As I mentioned last week, I get asked for my CV during initial phone calls from attorneys. This series of posts is to help the attorney understand what to look for when reading the CVs of experts in forensic photography, photographic analysis, and video analysis, and this post specifically regarding the expert’s training.

There is excellent training specifically in these disciplines. The International Association for Identification holds an annual conference that includes training in all three of these disciplines. LEVA holds an annual conference and also sponsors training throughout the year in Forensic Video Analysis and Forensic Imaging Techniques. The National Center for Video Forensics has a workshop available in image authentication. Plus, there are courses at colleges, universities, and through private firms (I offer training in these disciplines, for example). Be sure your expert has had both discipline specific training as well as forensic training in their discipline.

The reason it is important that the expert have training in forensic aspects of their specialty is that there are specific issues in forensics that do not exist in other fields. In forensic specific workshops in these disciplines, the analyst or photographer will learn, not just the technical aspects of the discipline, but also about legal issues, the forensic workflow, best practices in forensics, chain-of-custody, report writing, etc. In addition, forensic specific classes will cover discipline specific issues that are not covered in non-forensic training.

Personally, I try to attend at least two training sessions per year. Every expert should keep up with current technology and legal issues. Just as attorneys take part in continuing education, your expert should be doing the same. Be certain that your expert is keeping up to date with recent training, classes, workshops.

The bottom line is, as great as the expert appears in their discipline, make sure that they have also had forensic specific training in their discipline as well. Make sure that they are also current – taking workshops regularly so that they maintain knowledge in quickly changing technology and with current legal issues.