ABSTRACT
A. Educational Perspectives ...................................................................... 301 1. Programs in Forensic Science vs. Criminalistics ......................... 302
a. Generalist Background .......................................................... 303 b. Graduate Education in Criminalistics .................................. 303 c. Academic Resources............................................................... 305 d. Apprenticeship........................................................................ 306
B. Demonstration of Competency ........................................................... 306 1. Certification ................................................................................... 306
a. Philosophy of Certification ................................................... 307 b. History of Certification ......................................................... 308 c. Proficiency Testing ................................................................. 309
2. Accreditation.................................................................................. 309 a. Philosophy of Accreditation .................................................. 309 b. History of Accreditation ........................................................ 310
3. Regulation and Enforcement........................................................ 311 C. Ethics...................................................................................................... 311
1. Codes of Ethics .............................................................................. 311 a. Morals and Ethics .................................................................. 312
2. Codes of Ethics for Forensic Science ........................................... 312 a. Which Code? .......................................................................... 312 b. Membership in the Profession .............................................. 314 c. A Single Code of Ethics ......................................................... 315
3. When Ethics Fail............................................................................ 316 a. Unethical Prosecution Experts .............................................. 316 b. Unethical Defense Experts..................................................... 317
D. Summary ............................................................................................... 317 References ...................................................................................................... 321
Almost 40 years ago, Dr. Paul Kirk asked, “Is criminalistics a profession?” (Kirk, 1963).
