 09:15 | Day 1 Recap and Review

09:15 – 10:45 | Session 6: Developing Organizational Impartiality

  • Review ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO/IEC 17020 Impartiality Requirements
  • Organizational character: facilitating management system impartiality
  • Role of leadership and management

Exercise: Identifying and mitigating risks to impartiality

10:45 – 11:00 | Break

11:00 – 12:00 | Session 7: Implementing and Ensuring Impartiality 

  • Steps to implementing and ensuring impartiality in daily activities
  1. Develop a quality culture of shared values
  2. Obtain personal declarations and commitment
  3. Identify and address risks to impartiality
  4. Safeguard impartiality status

12:00 – 1:00 | Lunch

1:00 – 2:00 | Scenarios

2:00 – 3:00 | Session 8: Impartial Reporting and Testimony

  • Communicating findings impartially, factually, and with transparency
  • Avoid advocacy: staying within the scientific limits of the method 
  • Elements of the management system that safeguard impartial reporting 

Discussion: Evaluating impartiality and ethics

3:00 – 3:15 | Break

3:15 – 3:45 | Session 9: Course Wrap-Up and Exam Review

  • Key learnings
  • Q & A
  • Exam Review

3:45 – 4:45 | Examination

4:45 – 5:00 | Course Survey/Feedback

Course Brochure PDF

Impartiality & Ethics Brochure.pdf