Course Description
This course will present the fundamentals of crime scene investigation by discussing the identification, documentation, and collection of physical evidence at crime scenes. The course will emphasize techniques for crime scene documentation such as note-taking, photography, and sketching, as well as the proper collection and packaging techniques for different types of evidence to ensure that the evidence is protected for future forensic analysis. Students will be asked to think critically about the management of crime scenes, evidence collection and analysis procedures, crime scene personnel/agencies, and evidence admissibility in court. At the end of the course, students will participate in a mock crime scene examination that will require application of course material to a full crime scene processing. During the mock scene, students will be required to follow procedures to ensure that the scene is properly secured and documented and that all relevant evidence is located, processed, and collected in such a way as to ensure investigator safety and evidence sustainability.
Course Textbook
There is one required textbook for this course. We will jump right into the textbook starting week one, so make sure you purchase your copy early!
Clutter, S., Boone, L., McGill, D. (2021). So you want to be a CSI? (1st ed.). Kendall Hunt Publishing. ISBN: 1524989703 (Spiral Bound)
Helpful Resources
One of the fundamental skills you will learn in Crime Scene Processing is how to sketch a crime scene. The resources provided here are designed to help you understand the different types of crime scene sketches and how to create rough and final sketches of crime scenes.
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Photography is another key skill for crime scene investigators. In the Crime Scene Processing course, you will use a Nikon D7100 digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera with 18-140mm and 35mm lenses and a Nikon SB-700 AF Speedlight. The videos provided here are designed to help you learn how to use this equipment. You can also access a great web tutorial on the Nikon D7000 series on the KenRockwell.com.
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During the Crime Scene Processing course, you will learn how to collect latent prints from a crime scene. You will also learn how to collect known prints from suspects and victims to use in fingerprint comparisons. The videos below describe some of the common collection methods that you will use in class to collect unknown and known fingerprints.
Collecting Known Prints
Known prints are used to compare to latent fingerprints collected at a crime scene. Known prints are taken from suspects, victims, or other persons that may have had access to a crime scene. Known prints are usually collected on a 10-print card, which includes rolled prints and slap prints. The resources provided here explain how to collect known prints.
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Collecting Latent Prints
Latent prints are fingerprints that are invisible to the naked eye. Investigators can use a variety of processors to help visualize the print. Physical processors like black power and magnetic powder can be lifted using physical tape. There are also chemical fingerprint processors, some of which can be collected via tape and others that can be photographed and preserved as digital evidence.
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Comparing Fingerprints
This video explains the fingerprint comparison process. Of importance are the reliance on human interpretation, the verification standard for fingerprint “matches” and the evaluative findings for fingerprint examiners.
Analyzing Trace Evidence in Fingerprints
The TED Talk provided here describes how forensic chemists are using fingerprints to identify more than just fingerprint patterns. Using microscopic trace evidence, forensic scientists can detect if the suspect has used drugs, touched explosives, or contacted other substances like condoms.
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The video provided here shows you to calculate the area of convergence (2D) and area of origin (3D) using bloodstain patterns.
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Scientific Working Groups
A Scientific Working Group (SWGs) consists of scientific experts brought together to identify best practices and develop standard operating procedures and guidelines for the field. There were numerous SWGs developed in the late 1990’s, early 2000’s, each devoted to a specific area within the forensic science discipline. SWGs were under the regulation of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a subdivision of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The goal of each SWG was to improve evidence recovery, analysis, and testimony relating to the specific type of evidence considered by the SWG. Although many of the original SWGs have been disbanded, most SWGs maintain an online repository of guidelines and other reports that they have published. I encourage you to review the websites below when researching for your Evidence Critique Paper.
- Scientific Working Group on Facial Identification
- Scientific Working Group on Fire and Explosive Scenes
- Scientific Working Group on Firearms and Toolmarks
- Scientific Working Group on Gunshot Residue
- Scientific Working Group on Medicolegal Death Investigation
- Scientific Working Group on Forensic Document Examination
- Scientific Working Group on Wildlife Forensic Services
- Scientific Working Group on Seized Drugs
- Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence
- Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods
- Scientific Working Group on Dog and Orthogonal detector Guidelines
- Scientific Working Group on Shoeprint and Tire Tread Evidence
American Academy of Forensic Science’s Academy Standards Board (ASB)
The Academy Standards Board (ASB) was developed by the American Academy of Forensic Science with the goal of creating a national registry of collection & analysis standards for all forensic science evidence. The ASB is a good source of standard operating procedures and evaluation reports for different forensic science analysis techniques.
Mock Crime Scenes
In Spring 2022, Drs. Bailey and Wooldridge hosted the first Murder Mystery at UT Tyler event. This event included 190 community members who helped solve a multiple homicide whodunit by searching the crime scene for evidence, interviewing suspects, and analyzing evidence at a crime laboratory. Forensic Science and Criminal Justice students helped make this event a success, acting as crime suspects and running activity booths so participants could learn about the realities of forensic science.
We were fortunate to have so much help from local agencies and businesses for this event. American Homes donated a 2/2 manufactured home for this event, and SouthSide Furniture provided interior furnishings. Our activity booth area had representatives from UT Tyler PD, Tyler PD, Discovery Science Place, Smith County Veteran’s Court, Smith County Probation, and the Drug Enforcement Agency’s Tyler office. Local businesses Evans Air Conditioning, Roost Deli, Times Square Grand Slam, and Dangling Divas donated drawing prizes that our participants could enter using their completed arrest warrants.
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In Spring 2021, the Mock Crime Scene assignment became a full day event with the help of several generous community partners. Pratt Homes donated a tiny home that became the scene of a multiple homicide. UT Tyler staff volunteered to be live victims, and emergency responders from Christus Mother Frances, Kilgore PD, and UT Tyler Police Department helped bring the simulation alive.
