A detailed description of the structure of inquiries and investigations by the CRI can be found in sections 6-12  of the Rules of Procedure for the National Commission for Research Integrity. The following overview summarizes the most important steps:

1.  LARI receives an allegation of research misconduct.
   
   
2. The LARI Secretary-General informs the Chair of the CRI without delay about the allegation.
   
   
3. The Chair and Vice-Chair of the CRI conduct an initial inquiry to assess whether the allegation falls inside the scope and remit of the CRI and whether it has sufficient credibility to warrant an investigation. They may consult the entire CRI committee. The LARI Secretary-General may communicate with the person(s) or organization(s) that have reported the allegation to gather additional information, if the Chair and Vice-Chair deem the initially reported information insufficient to make a decision.
   
   
4. If the allegation is deemed credible and falls inside the scope and remit of the CRI, the case is accepted for an investigation. Otherwise, the case is rejected for an investigation, and the person(s) or organization(s) reporting the case are informed about the decision within 30 business days.                             
5. If the case is accepted for investigation, one CRI member is assigned to lead the investigation (the “first reader”) and a second CRI member is assigned to support the first reader (the “second reader”). Usually, the CRI member with most expertise in the research area to which the allegation refers is selected to serve as first reader.
   
   
6. The decision to launch an investigation is usually communicated to: i) the LARI Board of Directors, ii), the person(s) or organization(s) that reported the case (the “complainant”) iii) the LARI member organization(s) directly involved in the case, iv) the person(s) to whom the allegation refers (the “respondent”). However, the CRI may deem it necessary and reserves the right not to communicate the decision to launch an investigation to all or some of these parties if such a communication could jeopardize the investigation.
   
   
7. The first reader and second reader, with support from the LARI Secretary-General, obtain opinions and gather evidence. The LARI Secretary-General serves as the main interlocutor between the CRI and the parties and witnesses involved in an investigation.
   
   
8. The first and second reader report on the findings of the investigation at monthly CRI meetings, and the entire CRI discusses the progress of the investigation.
   
   
9. Upon completion of the investigation, the first reader, assisted by the second reader, drafts a final assessment of the results of the investigation.
   
   
10. The final assessment is submitted for discussion and approval to the entire CRI. If necessary, the investigation resumes until approval is obtained.
    
    
11. Upon approval of the final assessment, the first and second reader, in close collaboration with the LARI Secretary-General, draft a final report that again requires approval from the entire CRI. Final reports, which are strictly confidential documents, must contain the following information: i) a summary of the results of the investigation, ii) an assessment of the results of the investigation, including a clear statement whether research misconduct did occur, iii) an evaluation of the severity of the research misconduct, if applicable, iv) recommendations on corrective, restorative, and/or preventive measures, v) lessons learned.
    
    
12. The final report is sent to the LARI member organization(s) involved in the case. The LARI member organization(s) must communicate the report at least to the person(s) to whom the allegation referred and duly inform all parties whose collaboration is necessary to implement the recommended remedial actions. Moreover, a copy of the final report without personal identifiers is sent to the LARI Board of Directors.
    
    
13. The CRI, through the LARI Secretary-General, informs all parties and witnesses with whom it had communicated during the investigation about the conclusion of the investigation and lets them know which LARI member organization(s) has/have received the final report.
    
    
14. The LARI member organization(s) involved in a case must inform LARI in a timely manner on actions taken in response to recommendations from final reports.