Class Location:
California Criminalistics Institute / Sacramento
Class Description:
This one-week (38 hour) course is intended for individuals responsible for collecting latent print evidence at crime scenes and/or processing evidence for latent prints in the laboratory. The course is designed to acquaint students with various techniques used in the development of latent prints, as well as the sequence in which the techniques should be applied in order to achieve the best possible results. The students will participate in practical exercises involving fingerprint powders and lifting techniques, the applicaton of ninhydrin, cyanoacrylate fuming, laser/forensic light source and photographic techniques, and courtroom testimony. The course will also cover laboratory safety, friction ridge formation, latent print constituents, note taking and documentation, packaging and handling of evidence, and latent print evaluation. While they are briefly reviewed, an understanding of basic fingerprint pattern types, fingerprint history, and terminology is assumed. These subjects are covered thoroughly in the prerequsite course Fingerprint Pattern Recognition (E150). Each class is limited to 15 students. This course is POST reimbursable, Plan IV.
Teaching Methods:
Classroom lectures, demonstrations, and practical laboratory exercises
Objectives:
Students will be required to develop latent finger prints on a variety of surfaces using print powders, ninhydrin, and cyanoacrylate ester and evaluate them against for comparison to the satisfaction of the instructors. Students will also be expected to pass a written test at the conclusion of the class.
Prerequisites:
Familiarity with basic crime scene processing, photography, and completion of Fingerprint Pattern Recognition (E150) or equivalent.
Preparation:
Pre-course reading package.
Materials Fee:
A $35.00 materials fee will be charged to all non-BFS students. This charge is due and payable at the beginning of class. Make check(s) payable to the Department of Justice.
Tuition:
No cost to POST supported or 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.
