Basic Crime Scene Investigations is a comprehensive two-day course designed to strengthen the foundational forensic and investigative skills of newer investigators, detectives, and patrol personnel involved in crime scene responsibilities. Through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on practical exercises, participants will learn the proper methods for recognizing, documenting, collecting, preserving, and processing physical evidence in a legally defensible manner.
The course emphasizes real-world application and critical thinking, allowing students to develop confidence in managing crime scenes from initial response through evidence submission. Topics include scene security, photography, documentation, chain of custody, evidence identification, and basic forensic principles. Practical exercises provide students the opportunity to apply investigative techniques in simulated crime scene environments.
This course is also well-suited for patrol officers, deputies, detectives, and other agency personnel who serve as shift crime scene investigators or who are responsible for preliminary crime scene processing in the field.
This is course is approved for crime scene certification hours through the International Association for Identification (IAI).
Topics Include:
- Scene Documentation: Photography and Written Documentation
- The Forensic Triangle & Sequential Processing
- Protecting your Scene
- Chain of Custody Considerations
- Types of Evidence Present at Your Scenes
- DNA Evidence Introduction and Collection Methods
- Latent Print Processing
- Trace Evidence types and collection
- Blood evidence considerations
- Testimony
- Case Studies
- Practical Exercises
If possible, students should bring the following equipment:
- Camera and all related equipment
- Fingerprinting kit
INSTRUCTOR: Holly Kane (BIO)