Beyond error detection

The Performative Role of Checklists in Shaping Forensic Practices

Resumo

This study explores the performative role of checklists in enhancing the quality of digital forensic analysis and reporting within the criminal justice system. By drawing on theoretical frameworks such as Science and Technology Studies (STS) and Actor-Network Theory, the research examines how checklists extend beyond their procedural use and actively shape forensic practices. The study utilises the experiences of digital forensic practitioners during peer reviews within the Quality Control Project (Sunde & Dahl, 2023), revealing how checklists enact professional, ethical, and legal standards and thus shape forensic reports. The findings demonstrate that checklists do not merely guide actions, but function as dynamic actants, co-producing forensic outcomes through influencing both the content and quality of forensic reporting. Additionally, the research advocates for the public availability of checklists to enhance transparency, accountability, and trust in the credibility of digital forensic evidence. This study  contributes to a deeper understanding of the transformative capacity (Asdal, 2015) of checklists in forensic practices and invites further investigation into the sociomaterial impact of comparable devices in other fields.