9.2 Technical Review
2
A laboratory shall have policies in place for the
technical review of examination documentation and reports within the firearm
and toolmark discipline. The procedure shall ensure
that the conclusions of an examiner are reasonable,
within the constraints of validated scientific
knowledge, and supported by the examination
documentation. The procedure shall define the scope of
the technical review, establish the parameters of the
review process, specify how technical reviews are
documented, and describe a course of action to be taken
if a discrepancy is found. [5.9.4]
9.2.1 The laboratory shall establish the number of
cases to be reviewed.
9.2.2 Technical reviews shall be conducted by a second
individual qualified in the discipline.
9.2.3 Technical reviews should not shift the perceived
responsibility for the scientific findings from the
examiner to the reviewer.
9.3 Administrative Review
2
The laboratory shall
establish a procedure which requires administrative
review of the case file prior to the release of each
report. Laboratory policy shall define the scope of the
review, who may conduct administrative reviews and how
the administrative review is documented.
9.3.1 Administrative reviews, in whole or part, may be
independent of technical reviews or may be combined as
one process.
