science investigationafis abisiai certificationidentity verificationlatent prints
Complete evaluation framework
What to assess and how to score it
Review the evidence signals before interviewing. Then use the anchored descriptions—not instinct alone—to choose the score that best matches each answer.
01
Evaluation factor
Method and rigour
35% weight
Probe their command of ACE-V methodology, minutiae comparison, ten-print versus latent workflows, and false accept/false reject rate tuning on ABIS or AFIS platforms.
Evidence to listen for
Follows and can justify an established methodology
Understands contamination, bias, and chain of custody as they apply to the field
Knows the limits of their techniques and says so
Documents procedure so results are reproducible and defensible
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Careless method; unaware of contamination, bias, or procedural integrity.
2
Needs Improvement
Knows procedures but applies them inconsistently; gaps in documentation.
3
Satisfactory
Sound standard practice; less certain outside familiar techniques.
4
Very Good
Rigorous and well documented; understands the limits of each method.
5
Excellent
Explains ACE-V verification steps precisely, cites matcher thresholds they tuned, and distinguishes latent quality limits from enrolment quality issues.
02
Evaluation factor
Real casework
25% weight
Ask for volume and type of casework: latent lifts processed, IDENT/IAFIS or NGI submissions, iris and facial enrolments, backlog cleared, and any blind verification programs.
Evidence to listen for
Brings specific cases, sites, or projects rather than general description
States their own role and what they personally handled
Can describe an ambiguous or degraded case and how they proceeded
Knows what happened to the work afterwards
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
No hands-on casework; experience is entirely academic.
2
Needs Improvement
Limited exposure; cannot describe their own contribution clearly.
3
Satisfactory
Real casework with adequate detail; ownership sometimes vague.
4
Very Good
Specific cases with clear personal scope and outcomes.
5
Excellent
Quantifies annual case volume, names specific systems queried, and describes identifications made plus exclusions that closed investigative leads.
03
Evaluation factor
Interpretation and judgement
25% weight
Test how they handle low-quality impressions, distortion, partial overlays, and demographic bias in face matching; ask when they declared a comparison inconclusive.
Evidence to listen for
Separates what the evidence shows from what they infer
States confidence levels and what would change their conclusion
Comfortable saying the result is inconclusive
Handles pressure to reach a preferred conclusion without bending
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Overstates findings; no separation of evidence from inference.
2
Needs Improvement
Reaches conclusions the evidence does not support; uneasy with uncertainty.
3
Satisfactory
Reasonable judgement; qualifies findings when prompted.
4
Very Good
Clearly separates evidence from inference and states confidence unprompted.
5
Excellent
Draws a firm line at insufficient ridge detail, cites bias and error-rate literature, and defends inconclusive calls without hedging.
04
Evaluation factor
Reporting and testimony
15% weight
Look for court qualification history, comparison worksheets, technical review records, and how they survived Daubert or defence challenges to biometric evidence.
Evidence to listen for
Writes findings that a non-specialist can act on
Has presented or defended work to an external audience: court, client, review board, publication
Withstands challenge without overclaiming or retreating
Keeps records that hold up to scrutiny
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Cannot communicate findings; records would not withstand review.
2
Needs Improvement
Reporting is unclear or incomplete; avoids external scrutiny.
3
Satisfactory
Adequate reports; limited experience defending work externally.
4
Very Good
Clear reporting and real experience presenting to an external audience.
5
Excellent
Has qualified as an expert, produces clean documented comparison charts, and states conclusions in current SWGFAST or OSAC terminology.
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