Multiple Instructors

Fundamentals of Crime Scene Examination and Evidence Collection

About this Course

• Daily Schedule
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• Should Be Able
  to Perform
• About Your Instructors
• Pre-Requisites
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Course Description

Expectations of the public and the courts have risen dramatically over the last several years in the area of physical evidence collection and forensic identification. Additionally, there is a need for “Homeland Security” protection through awareness, collection and identification of physical evidence at the local level. Working a crime scene is a “process” that involves a broad range of Skills.

With these issues in mind, the purpose of this course is to train crime scene personnel in the skills needed to identify, photograph, process, and preserve the crime scene and items of evidence found in them. The course is intended to provide a foundation for the future development of such expertise through experience and continued training.

COURSE OVERVIEW

Evidence Collection Kits

• Suggested items to include

What is Physical Evidence?

• Locard’s Exchange Principle
• The Evidence Triangle

Documentation of Crime Scenes

• Photography
  • Photography Equipment
  • Composure – types of photos
  • Camera controls and settings
  • Specialized photographic techniques
• Searching, sketching, measurements and diagramming crime scenes
• Written narratives and field notes

Biological Evidence – search and recovery

• DNA
• Body fluids
• Use of Luminol

Trace Evidence

• Types of evidence, collection and packaging
  • Firearms and ammunition
  • Clothing, fabrics, hairs and fibers
  • Fracture and tear matches
  • Building materials
  • Glass
  • Tool marks
  • Paints
  • Metals
  • Gunshot residue – GSR
  • Arson debris

Latent Fingerprint Development

• History behind the use of fingerprints and why they are used today
• Collection and use of “Elimination Prints”
• Skin structure and secretions and how they effect latent impressions
• Types of surfaces found at a crime scene and how to best process them
  • Porous
  • Non-porous
• Dusting and lifting methods
• Specialized techniques
  • Textured surfaces
  • Cyanoacrylate (superglue)
  • Small particle reagent – wet surfaces
  • Sticky side powder and gentian violet – adhesive tapes
  • Use of chemicals for “Porous processing” – iodine, ninhydrin

Footwear and tire track impressions

• Two and three dimensional evidence
• Class characteristics and individualization
• Photographic techniques
• Collection methods
  • Casting
  • Gel lifters
  • Dusting and lifting
  • Electrostatic lifting equipment

Document (Handwriting) Evidence
Upon completion of this training, students should possess the fundamental skills necessary to process crime scenes and collect a variety of different types of physical evidence.