E - Firearms and Impression Evidence Program

Special Topics - Armorer School - S&W Pistols

Class Code: 
E421
Subject Area: 
E - Firearms and Impression Evidence Program
Class Location: 
California Criminalistics Institute / Sacramento
Class Description: 

Currently in Development.

Prerequisites: 
Enrollment in Firearms Academy
Course Contact: 
Mike Giusto (916) 464-5648, (916)464-0600, FAX (916) 464-5818

Special Topics - Firearms Function and Design

Class Code: 
E420
Subject Area: 
E - Firearms and Impression Evidence Program
Class Location: 
See Schedule
Class Description: 

This two day (16 hour) class familiarizes students with design elements and functioning of common semiautomatic pistols, selective fire rifles, and pump shotguns. Disassembly, component identificaiton, and proper reassembly are emphasized.

Instructor: 
Mike Giusto, CCI, and others
Teaching Methods: 
Lecture, discussion, and practical exercises
Objectives: 
Student will be able to name gun components and describe the component's function within the gun's cycle of fire.
Prerequisites: 
E101 Firearms Safety is desirable.
Tuition: 
A $240.00 tuition fee will be required of all non-DOJ/BFS personnel.
Course Contact: 
Mike Giusto (916) 464-5648, (916)464-0600, FAX (916) 464-5818

Fundamental Manufacturing Processes

Class Code: 
E419
Subject Area: 
E - Firearms and Impression Evidence Program
Class Location: 
BFS Laboratories with Video Conference Terminals
Class Description: 

This is a 15 to 20 hour video training series. Class is limited to students who can access BFS video conference terminals (BFS labs and CCI LA).

Teaching Methods: 
Video Series / Video conference discussion and supplemental presentations.
Objectives: 
Students will view a series of manufacturing industry training videos and pass a short quiz on each subject.
Tuition: 
No cost to POST supported or State of California based Law Enforcement agencies. A $300.00 tuition fee will be required of all other public agency, private sector, or out-of-state applicants.
Course Contact: 
CCI (916) 464-0600, FAX (916) 464-5818
More Information: 

This is a video conference which lasts a couple hours a week. Travel is not required. 

cci@doj.ca.gov

Basic Firearms Disassembly and Reassembly

Class Code: 
E418
Subject Area: 
E - Firearms and Impression Evidence Program
Class Location: 
BFS Laboratories with Video Conference Terminals
Class Description: 

This is a 20 to 25 hour video training series. Class is limited to students who can access BFS video conference terminals (BFS labs, Richmond DNA lab, and CCI LA).

Teaching Methods: 
Video Series/Video conference discussion and supplemental presentations.
Objectives: 
Students will view a series of practical training videos which demonstrate, step by step, complete disassembly and reassembly of about 19 common handguns, rifles, and shotguns.
Tuition: 
No cost to POST supported or State of California based Law Enforcement agencies. A $300.00 tuition fee will be required of all other public agency, private sector, or out-of-state applicants.
More Information: 

This is a video conference which lasts a couple hours a week. No travel required. 

cci@doj.ca.gov

Toolmark Comparison Criteria / Refresher

Class Code: 
E202
Subject Area: 
E - Firearms and Impression Evidence Program
Class Location: 
California Criminalistics Institute / Sacramento or Los Angeles
Class Description: 

This 2 1/2 day (20 hour) course will provide students with a review of the concepts and rationale of identifying striated and non-striated impression evidence. Recent challenges and relevant court decisions will be discussed. Each student will verify their rational, objective basis for making such identifications. Although new examiners can profit from this training, this course is limited to firearm and toolmark examiners who have either completed CCI's E201 course or have had extensive training in the comparison of striated toolmarks and about approximately one year of actually comparing toolmarks. Each class is limited to 30 students.

Instructor: 
John Murdock, Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office & Bruce Moran, Sacramento County DA's Office
Teaching Methods: 
Classroom lectures, demonstrations, group discussions, and practical laboratory exercises.
Objectives: 
Students will be required to complete a series of practical exercises, and to explain the related concepts of toolmark identification and their rationale for the identification to the satisfaction of the instructors.
Prerequisites: 
Must have been performing striated toolmark comparisons in casework for at least a year and be familiar with accepted standards of casework documention and common equipment and terminology used in that discipline. Completion of Firearms and Toolmarks Introduction I and II (E102 and E103) and Toolmark Comparison Criteria (E201) is strongly recommended.
Preparation: 
Pre-course reading material may be assigned.
Tuition: 
No cost to POST supported or State of California based Law Enforcement agencies. A $300.00 tuition fee will be required of all other public agency, private sector, or out-of-state applicants.
Course Contact: 
CCI (916) 464-0600, FAX (916) 464-5818

Toolmark Comparison Criteria

Class Code: 
E201
Subject Area: 
E - Firearms and Impression Evidence Program
Class Location: 
California Criminalistics Institute / Sacramento
Class Description: 

The one-week (40-hour) course will provide students with an introduction to the concepts and rationale of identifying striated and non-striated impression evidence. Each student will develop a rational, objective basis for making such identifications. This course is intended for criminalists, forensic scientists, or related specialists who have responsibility for comparing and identifying firearm and toolmark evidence. Each class is limited to 12 students. POST Plan IV reimbursement.

Instructor: 
John Murdock, Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office & Bruce Moran, Sacramento County DA's Office
Teaching Methods: 
Classroom lectures, demonstrations, group discussions, and practical laboratory exercises. Students should plan to have assigned homework completed during the week.
Objectives: 
Students will be required to complete a series of practical exercises, identify impressions with the tools responsible, and orally explain the related concepts of identification and the rationale for the identification to the satisfaction of the instructors.
Prerequisites: 
Must currently be performing casework in firearms/toolmark identification and be familiar with common equipment and teminology used in that discipline. Completion of Firearms and Toolmarks introduction I and II (E102 and E103) is desirable, but not mandatory.
Preparation: 
Pre-course reading material may be assigned. Students should consider bringing notebook PCs for group presentations.
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.
Course Contact: 
Mike Giusto (916) 464-5648, (916)464-0600, FAX (916) 464-5818

Latent Print Comparisons

Class Code: 
E152
Subject Area: 
E - Firearms and Impression Evidence Program
Class Location: 
California Criminalistics Institute / Sacramento
Class Description: 

This five-day (38 hour) course is intended for individuals responsible for the comparison and identification of latent prints and is designed to acquaint students with the fundamental principles and methods of friction ridge identification. Friction ridge formation, orientation of latent finger and palm impressions, verification and reporting procedures, and note taking and documentation will be discussed. Students will participate in comparison and courtroom testimony practical exercises. Although this course is intended for the new or less experienced latent print examiner, it is not intended for the individual with no previous fingerprint experience and has been designed to follow the Fingerprint Pattern Recognition (E150) and Latent Print Techniques (E151) courses. The student should already be familiar with fingerprint history, terminology, and pattern recognition, and also the effects of development techniques on the appearance of latent impressions. Each class is limited to 15 students.

Instructor: 
Felita Chapman & Others
Teaching Methods: 
Classroom lectures, demonstrations, and practical exercises.
Objectives: 
Students will be required to compare and correctly identify a number of latent finger and palm impressions and orally defend the identifications to the satisfaction of the instructors. Students will also be expected to pass a written test at the conclusion of this class.
Prerequisites: 
Completion of Fingerprint Pattern Recognition (E150) or equivalent and Latent Print Techniques (E151) or equivalent.
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.
Course Contact: 
CCI (916) 464-0600, FAX (916) 464-5818

Latent Print Techniques

Class Code: 
E151
Subject Area: 
E - Firearms and Impression Evidence Program
Class Location: 
California Criminalistics Institute / Various
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. Each class is limited to 15 students.

Instructor: 
Felita Chapman & Others
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 friction ridge pattern recognition, crime scene processing, and photography.
Preparation: 
Pre-course reading package.
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.
Course Contact: 
CCI (916) 464-0600, FAX (916) 464-5818

Serial Number Restoration

Class Code: 
E111
Subject Area: 
E - Firearms and Impression Evidence Program
Class Location: 
See Schedule
Class Description: 

This three-day (24-hour) class will provide students with knowledge of the principles of firearm serial number identification, the metallurgical aspect of impressions and the methods that are available for the restoration of obliterated samples. Students will become acquainted with diverse restoration methods and will practice with number segments stamped in metal. The course will also emphasize proper documentation methods for serial number cases and the completion of the National Tracing Center form. Safety and health aspects will also be discussed. This course is intended for examiners, criminalists, or crime scene specialists from law enforcement agencies who will be restoring serial numbers in the course of their duties. Each class is limited to 12 students.

Instructor: 
Michael F. Giusto, California Criminalistics Institute
Teaching Methods: 
Classroom lectures, restoration exercises on actual samples
Objectives: 
Students should be able to restore firearm serial numbers in a safe and proficient manner.
Preparation: 
Pre-course reading material may be assigned.
Tuition: 
No cost to POST supported or State of California based Law Enforcement agencies. A $360.00 tuition fee will be required of all other public agency, private sector, or out-of-state applicants.
Course Contact: 
Mike Giusto (916) 464-5648, (916)464-0600, FAX (916) 464-5818

Special Topics - Full-Auto and Conversion

Class Code: 
E429
Subject Area: 
E - Firearms and Impression Evidence Program
Class Location: 
Various
Class Description: 

Currently in Development.

Course Contact: 
Mike Giusto (916) 464-5648, (916)464-0600, FAX (916) 464-5818
More Information: