Scientific Association of Forensic Examiners (SAFE) was founded in 2012 for the purpose of educating forensic document examiners of all levels. In subsequent years, we have invited forensic Examiners from other disciplines including print process and digital imaging to join the Association.
SAFE is an international organization with members residing in eight countries across the world. Although most of our members reside in the United States of America, we have members in United Kingdom, New Zealand, South Africa, Malaysia, and other countries.
As an education focused organization, we hold monthly Internet-based hour-long seminars for members. These seminars are delivered by document examiners, microscopists, attorneys, and experts in other disciplines related to forensic document examination in the legal process.
SAFE members must demonstrate they have earned at least 20 points of continuing education each year to maintain their membership. These points are earned by attending seminars, conferences, delivering seminars, writing journal articles, and other means. This requirement separates SAFE as an organization from other forensic organizations that do not require demonstrating continuing education each year.
SAFE members subscribe to a strict code of ethics. Deviation from this code of ethics may result in disciplinary action which may result in removal from the Association. The disciplinary procedure is invoked when an ethics complaint is filed against a member.
SAFE’s bylaws set forth high-level rules of the Association. The bylaws are set so the require infrequent changes. The details of implementing the bylaws are set forth in standing rules that can be changed as needed.