Criminalistics Course

Lesson 1 • History and Scope of Criminalistics

Traces the evolution from early forensic observation to modern laboratory science. Contextualizes criminalistics within the broader criminal justice system.

Lesson 2 • Scientific Method in Forensic Contexts

Applies hypothesis formation, controlled testing, and peer review to forensic casework. Grounds all subsequent analytical techniques in rigorous scientific reasoning.

Lesson 3 • Legal Framework for Physical Evidence

Covers admissibility standards, chain of custody requirements, and expert witness obligations. Links laboratory practice to courtroom evidentiary rules.

Lesson 1 • Evidence Recognition and Classification

Trains students to identify physical, biological, and trace evidence categories. Correct classification directs appropriate collection and packaging methods.

Lesson 2 • Chain of Custody Management

Establishes documentation practices that track evidence from scene to court. Ensures legal defensibility of all physical evidence presented at trial.

Lesson 3 • Evidence Collection and Packaging

Details proper tools, containers, and labeling for each evidence type. Prevents contamination and degradation during transport to the laboratory.

Lesson 4 • First Responder Responsibilities

Defines actions required upon arrival to preserve scene integrity. Establishes the foundation for all subsequent evidence collection activities.

Lesson 1 • Latent Print Development Methods

Teaches physical and chemical techniques for visualizing latent prints on varied surfaces. Method selection depends on substrate type and environmental conditions.

Lesson 2 • Fingerprint Comparison and Identification

Applies ACE-V methodology to compare latent prints against known exemplars. Introduces quality thresholds and documentation of comparison conclusions.

Lesson 3 • Fingerprint Documentation and Lifting

Covers photography, lifting tape, and casting methods to preserve developed prints. Proper documentation precedes any physical lifting attempt.

Lesson 4 • Fingerprint Science Fundamentals

Explains ridge skin formation, permanence, and individuality as the scientific basis for identification. Introduces the three major pattern types.

Lesson 1 • STR Profiling and Interpretation

Explains PCR amplification, capillary electrophoresis, and STR allele calling. Covers statistical interpretation of match probabilities and mixture deconvolution.

Lesson 2 • DNA Extraction and Quantification

Details organic, Chelex, and differential extraction protocols for various sample types. Quantification determines whether sufficient DNA exists for profiling.

Lesson 3 • Presumptive and Confirmatory Testing

Covers colorimetric, chemiluminescent, and immunological tests for body fluid identification. Distinguishes presumptive screening from confirmatory species identification.

Lesson 4 • Biological Evidence Recognition

Identifies blood, semen, saliva, and other biological materials at crime scenes. Correct recognition guides presumptive and confirmatory testing strategies.

Lesson 1 • Hair and Fiber Examination

Covers microscopic comparison of human and animal hair and synthetic fiber identification. Distinguishes class characteristics from individual features.

Lesson 2 • Glass and Paint Analysis

Examines fracture patterns, refractive index, and elemental composition of glass fragments. Paint layer analysis establishes vehicle and object associations.

Lesson 3 • Soil and Geological Evidence

Applies mineralogy, particle size, and botanical content to soil comparison. Geographic sourcing supports scene linkage and suspect association.

Lesson 4 • Trace Evidence Theory and Collection

Applies Locard's principle to trace transfer and persistence concepts. Proper collection prevents loss of microscopic materials before laboratory analysis.

Lesson 1 • Presumptive Color Testing

Covers Marquis, Scott, Duquenois-Levine, and other colorimetric tests for field and laboratory screening. Results direct confirmatory analysis and prioritize casework.

Lesson 2 • Drug Quantitation and Mixture Analysis

Determines net weight, purity, and active ingredient concentration in drug exhibits. Quantitation data directly affects charging decisions and sentencing guidelines.

Lesson 3 • Chromatographic Separation Techniques

Applies thin-layer, gas, and liquid chromatography to separate drug components. Retention data provides presumptive identification before spectral confirmation.

Lesson 4 • Controlled Substance Classification

Reviews pharmacological categories and scheduling frameworks for controlled substances. Classification knowledge guides analytical strategy and report language.

Lesson 1 • Scene Reconstruction from Bloodstains

Integrates multiple pattern types to reconstruct event sequence and movement. Reconstruction conclusions are presented with appropriate scientific limitations.

Lesson 2 • Area of Origin Determination

Applies stringing and trigonometric methods to locate the three-dimensional origin of spatter. Origin determination reconstructs victim and perpetrator positions.

Lesson 3 • Passive and Transfer Stain Patterns

Identifies drips, pools, flows, and contact transfer patterns and their formation mechanisms. These patterns establish body position and post-event movement.

Lesson 4 • Impact Spatter Analysis

Classifies low-, medium-, and high-velocity spatter and links patterns to wounding mechanisms. Spatter distribution informs weapon type and force assessment.

Lesson 1 • Firearm Mechanics and Terminology

Reviews action types, caliber designations, and firing cycle components. Mechanical knowledge is prerequisite to understanding evidence generation.

Lesson 2 • Ballistic Evidence Recovery and Documentation

Details recovery of bullets, cartridge cases, and shot pellets from scenes and bodies. Proper recovery preserves class and individual characteristics for comparison.

Lesson 3 • Gunshot Residue Analysis

Covers GSR collection, SEM-EDX analysis, and interpretation of primer residue particles. Addresses persistence, transfer, and limitations of GSR evidence.

Lesson 4 • Firearm and Toolmark Comparison

Applies comparison microscopy to match striated and impressed marks to specific tools or firearms. Introduces AFTE theory of identification and documentation standards.