Ethics
The integrity of the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts (IALEIA) is dependent upon the conduct of its individual members in all membership categories. A code of ethical behavior is set forth herewith for the purpose of providing guidance in achieving a desirable individual and group standard.
Section 1. Standards
- Exhibit the highest standards of personal integrity and professional propriety.
- Represent IALEIA at all official functions, including meetings, training events, and IALEIA Chapter activities, in accordance with IALEIA bylaws, procedures, policies, and code of ethics.
- Report violations of IALEIA bylaws, policies, or code of ethics to the Board of Directors.
- Follow all prevailing best practices and professional standards that apply to criminal intelligence analysis functions.
- Adhere to and apply the core tenets of the Law Enforcement Analytic Standards document when carrying out analytic assignments.
- Refrain from any conduct, in an official capacity, that diminishes public trust and confidence or detracts from the integrity of the criminal intelligence analysis profession.
- Avoid engaging in, or knowingly associating with, any non-official social or business contacts or persons who are known to engage in criminal, dishonest, disreputable personal conduct; and refrain from any activities that might adversely affect the reputation of IALEIA and/or an IALEIA member.
- Diligently protect individual civil rights, civil liberties, and personal privacy in all professional actions and intelligence projects.
- Engage in unauthorized information release concerning ongoing or prospective criminal cases, intelligence operations, or other sensitive law enforcement information.
- Knowingly misrepresent any case evidence, research data, or analytic findings.
- Purposely provide false or misleading information concerning their academic background, analytic experience, or professional qualifications.
- Solicit or accept any gifts in connection with official IALEIA duties in excess of $150.00 (USD).
- Solicit or accept any bribes or favors in connection with official IALEIA duties.
- Knowingly make false or misleading statements, or conceal material facts, in connection with any analytic project or official proceeding.
- Engage in any form of illegal activity.
- Publicly denigrate IALEIA, their agency, co-workers, or the criminal analysis profession.
- Discriminate against others on the basis of race, sex, creed, national origin, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
- Participate in any form of sexual harassment or exhibit malice directed at anyone including an IALEIA member.
- Misuse, or release to any non-member without authorization, any sensitive or proprietary IALEIA material, including official logo, membership records, administrative proceedings, official documents and publications, training materials, or other non-public data.
Section 2. Policies and Procedures for Processing Complaints of Ethical Violations
A. Purpose. The purpose of this document is to facilitate the work of the IALEIA Ethics Committee by specifying procedures for authorizing Complaint Review Panels to process cases of alleged violations of the IALEIA Code of Ethics and to monitor the professional conduct of IALEIA members to promote sound ethical practices. No Board member other than the Ethics Committee Chair shall serve on the Ethics Committee or an Ethics Panel.
B. If the complaint is filed against the Ethics Committee Chair, it will be directed to the IALEIA Professional Standards Director who will ensure the following process is followed.
- The IALEIA Ethics Complaint Review Panel consists of the Ethics Committee Chair, or Professional Standards Director if Section B is invoked, and four other IALEIA members in good standing.
- Panel members shall: act in an unbiased manner, work expeditiously, safeguard the confidentiality of the Panel‘s activities, and follow the procedures established to protect the rights and privacy of all individuals involved.
- The Panel shall receive and process complaints of alleged violations of the IALEIA Code of Ethics; and in processing complaints of alleged ethical misconduct shall:
- Compile an objective, factual account of the dispute in question.
- Make the best possible recommendation for the resolution of the case.
- Take appropriate action as required.
- Take the degree of disciplinary action commensurate with the charged violation.
- Utilize these procedures with objectivity and fairness to further the interests and objectives of IALEIA and its members.
- A Panel member with a personal interest in the case shall withdraw from reviewing the case.
- Complaints of ethical violations against members will be accepted only on a legibly printed or typed ’IALEIA Ethics Complaint Form‘ and accompanying additional documentation.
- All correspondence related to a complaint of ethical violations must be marked ’Confidential‘ and emailed to: ethics@ialeia.org and sent by U.S. Certified Mail with Notice of Receipt (or international equivalent) to Ethics Committee, PO Box 13857, Richmond, Virginia 23225. The Committee shall acknowledge receipt via email.
- Completed materials shall include: name and address of complainant, name and the address of the person the complaint is filed against, names of other persons who have knowledge of the facts involved, and a brief description of the reason why the complaint is filed.
- The Ethics Committee Chair or Professional Standards Director if Section B is invoked, will communicate in writing to the complainant acknowledging receipt of the form and any additional material attached.
- The Panel will evaluate if the complaint violates any sections of the IALEIA Code of Ethics.
- If the Panel decides the complaint does not violate any section of the IALEIA Code of Ethics, the complaint will not be accepted and the complainant will be notified.
- If the Panel decides insufficient information exists to make a fair determination whether the behavior alleged in the complaint would be cause of action by the Panel, the Panel may request further information from the complainant. The complainant from whom information is requested shall be given fifteen (15) working days to respond.
- The Panel may accept, at its discretion, evidence or documentation submitted late if good cause is shown.
- Upon acceptance of a complaint, the Panel will inform the complainant that the formal complaint and evidence submitted to support the complaint will be provided to the complainant. The complainant will be informed he/she must authorize release of said information to the charged member before the complaint may proceed.
- Within ten (10) days of said authorization, the Panel will send to the charged member copies of: the formal complaint; the IALEIA Code of Ethics; these policies and procedures; notification of the member‘s right to request a hearing; all evidence submitted in support of the complaint; and sections of the IALEIA Bylaws and IALEIA Policy Manual related to a member‘s suspension or expulsion.
- The charged member will be asked to forward email to ethics@ialeia.org within fifteen (15) working days: a response to each section of the IALEIA Code of Ethics cited in the complaint against her/him; and submit all evidence and documents she/he wishes to be considered by the Panel. The Committee shall acknowledge receipt via email.
- Within fifteen (15) working days the charged member will notify the Panel by email to ialeia.org, if he/she wishes to request a formal face-to-face or telephone conference hearing before the Panel. The charged member may waive the right to a formal hearing before the Panel by signing a waiver to the right to a hearing.
- The Chair or Professional Standards Director if Section B is invoked, may facilitate expedited notification procedures to accommodate charged members who reside in countries outside the United States, provided the specific country‘s postal service proof of delivery is submitted.
- At the discretion of the Panel, a hearing may be conducted when the results of the Panel‘s preliminary determination indicate additional information is needed.
- When the charged member, within fifteen (15) working days of notification of the complaint, requests a formal face-to-face or telephone conference hearing before the Panel, such a hearing shall be conducted.
- The charged member shall bear all his/her expenses associated with attendance at hearings requested by the charged member.
- Panel members will review: the complaint; supporting evidence and documents sent to the charged member; the charged member‘s response; and supporting evidence and documents provided by the charged member.
- The burden of proving a violation of the Code of Ethics is on the complainant.
- Decisions will be rendered based on the evidence and documents provided by the complainant and charged member. The Panel may dismiss the complaint, dismiss specific charges within the complaint, or uphold the entire complaint, and impose the sanction(s) allowed.
- If the complainant and the charged member agree to discontinue the formal complaint process or agree to informal mediation by means of a written or verbal apology through the Chair, the Panel may, at its discretion, complete the adjudication process, if available evidence, as determined by the Panel, indicates this is warranted.
- Sanctions imposed upon the charged member may include: counseling, reprimand, probation, membership suspension, and expulsion from IALEIA.
- Sanctions may be appealed to the IALEIA Board of Directors.
- A sanction of expulsion upheld by the Panel will be applied according to the provisions of the IALEIA Bylaws, Article III, Section 6.
- The Panel violated its policies and procedures for processing complaints of ethical violations.
- The decision of the Panel was arbitrary and capricious and was not supported by the materials provided by the complainant and charged member.
- The sanctions are inconsistent with or disproportional to the violations found.
- The records of the Panel regarding complaints are confidential except as provided herein.
- Original copies of complaint records are the property of IALEIA and will be maintained in secure and confidential files at the IALEIA home office in Richmond, Virginia.
- Members of the Panel will keep copies of complaint records confidential and destroy all personal copies of records after a case has been closed or when they are no longer a member of the Panel.
- Complainants and charged members are required to notify the Panel if they learn of any type of civil or criminal legal action filed related to the complaint.
- In the event any type of legal action is filed regarding an accepted complaint, all actions related to said complaint will be stayed until the legal action has been concluded.
- If the actions on a complaint are stayed, the complainant and charged member will be notified.
When actions on a complaint are continued after a legal action has been concluded, the complainant and charged member shall be notified. [Board, October 16, 2014]
Disclaimer. The IALEIA member involved in the Ethics Complaint process is responsible to ensure the email on file with IALEIA is up-to-date.