Latent Print Certification

About Censure, Suspension or Revocation of Certification

The following information from the Certification Program Operations Manual deals with the cause and effect of a violation made by a certified latent print examiner. Please note that all complaints concerning any of the violations covered under Sections A and B must be in the form of a signed written communication that is and sent to the President of the I.A.I. with relevant supporting documentation.

Censure, Suspension or Revocation of Certification
(Section XI – Certification Program Operations Manual)

Latent Print Certification may be censured, suspended or revoked for a number of reasons. These fall into three disciplinary categories as follows;

Level One (Censure) – Lowest level of discipline not resulting in loss of certification. Censure is defined as a warning or reprimand in writing, not resulting in loss of certification.

Level Two (Suspension) – Suspension is defined as loss of certification for a specified time by the Certifying board with the opportunity for becoming reinstated at a later time. Certificant will be required to pass a test commensurate with the violation.

Level Three (Revocation) – Revocation is defined as permanent loss of certification and the certificant will not be certified by the IAI in that discipline under any circumstances.

  1. Letter of censure may be issued for any of the following reasons:
    1. Testimony misstatements
    2. Statements made that are not held within the confines of accepted practices held within the certifying board’s community and without basis (due to the confines of current technology)
  2. Certification may be suspended or revoked by the IAI Certification Board for any of the following reasons:
    1. Violation of the IAI Code of Ethics and/or Standards of Professional Conduct as enumerated in the Certification Application and Application for Recertification.
    2. Issuance of a Certification contrary to or in violation of any of the laws, standards, rules or regulations of the IAI; or determination that the person certified was not in fact eligible to receive such certificate at the time of the issuance.
    3. Technical error(s).
  3. Allegations of Misconduct – Refer to following Flow Chart of Complaint Process

    Any allegation of a violation of the Code of Ethics and/or Standards of Professional Conduct against a Certified Examiner must be in the form of a written communication that is signed and sent to the President of the I.A.I. Once the President of the I.A.I. receives a written communication, it shall be referred to as the Petition. The President is to notify the QACB Chair of the Petition in writing. The QACB will notify the BOD, if necessary.

    1. Content of the Petition.
      A petition must include the following: The name and contact information of the Petitioner and the Certified Examiner; an allegation of the existence of one or more violations of the I.A.I’s rules, Code of Ethics, or Standards of Professional Conduct as listed in the Certification/Recertification Documentation; an adequate factual basis for the allegation(s) and any necessary documentation or other supporting materials or information.
    2. Initial Review of the Petition.
      Within fifteen (15) business days of receipt of the petition, the chairperson of the certification board and the IAI President in consultation with IAI Legal Counsel shall review the petition to determine if it includes the necessary elements enumerated in Section XI, B.1. If the Chairperson of the Certification Board determines that the Petition does not conform to the required elements as outlined in Section XI, B.1., then citing the specific deficiency or deficiencies, the Chairperson of the Certification Board shall notify the Petitioner that the Petition will not be considered. The Petitioner may re-file an amended Petition within fifteen (15) business days of the date of the rejection letter.
    3. Professional Review Board (PRB).
      Once a Petition is determined to conform to the requirements of Section XI, B.1, the President shall have (15) business days to appoint three (3) individuals to a Professional Review Board; hereinafter referred to as PRB, to address the petition. Each member of the PRB shall be an association member in good standing, holding a valid certification within the related forensic discipline and the President shall select one (1) of the three (3) individuals to act as chair of the PRB. The PRB will schedule at least one meeting, in person or via conference call, to review the petition and answer. The PRB shall act by majority vote. If for any reason a member of the PRB is unable to perform these and other duties, the President shall immediately appoint another qualified member.
    4. Notice Requirements.
      Concurrent with the selection of the PRB, the Chairperson of the Certification Board, in consultation with IAI Legal Counsel, shall inform the certified examiner writing that a petition has been submitted. The chairperson of the certification board shall provide the certified examiner with a copy of the petition, including all submitted supporting materials, as well as a copy of these rules and regulations; and require a written response to the petition within (15) fifteen business days.
    5. Decision of PRB.
      The PRB shall strive to render a decision on the petition within forty-five (45) business days of receipt of the petition and shall notify petitioner, the certified examiner, and Chairperson of the Certification Board, in writing, of that decision. In consultation with the IAI Legal Counsel, written notification of the action to be taken, including an explanation of the basis for the decision shall be provided. A finding of prohibited conduct must include the PRB’s decision as to any disciplinary action. Possible disciplinary actions include written reprimand (censure), suspension of certification, and revocation of certification. The Chairperson of the Certification Board shall notify the QACB Chair in writing of the PRB recommendation(s) and disciplinary action to be taken. The QACB Chair will notify the BOD and President, if necessary.
    6. Notification of Appeal Process.
      The Chairperson of the Certification Board shall notify certified examiner, in writing, about the respondent’s opportunity to appeal the decision of the PRB at the next Annual International Educational Conference. The certified examiner shall be afforded the opportunity to testify; present evidence; respond to questions from the PRB; and examine and cross-examine witnesses who are also present. The certified examiner may be represented by legal counsel at the hearing. No hearing is required if the PRB issues a reprimand or dismisses the petition.

      The certified examiner must submit a written notice of appeal to the Chairperson of the Certification Board within thirty (30) business days of the date of the PRB’s decision. The Certification Board may postpone implementation of the disciplinary action until after the disposition of the Appeal. The Board of Directors shall strive to issue its ruling within sixty (60) business days of the date of the hearing. The decision of the Board of Directors shall be final.
  4. Subsequent to suspension for technical error, a new application for certification may be entertained by the respective IAI Certification Board. Consideration regarding such reinstatement will include:
    1. Completion of one (1) year of certification suspension.
    2. Successful completion of the respective Certification Board approved requirements for certification.
    3. A review by the IAI Certification Board of the applicant’s recent discipline related body of work.
    4. Meeting the certification requirements in effect at the time of reinstatement along with a new application form and payment of the current certification fee as listed on the IAI website.
    5. Successful passing of a test commensurate with the violation. (Section X. F and the specific Certification Board’s Certification/Recertification section).
  5. Voluntary Forfeit/Surrender of Certification by Certificants
    If the certified individual voluntarily surrenders his/ her Certificate at any time during the process of the petition before any final action is taken, the surrender of the certificate shall be accepted without the right to reinstatement. Once a surrender of certificate is accepted, the individual shall no longer be afforded the rights and benefits of an IAI certified examiner. Any further inquiry or investigation will cease and a written report including all relevant documentation shall be presented to the Board of Directors. After presentation, the original report shall be filed in the individual’s certification records along with the documentation of the circumstances of the surrender of the certificate. All other copies of the report shall be destroyed.
  6. Publication.
    The IAI may publicize the nature, existence, or preliminary or final result of any disciplinary proceeding or action, at any stage, if deemed to be in the interests of the IAI.
  7. Funding.
    Except for exigent circumstances, the Board of Directors shall approve all funding for the operation of the PRB in advance. In the event of exigent circumstances, the President may approve emergency spending up to a limit of $1000.00. As soon as possible, any emergency spending approval will be communicated to the Chairperson of the Board of Directors.

To initiate a complaint, please refer to this link for further details.