I need suggestions!
I currently work at an ASCLD-LAB accredited labarotory in the Latent Print Section. However, the workplace vibe is NOT working out! I am considering a job move to a police department fingerprint section.
How can I maintain my professional and scientific integrity in a non-accredited environment? How can the fingerprint section maintain their professionalism, but most importantly maintain the scientific process' involved in print comparison and processing techniques?
Suggestions for Career move
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Ernie Hamm
Career Move
Your ‘professional and scientific integrity’ are personal attributes that have not been conveyed on you by ASCLD-LAB! If you leave one employer for another, you take those with you.
You know, there are many excellent latent print sections in any number of various agency levels that have “professionalism” and “maintain scientific processes” WITHOUT having certification by ASCLD-LAB. These were in existence before there was ASCLD-LAB and continue to adequately function to this day. Departments that voluntarily seek ASCLD-LAB certification must accept guidelines and requirements set forth to maintain their accreditation through inspections and review. However, the administrative procedures recommended and enforced are not the exclusive right or property of ASCLD-LAB. In fact, they were probably all originally found in the workings of established ‘fingerprint sections’ (and other forensic disciplines) and have been tweaked and refined over the yeas. There is nothing about ASCLD-LAB accreditation that can necessarily separate or distinguish the professional standards and qualities of one working forensic section from another.
You know, there are many excellent latent print sections in any number of various agency levels that have “professionalism” and “maintain scientific processes” WITHOUT having certification by ASCLD-LAB. These were in existence before there was ASCLD-LAB and continue to adequately function to this day. Departments that voluntarily seek ASCLD-LAB certification must accept guidelines and requirements set forth to maintain their accreditation through inspections and review. However, the administrative procedures recommended and enforced are not the exclusive right or property of ASCLD-LAB. In fact, they were probably all originally found in the workings of established ‘fingerprint sections’ (and other forensic disciplines) and have been tweaked and refined over the yeas. There is nothing about ASCLD-LAB accreditation that can necessarily separate or distinguish the professional standards and qualities of one working forensic section from another.