This course will share a plethora of information in regards to death investigations and homicides. We will analyze violent crime from numerous angles and perspectives. We will learn how to utilize and properly document and investigate violent crimes. The students will review case studies of offenders and their victims to enhance their understanding of the motivating factors behind their violent crimes. Each section of the course will conclude in case practicums in order for the students to demonstrate their proficiency of the topics being taught.
This course is for anyone who will be responding to death scenes; including patrol officers, detectives, supervisors, medical examiners, investigators, and forensic technicians. This course will provide its participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to adequately identify and interpret a homicide, suicide, or questionable death investigation crime scene.
We will share numerous important identifying facts, in relation to the five most common types of wounds encountered by law enforcement, for homicide and death investigations. We will utilize lectures, crime scene photos, and videos in order to increase the student’s
knowledge in the following areas: homicides, self-inflicted deaths, suicides, gunshot wounds, child deaths, domestic violence related homicides, drowning deaths, ballistics and trajectory as evidence, and some of the technology available for obtaining and displaying evidence and information.
We will cover ballistic evidence, which is extremely valuable in crime scene reconstruction. A general overview of shooting incident reconstruction will be presented. Several components of shooting reconstruction including shell casing locations, projectile trajectories, gunshot residue, particle spread patterns, and bullet wound classifications will all be presented. EVERY STUDENT will receive a FREE link to download a comprehensive PDF “crime scene checklist”, which they can utilize in homicide and death investigations.
This course will cover what questions an autopsy may answer. We will also teach how to identify defense wounds on the deceased.
Students will take an in depth look into the world of behavioral analysis as it relates violent crime. We will study and analyze crime scene dynamics, while explaining why victimology is so important to our death investigation process. A key component to the crime scene assessment process, in relation to behavioral, is the consideration of existing dichotomies of offenders. Students will consider the characteristics of organized and disorganized offenders and why recognizing those reflective behaviors will assist in focusing the investigation.
We will learn the definitions and differences between Modus Operandi, Ritualistic behaviors, and Signatures pertaining to violent crime and homicides. We will learn when and why we should utilize the FBI’s data base known as (VICAP), which stands for Violent Criminal Apprehension Program.
We will share with the students’ highly effective investigative and interview strategies. We will learn techniques in identifying deception during the interview process. We will learn how to engage in legal and effective theme development. The student will learn how to effectively utilize “paralogical reasoning”. Paralogical reasoning is rooted in influencing the emotions and cognitions of an offender. We will share with the students how to use an offender’s rationale, as a means to gain admissions or confessions to violent crimes.
We will cover the latest technology involving DNA. We will also share how to utilize the MVac System, which is the latest and most advanced forensic DNA collection tool currently available. We will talk about how to properly collect and store DNA evidence. We will also cover the FBI’s data base called CODIS, (Combined DNA Index System).
We will learn how to legally and effectively unlock cell phones for investigative purposes, utilizing the Grey Key system. We will share the importance of faraday bags and cases.
The successful investigation and prosecution of crimes require, in most cases, the collection, preservation, and forensic analysis of evidence. Forensic analysis of evidence is often crucial to determinations of guilt or innocence. The FBI has one of the largest and most comprehensive forensic laboratories in the world, and the FBI Laboratory is accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB). EVERY STUDENT will receive a FREE link to download a pdf, sharing the most recent “Forensics Handbook” published by the FBI.
We will share with the students how to capture and preserve social media pages and information for criminal investigations. We will teach the student how to do preserve this evidence so that it can be utilized and admissible in a criminal court proceeding, while at the same time, preventing the suspects from deleting the evidence?
