Crime Scene Investigations
This five-day (40 hour) Crime Scene Investigation course is intended for crime scene investigators/technicians, forensic technicians and detectives/investigators in the early stages of their career. This hands-on course is designed to familiarize law enforcement personnel with the basic technical skills needed to identify, document, preserve and collect the most common types of physical evidence found at crime scenes. Attendees will participate in numerous practical exercises to establish baseline knowledge in everything from crime scene documentation and photography to collecting various types of evidence for additional laboratory processing. Attendees will also be given an opportunity to learn fingerprint and latent print processing techniques utilizing a variety of chemicals and forensic light sources.
Day One and Two:
Crime Scene Investigation Overview
Processing versus Analysis
• Types of Scenes & different approaches to processing of each
Scene security
Search and identify physical evidence along with the “unseen” evidence may be present marking of the evidence
• Evidence Analysis
• Types of Physical and Pattern Evidence
• Types of Biological Evidence
• Bloodstain pattern recognition
• Arson / Explosives
• Drugs
• Collection of Evidence and Packaging
• Bloodstain exercise
Day Three:
Photography
• Cardinal Rules
• Photo Identifier and documentation forms
• Overall, Midrange, and close-up photographs
• Photographing wounds, bodies and sensitive areas
• Exposure Stops
• Exposure Variables
• Exposure Modes
• Challenging scenes (weather conditions, backlit areas, extreme darkness, etc.
• Use of Flashes and oblique lighting
• The Electromagnetic Spectrum
• Photography exercise
Death Investigations and Scene Processing
Manner of Death
• Rigor Mortis, Livor Mortis, Putrefaction, etc.
• Entomology
• Injuries and wound types
• Autopsy procedures
Day Four:
Fingerprints and Latent Processing Techniques
• What are fingerprints?
• Types of fingerprints: Patent, Latent and plastic prints
• Porous, non-porous and semiporous surfaces
• Other surfaces (sticky side tape, cardboard, wood, etc.)
• Processes and Procedures used to Develop Latent Prints
• Photographing the fingerprint
• Lifting with various mediums (tape, gel lifters, glue, etc.)
• Basic latent print development exercises
Report Writing
What is important and what is not necessary
Depositions/Trials/Preparing to Testify
• CSI Effect
• Courtroom tips and pitfalls
• Trial video clips
Day Five:
• Mock Crime Scene
• Analysis of the scene
• Photographs
• Identify pertinent evidence
• Sketch/Measurements
• Process the evidence for latent prints and/or DNA
• Write a report for the mock crime scene
• Submit the report, the sketch and any notes to the instructor

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