IAFS
Definition
The International Association of Forensic Sciences, one of the major professional bodies for forensic scientists globally. Membership signals engagement with the wider forensic science community; IAFS-affiliated specialist groups include those relevant to forensic archaeology and anthropology.
- Scope
- General forensic science, all disciplines
- Structure
- Specialist groups covering individual sub-disciplines
- Format
- Periodic international triennial meeting
- Relevance here
- Anthropology and archaeology specialist groups
Common questions
How does IAFS differ from a national forensic body?+
IAFS operates across countries and disciplines rather than within one jurisdiction, giving it a coordinating role for setting shared terminology and exchanging practice standards that national academies then adapt locally.
Why would an expert witness cite IAFS affiliation?+
Affiliation signals ongoing engagement with peer scientists outside one's own laboratory, which courts weigh as evidence of currency with the field when assessing an expert's qualifications under admissibility rules.
Related terms
- Casework Peer Review
- Independent review of a forensic expert's findings and conclusions by a second qualified specialist before the report is issued. The standard model...
- Expert Witness
- A person whose specialised knowledge is accepted by a court and who gives opinion evidence, not just factual evidence. Forensic auditors frequently...
- Forensic Science Regulator (FSR)
- A statutory regulator in England and Wales established by the Forensic Science Regulator Act 2021. The FSR sets a mandatory Code of...
- Impartiality Duty
- The obligation on an expert witness to provide the same opinion regardless of which party instructed them. An expert who would change...
- ISO/IEC 17020
- The international standard specifying requirements for the competence of inspection bodies, covering their activities, management systems, and operational procedures. Applied to forensic...