Sexual Misconduct
Resources and Information

AAFS takes the safety of its meeting attendees seriously and strives to promote a welcoming experience for all. In order to promote a safe environment for meeting attendees, we have resources for meeting attendees about sexual misconduct.

What is sexual misconduct?

Sexual misconduct is an umbrella term that includes different types of sexual violence, including sexual harassment and sexual assault. (https://www.rainn.org/types-sexual-violence)

What is sexual harassment?

Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature in the workplace or learning environment, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (www.rainn.org/articles/sexual-harassment?gclid=CjwKCAjw2P-KBhByEiwADBYWCqz0g1E4mRJrXf5TN-EQ-JYXo2Q7USOYrtu1c9kIaUmTmrEtpmsaxoCbiQQAvD_BwE)

What is sexual assault?

The term sexual assault refers to sexual contact or behavior that occurs without explicit consent of the victim. (www.rainn.org/articles/sexual-assault)

What do I do if I experience sexual misconduct during the annual conference?

Call 911.
Call the AAFS ''safe person'' number below or contact another member of the AAFS staff.
Locate security personnel at the conference venue.
Report conduct to the AAFS Ethics Committee.
Refer to the resources list below.

What do I do if I have witnessed sexual misconduct during the annual conference?

Talk to the victim/survivor. Encourage them to review this resource page.
Direct them to the AAFS "safe person" or another member of the AAFS staff.
Direct them to security personnel at the conference venue.
If the person is in immediate danger, call 911.

Resources:

Victim Service Center of Central Florida (VSC): Provides 24/7 sexual assault support, crisis intervention, and forensic exams, located at 2111 East Michigan Street, Suite 210, Orlando, FL. https://victimservicecenter.org/

Orlando Police Department: 321.235.5300 https://www.orlando.gov/Our-Government/Departments-Offices/Orlando-Police-Department

National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233

RAINN www.rainn.org. Resources include definitions, statistics, crisis line, and crisis chat.

National Sexual Violence Resource Center www.nsvrc.org. Resources for survivors, including definitions, where to get help, and post-assault recovery.

National Domestic Violence Hotline www.thehotline.org. Resources include definitions, local resources/legal aid, crisis line, and crisis chat.

No member or affiliate of the Academy shall participate in unacceptable behavior at an annual Academy conference, to include times not specifically in session or at gatherings, social or otherwise, not specifically a part of the Academy program. Unacceptable behavior includes, but may not be limited to, harassment; intimidation; discrimination; physical abuse; physical assault, verbal abuse; inappropriate use of nudity or sexual images; threats; stalking; unwanted sexual comments or advances; or derogatory comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, national origin, or political positions.

As we look forward to welcoming everyone to Orlando for the 79^th AAFS Annual Scientific Conference, we wanted to take a moment to reiterate the importance of professionalism and respect in all aspects of the conference. With over 3,000 attendees spanning the myriads of disciplines across the forensic sciences, we know there will be healthy discussion and debate throughout the week. Such discussion and debate are important for the furtherance of our organizational mission and the centering of science within our professions.

The AAFS Annual Conference is among the most respected gatherings within the forensic sciences community, and, as such, AAFS is committed to facilitating a program that is welcoming, respectful, inclusive, and collaborative. To that end, our Code of Conduct applies to all official AAFS-sponsored functions as well as affiliated events connected with AAFS, whether in public or private facilities.

We encourage everyone to respect the following basic principles while on-site for the AAFS Conference next week:

Treat everyone with respect.
Respect your fellow participants by using good practices in discussions and collaborations.
Be mindful of your surroundings and your fellow participants.
Respect the rules and policies of the meeting venue, hotels, AAFS contract facilities, digital resources, and other venues.
Refrain from any inappropriate comments, behavior, or actions that could cause disruptions during a presentation.

While we are confident our professional community will maintain a collaborative, respectful atmosphere throughout the week, please note that disruptions to the event will not be tolerated and could result in being removed from a session or from the event altogether.

We look forward to welcoming you to Orlando for a successful week of education, networking, and professional growth. Thank you for being a part of the AAFS community.

Professionalism Statement Acknowledgment in Cadmium – must agree and sign in order to submit an abstract

The American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) is committed to fostering a professional, respectful, and collegial environment for the dissemination of scientific knowledge. All submitted materials — including abstracts, presentations, webinars, and related content — must reflect these values.

All content must be based on factual, verifiable information. Presenters are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of their materials and must exercise appropriate diligence, particularly when addressing sensitive or potentially controversial subject matter. Failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in the revision or withdrawal of a submission and may affect eligibility for future participation in AAFS programs.

AAFS Professionalism Statement Acknowledgement – p.13 of Program Planner's Guide

During the abstract submission process, submitters will be asked to acknowledge the following statement regarding professionalism in conduct and content at AAFS educational programs. The American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) is committed to fostering a professional, respectful, and collegial environment for the dissemination of scientific knowledge. All submitted materials — including abstracts, presentations, webinars, and related content — must reflect these values.

Submissions must be presented in a manner that upholds the highest standards of professionalism. Language or content that could reasonably be interpreted as defamatory or disrespectful toward individuals, agencies, institutions, companies, or products is not permitted. Constructive critique grounded in evidence is encouraged; however, ad hominem commentary or personal criticism is inconsistent with AAFS standards and will not be tolerated. All content must be based on factual, verifiable information. Presenters are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of their materials and must exercise appropriate diligence, particularly when addressing sensitive or potentially controversial subject matter. Failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in the revision or withdrawal of a submission and may affect eligibility for future participation in AAFS programs.

AAFS Process for Abstracts with Concerning Content – p. 13 of Program Planner's Guide, also available on Reviewer Portal

Any concerns with abstracts, special sessions, or other presentations published in the Program for the AAFS Annual Scientific Conference should be forwarded to the AAFS Senior Meetings Manager.
The AAFS Senior Meetings Manager along with the AAFS Meetings Team will review the merits of the claim and identify potential or known issues that could detrimentally affect AAFS and/or the AAFS annual conference.
The Senior Meetings Manager will notify the AAFS Program Chair and the AAFS Program Co-Chair as well as the appropriate Special Session Chair and Co-Chair (e.g., Workshops, Luncheons, Deep Dives) or Section Chair and Co-Chair (e.g., Criminalistics, General).
The Senior Meetings Manager will also make the AAFS President aware of the claim.
The Senior Meetings Manager, the AAFS Program Chair and Co-Chair, and the Section Chair and Co-Chair or the Special Session Chair and Co-Chair will convene and decide on a course of action regarding the abstract/presentation with concerns.
A meeting(s) with the author(s) and/or complainant(s) may be requested to discuss the claim but are not required.
Actions may include but are not limited to requesting editing of the abstract or title, cancellation of the presentation, or no action needed.
The Senior Meetings Manager will notify the AAFS President of the proposed action(s).
The Senior Meetings Manager will notify the complainant(s) and presentation author(s) of the decision.

During Moderator training – virtual

Once the session begins, please remind attendees to be respectful of the presenters by silencing cell phones and keeping conversations with others to a minimum. Introduce each speaker and presentation, especially if you know them personally.

We also encourage you to remind attendees that there should be no inappropriate comments made during the presentation and any heckling will result in being asked to leave the session. Should you run into this issue, please contact a member of AAFS staff and we will be happy to assist.

Unfortunately, there may be instances where an attendee is disruptive during a session, such as arguing with the presenter, heckling, or otherwise distracting other attendees in the room or interrupting the presentation. As a moderator, your role is to ensure these instances are quickly resolved, and any such disruptions are kept to a minimum as much as possible. While we certainly hope this does not happen in your sessions, we do rely on you to take first action as appropriate should a situation arise.

To assist with that, here are some tips to keep in mind should this occasion arise:

First, stay calm. It's important not to lose your temper or act in an aggressive manner.
Second, don't get into a heated argument. Having a blazing row with the individual in front of the rest of the audience is likely to make the rest of the group feel very uncomfortable. Try to remain upbeat and professional; encourage extended questions or discussion be addressed after the session has concluded, or that side conversations be taken outside.
Third, even if you're frustrated, remember to always treat the attendees with respect, even if they're not reciprocating. Sometimes someone may not realize how disruptive they are being. Thank them for their question or input and encourage additional discussion to happen after the session so we can keep on schedule. Staying professional and respectful minimizes the risk of an escalation or others trying to jump to their defense if they feel the individual is being belittled.
Fourth, maintain order throughout the session. Ensure it starts on time, progresses according to the schedule, and that folks are reminded to stay professional and respectful. Establishing this from the start of the session will make it easier in the event you need to address a situation during the program.
If all else fails, you are empowered to ask the disruptor to leave the session. This should only be a last resort, if necessary. You can also contact AAFS staff for support and assistance if needed.

Finally, we want to reiterate that we have your back. You are essentially an extension of us, and as such, we expect speakers and attendees to be respectful and comply with any instructions given by our moderator team. If you have any issues or difficulties, we encourage you to let us know as soon as possible so we can assist in resolving the situation.

No member or Affiliate of the Academy shall participate in unacceptable behavior at an annual Academy conference, to include times not specifically in session or at gatherings, social or otherwise, not specifically a part of the Academy program. Unacceptable behavior includes, but may not be limited to, harassment; intimidation; discrimination; physical abuse; physical assault, verbal abuse; inappropriate use of nudity or sexual images; threats; stalking; unwanted sexual comments or advances; or derogatory comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, national origin, or political positions. 

Sexual Misconduct Resources and Information