Presented by Ron Smith and Associates, Inc., and the

 Instructors:
Ron Smith, CLPE, CSCSA
or
 Dwane Hilderbrand, CLPE, CSCSA, CFWE
 
 

Course Description
IS THIS YOU?

You’re on the stand, the defense counsel gets up from the table, approaches you and asks you these questions:
  • Is it possible that you overlooked something in your investigation or examination?
     
  • Since it is possible that you overlooked something, it would be possible that the thing you overlooked could have been very important, isn’t that correct?
     
  • Is it possible that if you had discovered that important piece of evidence or item of information, it could have led your investigation in a different direction?
     
  • Since it is possible that your investigation or examination could have gone in a different direction, then of course it must be possible that the new direction could have led you to a different result or person, isn’t that correct?

IF YOU CAN’T HANDLE THESE QUESTIONS PROPERLY, YOUR TESTIMONY IS LOST!

If you are interested in learning how to handle these types of questions and hundreds more, then don’t delay in registering for this seminar. Seating will be limited.

 

WHY THIS TYPE OF TRAINING IS NEEDED

Most law enforcement officers, investigators and forensic specialists receive very little formal training on proper methods of providing testimony in front of a judge or jury. That presents a significant problem because jury members assume that not only are you properly trained in providing testimony, but that you also testify on a regular basis as part of your job. For most criminal justice witnesses, testifying in court is not part of their weekly or even monthly schedule and this lack of experience leads to a natural feeling of anxiety when they are called upon to testify. This two day seminar is specifically designed to aid the student in understanding and accepting that natural fear and taking that concern and channeling it in a positive direction to make them a better witness. You will learn that “Fear is Good” because when you are afraid you are also very alert to what is happening around you. Once you learn to utilize and channel this feeling you can make great strides in becoming the witness you want to be and the kind of witness that the jury expects. The training concept is simple. “It is OK to have butterflies when you testify. The key to being a good witness is to teach the butterflies to fly in formation!” This seminar is designed to help you accomplish this goal.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

  • Individuals that have a natural fear of public speaking. (That’s just about everyone)
     

  • Individuals who have not had the opportunity to receive very much, if any, formal courtroom testimony training. (That’s just about everyone, again)
     

  • Individuals who love to assist in making the arrest, assist in knocking down the door, assist in conducting the search, assist in working the crime scene, assist in conducting the lab examination, but who can’t be found when it comes time to initial the evidence or write the report, since that leads to courtroom testimony. (You know who they are and your supervisor knows too!)
     

  • Individuals who are willing to work at identifying their strong points and best talents and build their testimony skills upon those abilities. (These are my favorite students)
     

  • Individuals who are willing to grow more professionally in two days than they can ever imagine.
     

  • Individuals who believe that they can succeed on the witness stand if someone would just show them how.

 

WHO WILL BE ATTENDING THIS SEMINAR WITH YOU?

*Criminal Investigators*
*DUI Enforcement Officers*
*Narcotics Investigators*
*Uniformed Street Officers*
*Forensic Specialists*
*Crime Scene Investigators*
*Laboratory Experts*
*Criminal Justice Trainers*

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTORS  

Ron Smith, President
Ron Smith and Associates, Inc.

Ron Smith has been employed in the forensic identification field since 1972, first with the FBI, then with the Alabama Bureau of Investigation and from 1978 until his retirement in July 2002 with the Mississippi Crime Laboratory. As Associate Director, he served as supervisor of the Meridian Branch of the Mississippi Crime Lab System. He is a specialist in courtroom testimony instruction, latent fingerprint examinations and crime scene examinations and has provided expert witness testimony in over five hundred cases in numerous states. He has been certified by the International Association for Identification in latent prints and crime scenes and is the recipient of the John A. Dondero Memorial Award and the Dedication to Service Award. He has lectured on Courtroom Testimony Techniques, latent print examinations or crime scene examination topics in over forty states and several other countries. He understands what it feels like to sweat bullets, make mistakes, lose sleep and be embarrassed by what has happened or may happen on the witness stand. He also understands how it feels to be successful and how to achieve success on the witness stand.

For over fifteen years, Ron Smith has been conducting research on courtroom testimony techniques and interviewing witnesses, judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys and the most important people of all, “JURORS”, to determine what they believe, what they like and what they specifically don’t like from criminal justice witnesses. The results of this research will surprise you and make you a better witness once you have begun to apply what you will learn. The seminar is exciting, fun and fast paced, with a great deal of interaction between the instructor and the students.
 

Dwane Hilderbrand, Senior Consultant/Instructor
Ron Smith & Associates, Inc.
Scottsdale, Arizona 

Dwane Hilderbrand began his distinguished criminal justice career in 1975 with his employment in the Identification Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, located in Washington, D.C.  In 1978 he accepted a position as Identification Technician with the Prince William County Police Department in Woodbridge, Virginia, where he was employed until 1981, when he was offered a forensic identification and crime scene position with the Scottsdale, Arizona Police Department.  Dwane dedicated the remainder of his government career to the development of his advanced technical analytical and testimonial skills and retired in October of 2005 with twenty-four years of service to the citizens of Scottsdale, Arizona.  He is now employed as a senior consultant and instructor with Ron Smith & Associates, Incorporated, headquartered in Meridian, Mississippi. 

Subsequent to Dwane’s studies in Police Science, he earned a Bachelors Degree in Management from the University of Phoenix followed by a Master’s Degree in Education from Northern Arizona University.  He is one of the very few forensic professionals in the world who has earned professional certifications from the International Association for Identification as a “Certified Latent Print Examiner”, “Certified Senior Crime Scene Analyst” and “Certified Footwear Examiner”. 

Dwane Hilderbrand, a P.O.S.T. certified instructor, has been invited to speak on a wide variety of forensic related topics at professional conferences across the United States and abroad.  His famous “involve them and they will learn” teaching style has made him one of the most sought after instructors in the criminal justice profession.  

This particular seminar, “Courtroom Testimony Techniques—Success Instead of Survival” is one of Dwane’s most educational and enjoyable courses of instruction.  He has done extensive research on the topic and has developed a methodology of teaching criminal justice professionals from all aspects of law enforcement on how to not only survive on the witness stand but to really “succeed”.  He understands the needs of the jury and is able to assist the student in reaching each jury member with the information in such a way that it is not only understandable but believable.  He has come to realize that jury members don’t actually vote on the truth, but can “only vote on their perception of the truth that day”.  Their perception of the truth is effected greatly by the presentation style and ability of the criminal justice witness and Dwane is an accomplished expert instructor in these multiple areas of technical communication. 

These advanced instructional skills are the reason that Dwane Hilderbrand has been personally selected by Ron Smith & Associates, Inc. to be a primary instructor of this very popular two (2) day courtroom testimony seminar.

 

GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION

Daily Schedule: This course will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m.

Class attire should be casual and comfortable.

This training seminar has been approved for 16 hours of Continuing Education Credit required for I.A.I. Latent Print Certification and Re-certification

Certificates of attendance, authorized by the International Association for Identification, will be awarded to each student successfully completing the seminar.

TUITION: See course registration page
 

COURSE CALENDAR

July 29-30, 2008
September 11-12, 2008

 

 

WAYS TO ENROLL

Online:
Visit the registration link for the scheduled date and location in which you are interested and fill out the online registration form associated with this course.

By FAX:
Complete all the information on the registration form, print it out and fax it to us at 601-626-1122.

By Mail:
Complete all the information on the registration form, print it out and mail it to us at:

Ron Smith & Associates, Inc.
Attention: Training Division
P.O. Box 670
Collinsville, Mississippi 39325


By Phone:
Call us toll free at 1-866–TEAM RSA (832-6772) and register directly with one of our Training
Division staff members.

PAYMENT OPTIONS:
By Check:
Checks are to be made payable to “Ron Smith & Associates, Inc.” All registrants should forward a
department check, personal check or purchase order, along with a copy of their completed registration
form to Ron Smith & Associates, Inc.


By Credit Card:
To pay by credit card, please contact Ron Smith & Associates, Inc. and speak with one of our
representatives. Call toll free at 1-866–TEAM RSA (1-866-832-6772)