SS-2015
AN INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION


COURSE DESCRIPTION
This comprehensive self paced online course is a practical and informative introduction to the complexities of crime scene investigation (CSI), from discovery of evidence to its presentation in courts of law. The student learns professional methods and procedures employed in a crime scene investigation, including how to secure a crime scene, how to collect, preserve and transport evidence, how to recognize and avoid contamination of physical evidence and biological specimens, and how to release the crime scene when the investigation is fully concluded. Other topics include chain of custody, investigative ethics, types of forensic evidence, blood spatter analysis, touch DNA, trace evidence, biological evidence, footwear, tire and tool mark impression evidence, wound identification, firearm evidence, medical-legal autopsy, bite mark evidence, fracture matching, illicit drug evidence, fire debris evidence, pollen evidence, photography, and new technologies in evidence collection. Finally, the course introduces the latest developments in the world of crime scene investigation, including such subjects as virtual autopsy, touch DNA and the collection of electronic evidence. This course is a must for crime scene investigators and forensic professionals interested or involved in crime scene investigation.


AUTHOR BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Faye Battiste-Otto obtained licensure as a registered nurse in St. John's, Newfoundland, thereafter immigrating to the United States and settling in Southern California where she initially distinguished herself in the applied nursing skill and management of emergency room medicine.

She has essentially devoted her professional nursing endeavors to forensic science as a career choice, using her many talents to create practical opportunities in the field. Since 1983, commencing with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department in Riverside County, California, USA, her company, American Forensic Nurses, has been providing a variety of mobile forensic evidence collection services to many of the major law enforcement agencies in Southern California. As the company grew, she expanded those services to include the examination of child and adult victims of sexual assault and abuse; in doing so establishing the first privately owned American company providing mobile forensic services to public entities. Through her vast experience and forensic training, she has developed many policies and procedures in the arena of evidence collection.

Through her production company, WNS Productions, she has created and produced, a one hour training DVD, The Sexual Assault Examination: Essential Forensic Techniques and Instructional Reference Guide. This DVD and training manual are specifically designed for professionals who are involved in sexual assault investigations and who conduct sexual assault medical forensic examinations. This indispensable DVD and training manual, describing the professional collection of forensic evidence from victims of sexual assault, is widely used as a training tool in domestic and foreign hospitals.

Her commitment to the expansion of education in forensic science led to the creation of the American Institute of Forensic Education, Inc., an online educational forum, dedicated to the advancement of forensic science; presenting comprehensive professional programs authored and taught by a faculty internationally recognized in the field of forensic science. Mrs. Otto is currently president of the American Institute of Forensic Education.

She has developed other professional and informational websites related to the field of forensic science and is forever expanding her knowledge and skill in this specialty.

As one of the founding members and former Director of the International Association of Forensic Nurses; and in recognition of her achievements and contributions as a pioneer in the field, she has received the prestigious Pioneer Award in Forensic Nursing, presented by the Association. In addition to her duties as President and CEO of American Forensic Nurses, Inc. She serves on the Board of Trustees of the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation headquartered in Sacramento, California.


OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this course, the student will:

• Possess knowledge of law enforcement code of ethics and standard of integrity
  
  
• Be able to process a crime scene.
  
  
• Be able to protect a crime scene, identify, collect, and properly preserve the evidence for court presentation.
  
  
• Have knowledge of the latest developments in forensic evidence collection.
  
  
• Have knowledge of the history of forensic science.
  
  
• Understand terminology related to crime scene investigation.
  
  
• Identify the different types of evidence.
  
  
• Accurately record a crime scene through photography, sketches, and notes so that it may be reconstructed later for interpretation.
  
  
• Understand the importance of avoiding contamination of the crime scene, physical evidence and biological specimens.
  
  
• Demonstrate proper techniques in recognizing, collecting, marking, packaging, and preserving physical evidence.
  
  
• Understand and follow proper Chain of Custody procedures.
  
  
• Understand blood splatter interpretation.
  
  
• Identify the characteristics of wounds often found at crime scenes.
  
  
• Understand and identify collection techniques for trace evidence such as pollen, hairs, and fibers.
  
  
• Have knowledge of medical-legal autopsy and virtual autopsy.
  
  
• Understand and define physical evidence and other types of evidence.
  
  
• Be proficient in biological, illicit drug, and electronic evidence collection procedures.
  
  
• Define and understand the crime scene examination process and scene preservation.
  
  
• Recognize the evidentiary value of those evidentiary items most frequently encountered at crime scenes such as bodily fluids, firearms, tool marks, fingerprints, questioned documents, shoeprints, tire treads, and trace evidence.
  
  
• Understand and implement proper procedures for releasing the crime scene.