Crime Scene Investigator II-Dekalb

PURPOSE OF COURSE:  This five-day, 40-hour program has been designed by Blue Line Training and Development Inc., along with expert practitioners in the field of evidence identification and collection. The purpose of this course is to educate Officers, Homicide Investigators, Detectives, Crime Scene Investigators (CSIs), and members of Major Crime Task Forces in the art and science of crime scene investigation as it relates to collection, identification, and preservation of evidence to be submitted to a forensic science laboratory for analysis. This course is specifically a continuation of basic training received in CSI 1 (Prerequisite) to allow more time and exposure to processing a crime scene from start to finish, including reports and courtroom testimony. This course has a strong focus on body crimes, death investigations and advanced techniques and technologies in forensic science and processing scenes. 

COURSE OVERVIEW:  This program is designed for Officers, Homicide Investigators, Detectives, Crime Scene Investigators, Members of Major Crime Task Forces and Evidence Technicians. The course will introduce advanced evidence collection techniques, identification, and preservation techniques. The impact of these techniques upon specific criminal investigative disciplines will also be discussed and practiced.

CORSE TOPICS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:  

 • Crime scene management and the 7-step crime scene process 

• Crime scene photography, photography of chemical processes, low light and night photography

• Crime scene sketching, diagramming, and animation 

• Forensic Laboratory Sections/Disciples, techniques on scene and performed at the laboratory  

• Evidence recognition, handling, packaging, and submission – current laboratory guidelines based on the severity of the crime. 

• Firearm/ballistic evidence, IBIS and NIBIN technology 

• Firearm trajectory 

• Trace, arson and toolmark evidence 

• Impression evidence 

• Latent fingerprint blood detection and enhancement  

CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION 2 - BLTD.docx • Biological evidence/DNA and CODIS technology. The changing role of DNA in Investigations • Report writing specific to crime scenes processed • Forensic Entomology and decomposition process and documentation • 5 Field Scene Assessments – Shooting/Ballistics Scene, Crime of Sexual Conduct, Death investigation in a vehicle, Death investigation by hanging, Death Investigation by suspected overdose, Burial and skeleton remains recovery. 

COURSE GOALS: This program will provide students with the following skills: 

• Demonstrate competence in the use of their department’s 35 mm digital camera. To include night settings, analytical photography and the storage of images for court. 

• Recover latent fingerprints, with advanced techniques and collection processes from crime scenes. 

• Process a death investigation in a vehicle. Demonstrate the 7-step process and photograph the scene completely with the use of tent markers 

• Demonstrate through a variety of practical exercises how to write reports, package a variety of types of evidence, and explain what the lab capabilities are in relation to the types of evidence collected. 

• Demonstrate the use of Mikrosil on tool marks and impression evidence. 

• Identify the forensic specialty that will analyze the evidence collected at a scene. 

• Proficiently photograph each crime scene presented and depict the location of specific evidence at the scene. 

• Determine the need for and limitations of search warrants and consents to search. 

• Perform presumptive field tests used to determine the presence of blood. 

• Complete the 7 steps of processing a crime scene, from beginning to end on a shooting/ballistic scene. 

• Complete the 7 steps of processing a crime scene, from beginning to end on a crime scene with a victim body and multiple disciplines of evidence. 

• Complete the mapping of a burial scene. Recover skeletal remains and physical evidence in the scene. Describe the different approaches to identifying the victim. Photographically document each stage of recovery, complete a diagram and report. 

COURSE PREREQUISITES:  This course will be offered to sworn personnel of law enforcement, sheriffs and public safety agencies. Civilian personnel employed full time as Crime Scene Investigators may also attend with MTU and Blue Line Training and Development approval.  There are three prerequisites for this course, the first affecting the sponsoring agency and the second and third affecting student participants: 

1.Agency: Only Chiefs, Sheriffs, Public Safety Directors, MTU Directors or their designated representatives, may enroll student officers. Officers will NOT be allowed to enroll themselves. 

2. Student Participants: Only personnel who are currently employed by a unit of local government in a sworn capacity or full-time civilian CSI will be permitted to attend this program. Full-time personnel from member railroad, state or federal agencies not under the jurisdiction of the ILETSB may make an application to attend this program. 

3. Student Participants: Students will have attended 40 hours of Basic E.T. or CSI training, to attend Crime Scene Investigation II. (Certificate requested at registration)

METHODS OF  EVALUATION:  Students will be required to demonstrate knowledge of all course materials. Additionally, the instructors will evaluate students’ comprehension and retention of course topics based on their participation in practical exercises/scenarios and field assessments conducted during the course.  Students will participate in tabletop evidence scenarios, photography exercises, evidence packaging and report writing of a minimum of 5 crime scenes. Evaluation forms completed by each student will provide feedback to the MTU on the quality of the course content and the instructors’ effectiveness in delivering this content. 

COURSE REFERENCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY:  Required reading: The Wisconsin Physical Evidence Handbook 2021 Download the electronic textbook on your laptop or phone. You do not have to read the textbook prior to the course, but you should be familiar with the textbook and how to access the information. This is the Link to the Wisconsin Physical Evidence Handbook. 2021_physical evidence handbook-2017.pdf (state.wi.us) The Wisconsin Physical Evidence Handbook is an electronic textbook. This Textbook offers short succinct chapters on each of the types of evidence, forensic laboratory disciplines and how to process the physical evidence that is found at a crime scene. The Index lists the forensic discipline by Chapter and page number. This makes it very easy to locate the type of physical evidence a crime scene investigator needs to process, and ensure that it is collected and packaged correctly, for forensic analysis. 

While training Law Enforcement Agencies in Crime Scene Investigation, we are asked to provide a comprehensive list of supplies and equipment that is needed to process crime scenes. Appendix B, located toward the end of the textbook has Collection Kits listed by specific type of physical evidence. These can be used to develop collection kits for fingerprinting, footwear, trace evidence, etc. It is a good starting point for a department to create the kits that are most needed for the crimes being committed in their specific jurisdiction. It describes the types of packaging supplies and equipment needed to process scenes. These lists can be used to order equipment from a reputable crime scene supply company and used to research the best price and availability of supplies needed. 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS/GRADING POLICY:  Students must be competent with their department’s DSLR digital camera and must bring the following items to class with them: 

• Laptop computer with USB port 

• DSLR digital camera with flash (per person) 

• Digital Camera memory card (min 16 GB) 

• Tripod with all necessary attachments to fit the department camera. (per person) 

• An off-shoe cord/cable and detachable flash for analytical photography 

• Latent fingerprint development kit with black powders, applicators and brushes 

• Set of tent markers #1- 20 

• Flashlight Students must successfully complete individual and group practical assessments.  Students are assessed on their use of digital photography, documentation and processing practices, collection of physical evidence, report writing and courtroom testimony. 

This course has been certified by the ILETSB and approved to meet the following mandates: Civil Rights - .50 hours

Constitutional & Proper Use of Law Enforcement Authority - .50 hours

Human Rights - .50 hours

Legal Updates - .50 hours

Officer Safety Techniques - .50 hours

Procedural Justice - 4.0 hours

Specialized Training

Lead Homicide Investigator - 40.0 hours