NCJ Number
222862
Journal
Evidence Technology Magazine Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: March-April 2008 Pages: 30-32
Date Published
March 2008
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article compares proficiency testing for a latent-fingerprint examiner as conducted by Collaborative Testing Services (CTS), which has been the only company providing such testing services for years, and the newest testing protocol offered by Competency Assessment Services Limited (CAS Ltd.).
Abstract
Since 2001, the author, who is the Latent Print Supervisor of the King County Sheriff's Office (Seattle, WA), has participated in the proficiency testing offered by CTS, but reports always wanting more out of a proficiency test. Her criteria for testing are to test latent-print examiners for their ability to make exclusions rather than just individualizations; asking latent-print examiners for justification to support conclusions; and asking latent-print examiners to state the scientific principles that were used to arrive at a conclusion. In searching for a new and improved testing protocol the author took the test developed by CAS Ltd., in February 2008. Her overall assessment of the testing protocol is that the quality of the test materials is "excellent," and the difficulty level of the test is "perfect." She notes that perhaps it is slightly more difficult than typical casework, but offers a level of difficulty needed by latent-print examiners. The cost of the CAS Ltd. proficiency test is $275, which is slightly less than the cost of the CTS test. The author indicates that one element of testing she is still promoting to all agencies and testing companies is a requirement for justification of conclusions. Since this is a vital part of science, proficiency and competency should take both the conclusions and the justification into account.