I. General Information

1. Course Title:
General Evidence and Identification Preparation

2. Course Prefix & Number:
CRJU 2124

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 4

Lecture Hours: 4

4. Course Description:

A substantial component of criminal investigations is found in crime scene reconstruction. This course enables the student to undertake a physical examination of various forms of evidence likely encountered in a variety of crime scene investigations. Plaster and plastic reproductions of latent tracks, number restoration, crime scene sketching, and the collection and preservation of physical evidence will be examined. Related photography will also be a part of the course.

5. Placement Tests Required:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:

Name of Institution	Course Number and Title	Credits
Hibbing Community College	SKILLS	4
Alexandria Technical College	SKILLS	4

2. Transfer - regional institutions with which this course has a written articulation agreement:

Name of Institution	Date of Acceptance	Discipline/Area/Program of Transfer
Bemidji State University	June 2009	Criminal Justice

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):

Name of Program(s)	Program Type
Criminal Justice	AAS     Certificate
Criminalistics	AS

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate written communication skills	Students must be able to write police reports
Utilize appropriate technology	Students must be able to recognize and document crime scenes using appropriate technology

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• document crime scenes via scale drawings;
• analyze legal requirements of chain of evidence;
• demonstrate fingerprint rolling and lifting;
• properly fill out mandated paperwork for arrests; and
• process crime scenes.

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1.         Crime scene Process

• The scope of forensic science
• History of forensic science
• Organization of the crime lab
• Required Paperwork
• Functions of a forensic scientist

2.         The Crime Scene

• Processing the crime scene
• Legal Considerations of the Crime Scene
• Indoor Crime Scene
• Outdoor Crime Scene

3.         Physical Evidence

• Common types of physical evidence
• The significance of physical evidence
• Forensic databases
• Crime scene reconstruction

4.         Physical Properties:  Glass and Soil

• The metric system
• Physical properties
• Comparing glass fragments
• Glass fractures
• Collection and Preservation of Glass Evidence
• Forensic Characteristics of soil
• Collection and preservation of soil evidence

5.         Hairs Fibers and Paint

• Morphology of Hair
• IIdentification and Comparison of Hair
• Types of Fibers
• IIdentification and Comparison of manufactured fibers
• FForensic Examination of Paint
• Collection and Preservation of Paint Evidence

6.         Drugs

• Drug Dependence
• Narcotic Drugs
• Hallucinogens
• Depressants
• Stimulants
• Club Drugs
• Anabolic Steroids
• Drug-Control Laws
• Drug Identification
• Collection and preservation of drug evidence

7.         Forensic Toxicology

• Toxicology and alcohol
• The role of the toxicologist
• Techniques used in toxicology
• The drug recognition expert

8.         Forensic Aspects of Arson

• The chemistry of fire
• Searching the fire scene
• Collection and Preservation of Arson Evidence
• Analysis of flammable residues
• Types of explosives
• Collection and analysis of explosives

9.         Forensic Serology

• The Nature of Blood
• Immunoassay techniques
• Forensic characterization of bloodstains
• Stain patterns of blood
• Principles of heredity
• Forensic comparison of semen
• Collection of rape evidence
• Luminol

10.       DNA:  Indispensible Forensic Science Tool

• What is DNA?
• DNA at work.
• Replication of DNA
• DNA typing
• The collection and preservation of biological evidence of DNA analysis
• Alternate Light Source

11.       Fingerprints

• History of Fingerprinting
• Fundamental principles of fingerprints
• Classification of fingerprints
• Automated fingerprint identification systems
• Methods of detecting fingerprints
• Preservation of developed prints
• Digital imaging for fingerprint enhancements
• Lifting Prints
• Rolling Prints

12.       Firearms, Tool Marks, and Other Impressions

• Bullet Comparisons
• Cartridge cases
• Automated Firearms Search Systems
• Gunpowder residues
• Primer Residue on Hands
• Aerial Number Restoration
• Collection and Preservation of Firearms Evidence
• Tool Marks
• Other Impressions
• Plastercasting

13.       Document and Voice Examination

• Handwriting Comparisons
• Collection of handwriting exemplars
• Typescript comparisons
• Photocopier, Printer, and Fax Examination
• Altercations, Erasures, and Obliterations
• Other Document Problems
• Voice Examination