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Law 101: Legal Guide for the Forensic Expert

The Preliminary Report

Photo of a ball pointed pen pointing to an item on a checklist. Caption reads, 'The preliminary report: sometime before the analyst has finished the investigation, his or her opinions and conclusions will be properly converted to an initial or preliminary report.'
National Institute of Justice (NIJ) (see reuse policy).

At some time before the analyst has finished the investigation, his or her opinions and conclusions will be properly converted to an initial or preliminary report. At this point, the discovery steps, such as interrogatories, production of documents, and depositions, may still be under way. Tests may not have been concluded. The literature survey may be unfinished. Witness statements may need to be obtained. Preliminary findings, which may be related verbally, should reflect these open areas of inquiry.

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