Membership

Link to membership form: membership_app.doc

Independent Forensic Practitioner Institute Membership Criteria

Foundation membership

Foundation membership is limited to those full members admitted to the Institute on the day of Incorporation, being 30 March 2006.

Full membership

Ordinary full members shall be applicants who have satisfied the membership committee that they are qualified to be full members of the Institute. Full membership is considered on a case-by-case basis, on consideration of the applicants’ qualifications and experience provided in their membership applications and in their accompanying curricula vitae.

1. An applicant must demonstrate that he or she works independently. That is to say, an applicant must demonstrate that his or her work is in accordance with the highest standards of his or her profession (including ethical codes of conduct and practice), that such work is conducted with disinterest, and without favour or prejudice, and that any judgments or conclusions are based solely on professional expertise. The applicant must also be free to accept or reject any commission, based solely on professional judgement and not commercial or other alliances.

2. Applicants must demonstrate that they conduct forensic work – that is work relating to the use of science or technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law or other arbitral tribunals.

3. Applicants must demonstrate that they are or have been active practitioners – that is, they practice a forensic occupation, profession, or technique. Having an interest in a forensic topic but not being actively engaged in practising it will not suffice for full membership.

4. Applicants must demonstrate that they have the appropriate qualifications and / or expertise to practice the forensic work in which they are engaged.

5. Applicants must furnish the membership committee with the names and contact details of two appropriate referees, at least one of whom is an existing member of the IFPI, being persons of good standing who are able to verify the qualifications and expertise of the applicant.

6. The Membership Subcommittee may, at its discretion, recommend for associate membership, an applicant who does not fulfil the all of the requirements for full membership.

Exclusion criteria

Information provided by existing members indicating that the applicant is unsuitable for membership. Members will normally be asked to produce this information within 21 days. All information provided by members in the application process is treated in the strictest confidence and will not be revealed to the applicant nor beyond the appropriate IFPI Officers. It is the responsibility of applicants and members to bring to the attention of the membership committee any information that may influence the decision to grant or maintain membership.

Given that we are informing the courts as expert witnesses, IPFI demand that its members observe a higher standard in some aspects of their conduct than the general community. With respect to criminal convictions which carry a maximum sentence of more than six months imprisonment, no-one is eligible for full membership until ten years have elapsed since the time of conviction (a ten year Statute of Limitation).

With respect to criminal convictions which carry a maximum sentence of less than six months imprisonment, no-one is eligible for full membership until two years have elapsed since the time of conviction (a two year Statute of Limitation).

The Executive reserves the right to exercise judgement in cases which are borderline.

Associate membership

Applicants who are not eligible for full membership may apply for associate membership under existing rules. Associate members shall have no voting rights. Associate membership may include those who are studying in an area of forensic science but who are not currently actively practising a forensic occupation, profession, or technique, or who have been practising in their chosen field for less than two years. Associate membership fees will be at a reduced rate from full membership fees. Associate members may not refer to their membership as a qualification or credential, in particular when acting as an expert witness for a judicial proceeding.

With respect to criminal convictions which carry a maximum sentence of more than six months imprisonment, no-one is eligible for associate membership until ten years have elapsed since the time of conviction (an eight year Statute of Limitation).

With respect to criminal convictions which carry a maximum sentence of less than six months imprisonment, no-one is eligible for associate membership until two years have elapsed since the time of conviction (a two year Statute of Limitation).

The Executive reserves the right to exercise discretion in particular cases. It is mindful to consider whether awarding membership to an individual might bring the organisation into disrepute.

Honorary life membership

Honorary life members shall be full members recommended by Officers of the Institute for Honorary Life Membership in recognition of outstanding service to the Institute. Such recommendation shall be put to the members at the Annual General meeting and shall be passed by a simple majority vote. Honorary life members shall retain any pre-existing voting rights.