Advanced Evidence Processing Techniques

Advanced Evidence Processing Techniques

This is an intensive, hands-on workshop for officers, crime scene investigators, forensic scientists, fingerprint examiners, firearms experts and advanced students with prior experience in processing techniques. Each participant will be given a number of items to process with the various methods listed below.

Everyone will be required to not only process the items, but to document the evidence, the processes used and the steps taken in order to achieve the best results for that particular item. The student will then recover the evidence that was developed i.e. fingerprints or trace evidence, preserve it and properly package and record the results and the items processed for submission to a property/evidence room, laboratory or courtroom setting.

Training Goals and Objectives

By the end of the workshop, participants will have a more thorough working knowledge of the order that is followed when processing items. Participants will also have an understanding of how to use the various processing methods and materials as well as the ability to photograph, recover, lift and document the evidence they have developed.

Training Audience, Format, and Content

To teach participants various methods used to process a variety of items, found at scenes, for latent and/or patent fingerprints. The participant will also be exposed to other types of evidence that could include blood, trace, hair and fibers. Processing methods will include powders, chemicals, dye stains, CA fuming and alternate light sources.

This course is comprised of limited lectures reinforced with extensive hands-on practical exercises.

This course is most successful when taught and received with audiences of 25 students or fewer. The smaller groups enable officers to have more direct dialog & contact with the instructors and the other students.

The course is designed in a 3-day format with each day involving the exploration of a different topic and reinforced with Scenario driven, practical application learning. The course is generally designed to run from 0800 to 1600 hours daily, but can be manipulated for evenings and extended days as needed.

Daily content and course schedule/agenda:

Day One:

Introduction / Course Overview

Review of Methods, Materials and Lab Safety

Discussion of Methods of Documentation and Processing Protocols

Issuance of Materials and Items to be processed

Day Two:

Documentation and Processing of Issued Items

Practical Exercises in Lab

Day Three:

Continuation of Processing and Recovery of Developed Results

Practical Exercises in Lab

Presentation of Results

Final Examination

Course Evaluation

Advanced Evidence Processing Materials usage:

Magnetic and Conventional Powders - Regular / Fluorescent
Dye-stains, Fluorescent
Sticky Side Powders, non-commercial and commercially available
Un-du Tape Remover
Amido Black
Gentian Violet
Leuco-Crystal Violet
Alternate Light Sources
Camera Lens Filters
Nin-Hydrin
Small Particle Reagent
Iodine
Silver Nitrate
DFO
Super Glue
Gun Bluing
Elmer’s Glue - White / Clear
Casting Mediums, Mikrosil, Silly Putty, Dental Stone

Evidentiary processing techniques for the following:

Shoe Sole Prints
Rocks or Stones
Paper – Glossy / Bond / Wrapping
Cardboard – Coated / Uncoated Plastic
Glass – Drinking / Sheet
Unfinished Wood - Soft wood / Hardwood
Finished Wood – Painted / Varnished / Stained
CD’s
Floppy Discs
Walls – Painted / Gloss / Semi-gloss / Flat / Unpainted
Doors – Wood / Metal
Sticky and Non-sticky side of various types and colors of tape
- Scotch / Duct / Electrical / Surgical / Masking / Packing
Feathers
Human Skin
Leafs
Cigarette Packs
Light Bulbs
Door Knobs
Blood Prints
Dried Paint
Clay or Putty
Cloth
Plastic Wrap
Aluminum foil
Plastic Knifes, Spoons and Forks
Styrofoam Cups and Plates
Newspapers
Soda Cans – Wet / Dry
Pieces of Fresh Fruit
Cellophane Wrappers
Belts
Foil Gum Wrappers
Metal – Galvanized / Aluminum / Bare
Sun Glasses
Computer Keyboards
Extension Cords – Household / Utility
Tools
Rubber Gloves – Powdered / Non-powdered
Cartridge Casings – Brass / Nickel / Aluminum
Batteries
Tape cassettes – Audio / Video

Processing stations will be set up for each processing method. Students will take the items of evidence to be processed to the appropriate workstation and process it.

Due to availability, not all items will be available for processing

Due to necessity, not every item may be available for processing

There is a pre-requisite to this course. Students should have a good working knowledge of Basic Crime Scene Investigation Techniques.

Student Evaluation

The evaluation process will consist of class participation and active involvement in practical class exercises. Additionally, students must demonstrate proficiency in all techniques taught. Failure to demonstrate proficiency to instructional standards will result in an unsatisfactory performance rating for the program.

This course will also require the successful passing of a written examination.

Cost: (3) day course consisting of three (8-hour) days:

Instructor Capabilities

Harold W. Ruslander, MS, SCSA

Harold W. “Rus” Ruslander spent the first 23 years of his career as a Prince George’s County, Maryland Police Officer. That career included uniform patrol, special operations, and administrative and investigative assignments.

After retiring, he moved to south Florida where he became a civilian crime scene investigator first for the City of Lake Worth and then for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. He is now the Chief Investigator for the Palm Beach County, Florida Medical Examiners Office.

Mr. Ruslander’ accomplishments include being certified by the IAI as a Senior Crime Scene Analyst and by the ABMDI as a Registered Medico legal Death Investigator. In addition, he is Court recognized as a bloodstain pattern, latent fingerprint and crime scene reconstruction expert. Mr. Ruslander is a past president and chairman of the Board of Directors for the FDIAI, is the current vice president of the Gold Coast Forensic Association, a member of the IAI Crime Scene Committee and the FDIAI Crime Scene Certification Board and Editorial Review Board. Mr. Ruslander is a member of the IAI, the FDIAI, the SFFA, the IABPA, ABMDI and FOP 89 and the Florida Association of Medical Examiners.

Mr. Ruslander teaches forensics at the local community college as an adjunct instructor and has designed four forty-hour classes including Basic and Advanced Crime Scene Investigations, Basic and Advanced Bloodstain Pattern Analysis and Buried Bodies and Surface Skeletons. Additionally, Mr. Ruslander is an instructor for The Taylor Group and has taught classes in Property and Evidence Room Procedures, Crime Scene Investigations and Bloodstain Pattern Analysis for them throughout the United States. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement also certifies him as a law enforcement instructor.

Mr. Ruslander has written numerous forensic articles, which have been published in the IAI’s JFI, Evidence Technology Magazine, The FDIAI Newsletter, The SFFA Newsletter, and various sites on the worldwide web. Mr. Ruslander has also made presentations and taught courses for the FDIAI Annual Training Conference, The East Coast Armed Robbery Association, The Gold Coast Forensic Association, the Florida Chaplains Association and the Florida Fire Marshals Association, to name a few.

Police Officer Standards and Training Requirements

This program has met the rigorous standards of POST / POSTC certifying authorities in Texas, Washington, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Minnesota, South Carolina, Florida, New Mexico, Massachusetts, and Colorado

Student Materials / NEEDS Requirements

Each Student Must Bring to Class the Following Equipment

35mm or Digital Camera [3.2 Mega pixel or higher] w/ Electronic Flash

Filters

Cable Releases

Tripod

Student materials will involve copies of the manual “Advanced Evidence Processing”

Due to publishing restrictions, these training materials are not enclosed for a review!

Evaluations of Past Courses

Evaluations of past presentations are available upon request if this material and telephonic interviews are not satisfactory. In addition, we are happy to provide the names of references from all across America to assist you in your decision.