Hair Examination and Comparison

Class Code: 
M201
Subject Area: 
M - Microscopy and Trace Program
Class Location: 
Various
Class Description: 

This one-week (38-hour) course will provide students with a basic understanding of hair analysis. This class will cover the examination and comparison of human and animal hairs. Topics will include the evaluation of hair as evidence, microscopical features of human and animal hair and the evaluation of hair as DNA evidence. This course is intended for criminalists who identify hair and microscopically compare hairs to suspected sources and those who microscopically screen hairs for evidential value prior to DNA analysis. Each class is limited to 12 students.

Instructor: 
Faye Springer, Sacramento District Attorney's Forensic Science Laboratory and Skip Palenik, President and Senior Research Microscopist, Microtrace, Elgin, IL
Teaching Methods: 
Classroom lectures, PowerPoint presentations, video recordings, and practical workshops.
Objectives: 
Students will be required to examine known and unknown hairs and document various properties, as well as pass a written test.
Prerequisites: 
Recommended: Basic Practical Microscopy (M101) and familiarity with the polarizing microscope.
Preparation: 
Pre-course reading material may be assigned.
Tuition: 
No cost to State of California-based Law Enforcement agencies. A $600.00 tuition fee will be required of all other public agency, private sector, or out-of-state applicants.
Course Contact: 
Neda Khoshkebari (916) 464-5599, (916)464-0600
More Information: 

Schedule of Classes:


No classes are scheduled at this time.

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