IAAI - International Association of Arson Investigators, Inc.

Goal Back to Top

The overall goal of the Expert Witness Courtroom Testimony Course is to enable the applicants for the Certified Fire Investigator program to fulfill the court testimony requirements under "Experience Other (page 3)" of the CFI application process.

Authority Back to Top

The Certified Fire Investigator committee is responsible for course development, content, updates and revisions, protocol for Chapter delivery and administration. I.A.A.I. Facilitators trained to conduct "Train the Trainer" courses for Chapter Instructors, will be responsible to the CFI committee. I.A.A.I. Board of Director approval is required for Protocol and substantive changes in the course. The CFI committee and the I.A.A.I. reserve the right to deny certification of course offerings or issue student certificates should the minimum standards of the course not be met.

Definitions Back to Top

Facilitator: An individual trained by the I.A.A.I. to conduct "Train the Trainer" course programs to the Chapters. This individual may also deliver the course on behalf of the I.A.A.I..

Chapter Instructor: An individual selected by the Chapter to delivery, teach and coordinate the Expert Witness Courtroom Testimony program. These individuals must be certified by the I.A.A.I..

Train the Trainer: Certification course the Chapter Instructors must complete. The course is the Expert Witness Courtroom Testimony program with additional instructor training.

Minimum Standards Back to Top

The use of a courtroom and attorney participants is mandatory.
Chapter Instructors and I.A.A.I. Facilitators must be Certified Fire Investigators. Further they must have provided expert testimony in either trial or deposition on at least two occasions.

Written confirmation of attorney participants and courtroom is mandatory.
I.A.A.I. HQ notification of scheduled course offerings prior to the course being held is mandatory.
The goals and objectives of each module of training must be met.

The I.A.A.I. reserves the right not to certify a course or issue student certificates should the minimum standards of the course not be met.

I.A.A.I. Responsibilities Back to Top

1. Provide master copies of Student and Instructor manuals on CD disc
2. Issue certificates to students
3. Provide Train the Trainer course to Chapter Instructors at Chapter's locale
4. Provide approved I.A.A.I. Facilitator for Train the Trainer course
5. Provide Train the Trainer course at I.A.A.I. HQ, as needed
6. Provide update training as needed
7. Provide annual Instructor/Facilitator updates at AGM
8. Provide updated manuals when required
9. Maintain database of students who have successfully completed the Expert Witness Courtroom Testimony course
10. Maintain database of I.A.A.I. Facilitators and Chapter Instructors
11. Provide a list of potential students to Chapters upon request
12. Provide a listing of scheduled Chapter course offerings
13. Provide I.A.A.I. Facilitator liaisons to assist Chapters in course presentation, logistics and mechanics

Chapter/Instructor Responsibilities Back to Top

1. Provide appropriate classrooms, courtrooms, attorney participants, AV equipment and student manuals
2. Provide written confirmation of attorney instructors/participants
3. Provide list of attorney instructors/participants names, address and phone numbers
4. Provide written confirmation of scheduled courtroom use
5. Notify the I.A.A.I. HQ of the dates and locations of scheduled Chapter delivery of the course, at least one month prior to the course date.
6. Provide the I.A.A.I. HQ with student position papers, evaluations, grading sheets and class roster
7. A $25 administration fee per student for each course delivered
8. A $200 initial Chapter Instructor licensing fee. (Annual renewal $150)
9. Reimburse the I.A.A.I. for expenses of the I.A.A.I. Facilitator to locally conduct the Train the Trainer course for Chapter Instructors
10. Provide a written explanation should a scheduled attorney fail to attend or the courtroom is cancelled
11. Chapters are limited to delivering the course within their own Chapter
12. Chapters shall maintain all necessary financial records and other documents related to the course

Chapter Instructor Qualifications Back to Top

1. I.A.A.I. Certified Fire Investigator
2. Level One State/Province Instructor or equivalent
3. Chapter approval
4. Approved Instructor application
5. Successfully complete the Train the Trainer course
6. Attend any update training for new course material
7. Instruct at least one course every two years

Substantiation Back to Top

The course is designed to meet minimum standards in order to qualify for the Certified Fire Investigator application, "Experience Other" section. Due to the significance of the Expert Witness Courtroom Testimony program on the CFI application, the minimum standards must be maintained.

Chapters are required to notify the I.A.A.I. HQ of the dates and locations of scheduled Chapter delivery of the course, at least one month prior to the course being held. Numerous inquiries are received at the HQ requesting this information from potential students. Prospective students will be forwarded to the Chapters. This will also assist the staff in preparing certificates, tracking students and assigning an I.A.A.I. Facilitator liaison to the Chapter.

The use of a courtroom is mandatory. In the event unforeseen circumstances result in the loss of use of the courtroom, a written explanation of the circumstances leading to the cancellation must be provided. A photograph of the alternative courtroom should also be provided. Certificates may not be issued should this requirement not be fulfilled.

Contingency plans (alternate courtroom and extra attorney) must be formulated. Should these cancellations occur prior to the course presentation, a rescheduled date should be considered if time allows.

In the event an attorney cancels, a written explanation describing why the cancellation occurred and the substitution solution also needs to be sent to the I.A.A.I. HQ. The course facilitator or other similarly qualified individual may be used as a substitute Judge, but not in the role of the attorney conducting either direct or cross-examination.

Chapters are limited to delivering the Expert Witness Courtroom Testimony course under the provisions of the licensing agreement. This is required to market the course to other Chapters and organizations.

The program shall not be delivered for monetary gain of the Facilitator / Instructor. I.A.A.I. Facilitators / Instructors may be reimbursed for their travel expenses and per diem to deliver the course.

Chapters requesting the Train the Trainer course must submit the appropriate applications, licensing fee and reimbursement as outline in Chapter / Instructor Qualifications listed above. The closest available I.A.A.I. Facilitator will be assigned to provide the Expert Witness Courtroom Testimony - Train the Trainer course to the Chapter.

Chapter Instructors, after successfully completing the train the trainer course, may teach the expert witness testimony course on behalf of a licensed Chapter. The Chapter may offer the course as often as they desire to their members through their Chapter Instructors.

I.A.A.I. Facilitators approved and trained by the CFI committee are responsible for conducting the Train the Trainer to Chapter Instructors. Chapter Instructors can only teach students. They can not conduct train the trainer courses (train other Chapter Instructors.)

In the event a Chapter does not desire to have their own Chapter Instructors, the I.A.A.I. may be requested to present the course. The course registration fee will be set by the I.A.A.I. with all proceeds going to the I.A.A.I.. The requesting Chapter will be required to assist in arranging for a local courtroom(s) and attorneys.

Delivery Mechanism Back to Top

The entire course material is contained on a CD compact disc. Printing instructions for the Instructor Manual (IM) and Student Manual (SM) are included. Exhibits used in the course (sample cans, enlarged scene diagram and photos) will need to be provided by the hosting Chapter or the student.

A separate file (disc) on the CD is printed and sent to the Students once they have been accepted to the course. That material contains a subpoena, case scenario, agenda and recommended student material to bring to class. The material needs to be sent to the Students at least a month prior to attending class. This is required due to student assignments that need to be completed prior to attending the course.

Another file (disc) on the CD is intended for the use of the Attorneys participating in the course. That file contains the case scenario, agenda, description of their responsibilities, case reviews, Federal Rules of Evidence and suggested questions for direct and cross-examination to include appropriate treatise references.

In addition, an Instructor Outline and power point slide presentation for the Modules taught by the Attorney is provided for their use. The topics in the outline must be covered during the lecture. The Attorney may add specific issues that are jurisdiction specific; local court rules, sequestering of witness, etc.

Course Integrity Back to Top

In order to maintain the highest standards it is understood and agreed, at anytime the I.A.A.I. may attend and observe any class being taught. Further, any and all records including but not limited to applications and financial reports may be subject to review by the I.A.A.I. as well.

The I.A.A.I. HQ may be requested to provide master hard copies of these materials for reproduction. All shipping, handling and reproduction costs associated with any request will be the responsibility of the requesting Chapter.