93Laboratory Excellence and Ethics
Codes of Ethics Formats
e California Association of Criminalists (CAC) in 1957 was the rst
forensic science association (in North America at least) to adopt a code of
ethics for its members; it is still one of the most comprehensive and detailed
available. e AAFS has had a code of ethics and conduct since 1976, the
Association of Firearms and Tool Mark Examiners (AFTE) since 1980,
ASCLD since 1987, and there are many other associations that have their
own codes. (Although codes of ethics are most oen associated with pro-
fessional associations, there is no reason for an organization or institution
not to have their own, and many in fact do.) ASCLD/LAB adopted its code
in 2008 thus putting a national code ...