Investigating a cold case can be overwhelming, but with the right approach, success is within reach. This webinar will provide you with the best strategies to tackle long-standing cases, organize your files, and create a pathway to resolution.
This truly practical course will provide you with the skills to gain high quality information from individuals, no matter what their status might be in the investigation.
Topics Include
The verbal communication process
Witness memory enhancement
Flow of information
Interviewing process
Kinesics interview techniques
Detecting deception
Videotaping and recording interrogations
Interview of rape victims
Interview of child witnesses and victims
Criminal personality profiling for interviews
The effective interrogator
Legal aspects
Psychology of interrogations
The first three topics will stress the methods you can employ to establish rapport, improve feedback and become more discerning through efficient listening. An examination of the interviewing process will give you a structured interview to expand your ability to obtain accurate information and detect deception.
Through criminal personality profiling, you will be able to more accurately determine the personality type you are confronting and some of the interviewing techniques best suited to elicit information from that individual.
This course focuses on skill development and will enhance your ability to conduct effective interviews and interrogations.
Whether you are the first responder or the lead investigator, this course will give you the knowledge and skills to thoroughly and professionally investigate any possible homicide situation.
We will show you the various types of homicides that you may encounter and common approaches to each. You will learn a systematic process for handling the crime scene, from the initial approach through scene documentation and evidence collection. And, you’ll see how the latest technology and forensic sciences can assist you in your investigation.
Beyond the crime scene, you’ll also learn about criminal profiling, interrogation techniques and how to handle the news media’s involvement.
Topics Include
Death scene preservation
Duties of the first officer on the scene
Investigative procedures at the death scene
Team approach to death investigations
Autoerotic death investigations
Causes and manner of death
Time of death determination
Criminal personality profiling
Organized vs. disorganized crime scenes
Death scene search techniques
Handling the news media in death investigations
Suicide investigations
Homicide interrogation techniques
Audience
Patrol officers, newly assigned and seasoned detectives, investigations supervisors, crime scene technicians, medical examiner and coroner investigators, military investigative personnel
Class is restricted to sworn law enforcement officers and those personnel assigned directly to law enforcement agencies.
This course will further enhance the skills you acquired in IPTM's Homicide Investigation course and supply you with the knowledge and abilities to handle even the most challenging homicide investigations.
You will learn how to organize a complex homicide investigation and how to apply advanced forensic techniques to the case. We will discuss criminal profiling and abnormal psychology and you will learn specific interrogation techniques to use on the suspects.
Lectures during the course will be held to a minimum. Instead, emphasis will be placed on practical exercises. You will be provided the opportunity to apply the skills you have acquired while studying complex homicide cases presented by the instructors.
Patrol officers, newly assigned and seasoned detectives, investigations supervisors, crime scene technicians, medical examiner and coroner investigators, military investigative personnel
This class is restricted to sworn law enforcement officers and those personnel assigned directly to law enforcement agencies.
This course is specifically designed for detectives who investigate violent crimes but are not responsible for the documentation or collection of blood evidence.
The objective is to enhance the knowledge of homicide and crimes against persons detectives in various areas of bloodstain pattern analysis, with an emphasis on understanding the value of bloodstain evidence and how it can be effectively applied as a forensic tool throughout their investigation. We will provide you with a cohesive understanding of the cause, effect, and implications of different bloodstains and patterns, as well as the actions that caused them.
We will use several actual case studies to emphasize and illustrate the concepts and fundamentals discussed during lectures. This course is not designed for crime scene investigator, as it does not have a laboratory component.
Topics Include
How to recognize bloodstains and patterns that provide probative information regarding the actions that caused the blood-letting events and movements of individuals - during and after the events
How to extrapolate relevant evidence from altered scenes
How to recognize the differences between medical and suspicious deaths
Understanding the documentation processes available to capture the bloodstains and patterns for future analysis by an expert
Types of bloodstains to select for DNA analysis that will provide the most probative value to the investigation
What to expect from a bloodstain pattern analysis conducted by an expert
How expert analysis can be applied throughout the investigation and its relevance in criminal proceedings
Audience
Law enforcement, detectives, investigators, and military investigative personnel. It is not designed for crime scene investigator, as it does not have a laboratory component.
Class is restricted to sworn law enforcement officers and those personnel assigned directly to law enforcement agencies.
"Uniqueness hasn’t been proven, right? What exactly is an identification? How much is enough? How do we know you’re right, haven’t examiners been wrong? Why don’t your SOPs follow standards?”
Certain court questions trigger immediate anxiety in friction ridge examiners. This webinar aims to address some of those “nightmare” questions and discuss options for how to handle them. We’ll go over questions on how a conclusion is reached, definitions/significance of conclusions, levels of documentation, error rates, standards & SOPs, and more. The goal is to provide attendees with a broader understanding of where these questions come from and why the industry recommends certain answers, so attendees don’t feel they are just regurgitating what they were told to say.
This two-day course will further enhance the skills you acquired in IPTM’s Homicide Investigation and Advanced Homicide Investigation courses. You will learn how to bring life back into your agency cold cases, not only by using modern technology that wasn't available to previous investigators but also going back to the basics. This course will also touch on the use of Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) in cold cases.
You will learn about some of the fatal mistakes made in these investigations that have both contributed to the case going cold but also remaining cold. You will learn about some of the new techniques and technologies available to detectives today.
These types of cases are some of the most difficult to solve, but also the most rewarding when they are solved, and you can give the victim the justice they deserve and their families some peace.
Topics Include
Reasons for family denial of suicide
How to identify a viable cold case
How to prioritize and organize cold cases
Systematic review of your cold case
Forensic advancements & investigative tools for cold cases
Suspect identification and analytical workup
The witness/suspect interview process years after the crime
To successfully solve violent, sexually motivated crimes, you need to be aware of the criminal personality you are confronting. You also need to be aware of the special investigative skills that are needed to manage and investigate these cases, as well as the proper evidence needed for prosecution.
This course will cover basic and advanced investigative concepts and provide you with the knowledge and skills of an effective sex crime investigator. Students will engage in an in-depth study of the lust murderer, the pedophile, the child molester and the rapist. We will also explore the psychology of the sex offender, as well as the victim, and explain the role physical evidence and the medical examiner’s findings play in the successful investigation and prosecution of these cases.
As these cases are often sensitive in nature, you’ll also learn the principles of victimology in sexual assaults and how to best deal with the victims’ psychological problems. We’ll examine the latest proven techniques for interviewing both adult and child victims suffering the after effects of such a traumatic experience.
Topics Include
Overview of sexually motivated crimes
The pedophile vs. the child molester
The criminal mind and abnormal psychology
Paraphilia and erotosexual dysfunction
Exploitation of children, child pornography and sex rings
Behavioral and personality traits of rapists
Physical evidence in sex crimes
Serial and lust murders
Autoerotic and equivocal death investigations
Crime scene profiling
Audience
Newly assigned and seasoned detectives, investigations supervisors, crime scene technicians, medical examiner and coroner investigators, prosecutors and military investigative personnel
This class is restricted to sworn law enforcement officers and those personnel assigned directly to law enforcement agencies.
This comprehensive five-day course is designed for crime scene investigators, detectives, crime laboratory analysts and others in the field of forensic science that have the basic training and skills for shooting crime scene examinations. This course will assist law enforcement officers in connecting all of the forensic pieces for the purpose of shooting crime scene reconstruction. A crime scene is a huge puzzle, and piece by piece we compile the physical evidence in each case; the more difficult job is trying to connect those pieces to obtain the big picture, the shooting crime scene reconstruction. This course will also assist in the documentation of physical evidence at the scene which previously might not have been recorded. The attendees will learn by using string, dowel rods, scientific calculators, and/or lasers about the flight path of the projectile from the moment it leaves a firearm muzzle to the moment it strikes the final target and is recovered. Also, students will examine the firearm residue for estimated distance determination from the position of the shooter to the victim and/or final target. Mock scenes for this course were designed to assist the student in the importance of scene documentation, and to obtain the maximum, accurate information for ultimate shooting crime scene reconstruction. more info...
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Crime scene technicians, detectives, and investigators from all levels of experience, child protection team members, state and defense attorneys andnurseswillbenefitfromthistrainingaswecoverthetopicof childand infant death investigations. The presentations will cover medicolegal, crime scene, and autopsy finding aspects of the subject. We will specifically discuss scene processing, evidence collection and investigative techniques as they relate to child death investigations. Child and infant death investigations require a unique approach and can be complicated for even the most seasoned investigator. The training will thoroughly cover the numerous aspects of these investigative cases and promote critical thinking and evaluation of these crime scenes and all the puzzle pieces to help delineate homicides from accidental and natural deaths, even in the most subtle of cases. Actual case scenarios will be presented with attendees solving the cases in small working groups with hands-on review of actual forensic case materials. more info...
This truly practical course will provide you with the skills to gain high quality information from individuals, no matter what their status might be in the investigation.
Topics Include
The verbal communication process
Witness memory enhancement
Flow of information
Interviewing process
Kinesics interview techniques
Detecting deception
Videotaping and recording interrogations
Interview of rape victims
Interview of child witnesses and victims
Criminal personality profiling for interviews
The effective interrogator
Legal aspects
Psychology of interrogations
The first three topics will stress the methods you can employ to establish rapport, improve feedback and become more discerning through efficient listening. An examination of the interviewing process will give you a structured interview to expand your ability to obtain accurate information and detect deception.
Through criminal personality profiling, you will be able to more accurately determine the personality type you are confronting and some of the interviewing techniques best suited to elicit information from that individual.
This course focuses on skill development and will enhance your ability to conduct effective interviews and interrogations.
Audience
Patrol officers, newly assigned and seasoned detectives, investigations supervisors, crime scene technicians, medical examiner and coroner investigators and military investigative personnel
This class is restricted to sworn law enforcement officers and those personnel assigned directly to law enforcement agencies.
"Uniqueness hasn’t been proven, right? What exactly is an identification? How much is enough? How do we know you’re right, haven’t examiners been wrong? Why don’t your SOPs follow standards?”
Certain court questions trigger immediate anxiety in friction ridge examiners. This webinar aims to address some of those “nightmare” questions and discuss options for how to handle them. We’ll go over questions on how a conclusion is reached, definitions/significance of conclusions, levels of documentation, error rates, standards & SOPs, and more. The goal is to provide attendees with a broader understanding of where these questions come from and why the industry recommends certain answers, so attendees don’t feel they are just regurgitating what they were told to say.
Whether you are the first responder or the lead investigator, this course will give you the knowledge and skills to thoroughly and professionally investigate any possible homicide situation.
We will show you the various types of homicides that you may encounter and common approaches to each. You will learn a systematic process for handling the crime scene, from the initial approach through scene documentation and evidence collection. And, you’ll see how the latest technology and forensic sciences can assist you in your investigation.
Beyond the crime scene, you’ll also learn about criminal profiling, interrogation techniques and how to handle the news media’s involvement.
Topics Include
Death scene preservation
Duties of the first officer on the scene
Investigative procedures at the death scene
Team approach to death investigations
Autoerotic death investigations
Causes and manner of death
Time of death determination
Criminal personality profiling
Organized vs. disorganized crime scenes
Death scene search techniques
Handling the news media in death investigations
Suicide investigations
Homicide interrogation techniques
Audience
Patrol officers, newly assigned and seasoned detectives, investigations supervisors, crime scene technicians, medical examiner and coroner investigators, military investigative personnel
Class is restricted to sworn law enforcement officers and those personnel assigned directly to law enforcement agencies.
Course Length
40 hours
Note(s)
For Florida Officers, this course will not qualify for Salary Incentive Credit for FDLE course "Injury and Death Investigation."
This course will provide you with in-depth instruction on the correct procedures for processing blood evidence at a crime scene or in a lab. You will gain an understanding of basic bloodstain patterns encountered at crime scenes, how to properly document those patterns, and how to utilize various chemical enhancement techniques. You will learn methods to evaluate a crime scene to determine the type of crime that has been committed and the physical parameters of the area of involvement. We will show you how to properly locate, document, collect, and preserve the physical evidence at the scene. You will also be introduced to networks and databases that can assist you in the investigative process.
Exercises will reinforce the classroom discussions to enhance your understanding of the basic principles of bloodstain pattern analysis, enhancement techniques, including chemical and alternate light sources, and proper documentation and collection.
Topics Include
Crime scene analysis
Overview of bloodstain principles
Recognition of bloodstain patterns
Presumptive tests for blood
Blood chemical enhancement techniques
Photography documentation
Audience
Crime scene technicians, crimes against persons detectives, investigations supervisors, forensic investigators, first responding officers, medical examiner and coroner investigators, military investigative personnel, and non-sworn personnel who process crime scenes.
This course is restricted to active sworn and non-sworn law enforcement and medical examiner personnel.
This course will further enhance the skills you acquired in IPTM's Homicide Investigation course and supply you with the knowledge and abilities to handle even the most challenging homicide investigations.
You will learn how to organize a complex homicide investigation and how to apply advanced forensic techniques to the case. We will discuss criminal profiling and abnormal psychology and you will learn specific interrogation techniques to use on the suspects.
Lectures during the course will be held to a minimum. Instead, emphasis will be placed on practical exercises. You will be provided the opportunity to apply the skills you have acquired while studying complex homicide cases presented by the instructors.
Patrol officers, newly assigned and seasoned detectives, investigations supervisors, crime scene technicians, medical examiner and coroner investigators, military investigative personnel
This class is restricted to sworn law enforcement officers and those personnel assigned directly to law enforcement agencies.
Maintaining accuracy and reliability in latent print analysis requires strong quality assurance practices, regardless of accreditation status. This training provides forensic professionals with the tools to strengthen their latent print unit’s operations and credibility. Topics include: Personnel Qualifications, Training Programs and Competency, Proficiency Testing, Proper Examination Documentation, Case Reports, Technical and Administrative Reviews, and Case and Evidence Audits.
This course is ideal for latent print examiners, supervisors, and forensic quality managers seeking to improve their agency’s forensic processes and casework integrity. more info...
This course will arm you with a solid foundation to efficiently and effectively manage a variety of major case situations including multi-incident investigations, cross-jurisdictional cases, mass arrest projects, and more.
We will take you through the process of handling major cases beginning with the policies and infrastructure that should be in place before a situation occurs. We will examine a typical major case organizational structure and discuss the effective use of chain of command in both single agency and multi-agency situations.
Next we will take you step-by-step through the various components of major case management. You will learn how to handle the initial crisis, manage the crime scene, allocate personnel, track the leads and the investigation, coordinate the assisting agencies, and handle the news media. We will also discuss the pros and cons surrounding the use of 24-hour hotlines, citizen volunteers, confidential sources, special prosecutors, and others.
Throughout the course, you will learn about the state and federal resources available to you during these investigations. You will also learn the case reporting and documentation that should be completed along the way so that proper evaluation and debriefing can be done upon the conclusion of operations.
Topics Include
Major case management goals and objectives
Types and components of major cases
Multiple incident or “crime pattern” investigations
Extended resource/long term investigations
Multi-jurisdictional major cases
Undercover and sting operations
Mass arrest projects
Operational and support functions
Communications plan and information management
Lead management and follow-up
Single agency and multi-agency task force operations
Mutual aid agreements and memorandums of understanding
Special problems and common errors
State and federal resources
After action reporting and debriefing
Audience
New and veteran investigative unit supervisors, patrol supervisors seeking command responsibilities, division commanders, and agency executives.
This course is restricted to sworn and non-sworn law enforcement personnel.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This advanced five day, 40-hour course is designed for crime scene investigators, detectives, crime laboratory analysts and others in the field of forensic science that have the basic training and skills for shooting crime scene examinations. This course will assist law enforcement officers in connecting all of the forensic pieces for the purpose of shooting crime scene reconstruction. A crime scene is a huge puzzle, and piece by piece we compile the physical evidence in each case; the more difficult job is trying to connect those pieces to obtain the big picture, the shooting crime scene reconstruction. This course will also assist in the documentation of physical evidence at the scene which previously might not have been recorded. The attendees will have a brief review of basic techniques and skills that may have been acquired in other courses but will quickly expand their knowledge base and skillset with advanced techniques acquired through lecture and hands-on performance of exercises designed to test the attendees’ ability to put all the pieces together. At the conclusion of the course the attendees will have acquired the ability to be able to generate a shooting reconstruction report for the purposes of ultimately providing expert testimony. Mock scenes for this course are specifically designed to assist the attendee in the importance of scene documentation, and to obtain the maximum, accurate information for ultimate shooting crime scene reconstruction. The course will be challenging but will yield the attendee great rewards in advancing their abilities in shooting reconstruction scenes.
This advanced course will take you beyond the blood basics and increase your knowledge and skills in bloodstain pattern analysis. We will also take an in-depth look at the judicial process for becoming qualified to give effective witness testimony.
“Hands-on” experience with actual bloodstain patterns and advanced chemical processing techniques will help strengthen your recognition and analytical abilities and enhance your knowledge of various applications.
We will analyze case studies to teach you how to prepare and document your findings and a moot court exercise will give you an opportunity to testify about your conclusions. We will also examine the Daubert Decision and other expert witness issues that may impact your testimony.
This course will help law enforcement and civilian investigators present their opinions involving bloodstain patterns in a courtroom setting with confidence, while meeting the minimal requirements for expert testimony.
Topics Include
Pattern identification
Case studies
Preparing experiments for confirmation of findings
Preparing exhibits for the courtroom
Moot courtroom testimony
Audience
Patrol officers, newly assigned and seasoned detectives, investigations supervisors, crime scene technicians, medical examiner and coroner investigators, military investigative personnel, and prosecuting attorneys
This class is restricted to active law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys employed by governmental agencies.
From the time evidence is collected, through the presentation of evidence in the courtroom, to the final disposition and disposal, this course will provide you with all the information you need to maintain the security and integrity of your department's property and evidence. You will learn how to properly document, inventory, control, dispose of and purge property and evidence of all types.
Lectures will focus on the physical security of the property/evidence room as well as the legal issues pertaining to the operation of such facilities. OSHA requirements and regulations will be discussed and storage solutions for the evidence room will be explored. You will learn about the special considerations surrounding hazardous, bio-hazardous, and other special risk items as well as preferred procedures for packaging the evidence for storage and submission for testing.
Topics Include
Physical security of property and evidence rooms
Policies and procedures relating to the evidence function
Legal issues pertaining to the operation of evidence facilities
Evidence packaging for storage and submission for testing
Evidence integrity
Computerization of property and evidence rooms
Narcotics destruction - burn procedures and certification
Bio-hazardous evidence storage and destruction
OSHA requirements and regulations
Personal safety issues
Storage solutions
Audience
Sworn law enforcement officers, as well as non-sworn property and evidence custodians and supervisors responsible for overseeing their departments’ property and evidence facilities
In this fast-paced course, you will learn processes and techniques that apply specifically to crimes against children. From the initial call to the courtroom, you’ll receive an in-depth analysis of investigative methodologies you can use to solve these crimes.
We will examine the persistent patterns of behavior of the seven types child molesters and teach you effective techniques for interviewing these criminals. We will also help you develop the skills needed to conduct forensic interviews of child victims and witnesses.
Using case studies, we will introduce you to the different classifications of evidence and how each applies to your investigation. You will learn how to prepare an expert search and seizure warrant for a preferential child molester to include seizing child pornography, child erotica, DNA and computer evidence.
Finally, we will discuss the criteria for amber alerts and the importance of the initial response to a child abduction. You will learn how to develop a Child Abduction Response Team (CART)–a multidiscipline, multijurisdictional team of experts–and how it can greatly improve your ability to recover a missing child.
Topics Include
Definitions and diagnostic criteria for the DSM-5
Patterns, behaviors and characteristics of offenders
Pedophilia and offender
Investigative and interviewing techniques
Preparing an expert search and seizure warrant
Emerging investigative strategies
Forensic interviews of a child
Understanding predatory behaviors
Developing a Child Abduction Response Team (CART)
Prerequisite(s)
It is recommended, but not mandatory, that you have completed a basic investigations course or have the knowledge of proven investigative techniques necessary to investigate most crimes against children cases.
Audience
Patrol officers, newly assigned and seasoned detectives, investigations supervisors, crime scene technicians, military investigative personnel, non-sworn personnel who participate in investigations, and prosecutor’s office personnel who investigate and prosecute crimes against children
This class is restricted to active sworn and non-sworn law enforcement, investigators, and prosecuting attorneys employed by governmental agencies.
Economic crimes have become the fastest growing and costliest crimes in the U.S. in recent years. Frauds are also one of the most difficult to understand and investigate. This updated course explains the complexities of fraud investigations and arms you with a systematic approach and specific techniques for handling a wide range of financial and consumer fraud-related crimes. It relies heavily on student interaction, case studies, and practical scenarios to help increase your understanding of the ever-changing nature of these investigations.
Our goal is to provide you with current information effecting Economic Crimes Investigators with different levels of training and experience. Topics range from simple check fraud and credit card fraud to identity theft and major offenses like embezzlement, internet scams, and Ponzi schemes. In addition, you will learn current trends involving electronic fund transfers and cryptocurrency, as well as how to investigate these crimes. We will show you how to handle the day-to-day issues with conducting these investigations. These issues include how to determine the appropriate jurisdiction for cases, which cases are civil or criminal, and reviews a variety of investigative resources to assist the students with their investigations. We will also provide you with receive recent examples of a variety of legal processes needed to conduct these investigations.
Topics Include
Introduction into Economic Crimes:
Triaging cases
Determining civil vs. criminal
Jurisdictional issues
Case management
Subpoenas, search warrants and court orders
Resources
Legal process
Classifying and investigating the different types of fraud:
Check fraud
Credit/debit card fraud
Identify theft
Internet/computer crimes
Embezzlement
Ponzi/pyramid schemes
Money laundering
Racketeering
EFT’s/cryptocurrency
Audience
Patrol officers, criminal investigators, and economic crimes unit personnel who are responsible for conducting fraud investigations
This course is restricted to sworn and non-sworn law enforcement personnel.
This course will provide you with in-depth instruction of the processes and techniques that apply to all aspects of criminal investigations, from the initial response to the scene to the final courtroom presentation.
You will learn methods to investigate property crimes up to violent crimes against persons. We'll show you how to properly locate and document the physical evidence to aid in your investigative efforts. Techniques for interviewing witnesses, victims and suspects will be covered. You will also learn about networks and databases that can assist you in the investigative process.
During the course, we will teach you how to perform basic investigative duties and prepare you for future, more specialized training.
Crimes against persons: sex crimes, robberies, death investigations
Use of DNA and social media
Electronic evidence: cell phones, cell sites, geo-fencing, Wi-Fi downloads, and more
Case reporting and documentation
Sources of intelligence
Audience
Patrol officers, newly assigned and seasoned detectives, investigations supervisors, crime scene technicians, medical examiner and coroner investigators, military investigative personnel, and non-sworn personnel who must effectively interact with sworn officers
This course is restricted to active sworn and non-sworn law enforcement and medical examiner personnel.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This 28-hour course is specifically designed with the goal of enabling students to pass whichever level of the crime scene certification level examination that they are preparing to become certified for in the near future. This is a concentrated and rapidly-moving review of either two or three
books (depending on the examination that you are testing to pass). Each book review will have numerous pre-testing examinations composed of hundreds of extracted questions covering every chapter so that students attending will know their areas of strengths and weaknesses to focus on. Whether novice or experienced, this class is a mustfor maximizing the chances of successfully passing the examination to improve your credentials and professionalism by becoming certified in the crime scene specialty. Students who attend this course will have a distinct advantage over those who have not attended this dedicated and intensive review course when it comes to testing for IAI certification examinations. Please be aware that the tuition fee listed above covers only the Forensic Pieces course tuition. Examination and application fees are to be handled with the IAI. The International Association for Identification Crime Scene Certification Board will work with the hosting facility to facilitate a proctor to be present for the last day of class in orderfor the students to sit for the examination. If you plan to take the test after this course, you must have your application submitted to the IAI and approved at least 30 days prior to taking the exam and should be familiar with the application requirements that can be found at the following link: https://www.theiai.org/crime_scene.php. THIS COURSE IS A BOOK REVIEW.In order to maximize benefits from taking this course, any registrant must read & bring eachbook used as of for the module being tested or studied for (this brochure lists IAI update made 1/1/2025 below) Please view manual on pages 41-42 for current literature:
Certified Crime Scene Investigator (CCSI) Practical Crime Scene Processing and Investigation, 3rd edition, by Ross M. Gardner, 2019, CRC Press. Crime Scene Photography, 3rd Edition, by Edward Robinson, 2016, Academic Press Elsevier, Inc. (All chapters and glossary EXCLUDING chapters 8, subchapters 9.4, 9.6, 9.7, 9.8, and chapters 10-12). Certified Crime Scene Analyst (CCSA) Practical Crime Scene Processing and Investigation, 3rd edition, Ross M. Gardner, 2019, CRC Press. Crime Scene Photography, 3rd Edition, by Edward Robinson, 2016, Academic Press Elsevier, Inc. (All chapters and glossary EXCLUDING chapter 8, subchapters 9.4, 9.6, 9.7, and chapters 10 & 11). Practical Analysis and Reconstruction of Shooting Incidents, Second Edition, Edward E. Hueske, 2021, CRC Press (All Chapters & Glossary EXCLUDING 2, 14, 18, and 20). Certified Senior Crime Scene Analyst (CSCSA) Crime Scene Photography, 3rd Edition, by Edward Robinson, 2016, Academic Press-Elsevier, Inc. (All Chapters EXCEPT 1, Subchapters 9.4, 9.6 and 9.7, and Pages 712-735) Effective Expert Witnessing: Practices for the 21st Century, 5th ed. By Matson, Jack V., 2013, CRC Press (All chapters EXCEPT 8 and 9) Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques, 4th edition by James, Stuart H., Nordby, Jon J., and Bell, Suzanne, 2013, CRC Press
IF YOU NEED CLARIFICATION ON ANY READING MATERIAL AS LISTED ABOVE, PLEASE CALLTHE IAI DIRECTLY AT (954) 589-0628 more info...
Proving suicide can be a daunting task for the investigator due to factors such as family denials, scene interference, insurance issues, and the basic stigma surrounding an intentional self-inflicted death. This course is specifically designed to help you overcome these difficulties by providing you with the skills necessary to thoroughly and properly investigate the death and to recognize and document all indicators of suicide. Your thorough investigation can be the sole basis for a Medical Examiner/Coroner to rule the manner-of-death as suicide.
The reasons one decides to take his or her own life can be psychological, biological, social or a combination of the three. We will explore each of these reasons in-depth. We will also cover the physical possibility of suicide – i.e. could the deceased have physically killed themselves, the most common methods employed, and the development of intent.
Classroom lectures and “case analysis” exercises will be used to teach you the proper steps to take when investigating suspected suicides. You will also be given a number of recommendations for dealing with the family of the victim of suicide.
Topics Include
Reasons for family denial of suicide
Dealing with the family of the decedent
Determining the physical possibility of suicide
Developing and detailing all indications of intent on the part of the decedent
Developing motive
The most common methods of suicide
Importance of determining the body position when a firearm is utilized
Differentiating between an intentional hanging and an autoerotic death
Reasons why a person may commit suicide
The biological, psychological and sociological perspectives of suicide
Audience
Patrol officers, newly assigned and seasoned detectives, investigations supervisors, crime scene technicians, medical examiner and coroner investigators, and military investigative personnel.
The course is restricted to active sworn and non-sworn law enforcement and medical examiner personnel.
During this course you will become familiar with the background and procedures used in forensic archaeology. You will learn specific techniques to be used in the search, excavation and recovery of skeletonized human remains and associated evidence. The techniques employed to document the evidence found at the crime scene will be examined in detail.
Exercises involving the search and recovery of surface skeletons will provide you with hands-on experience as you employ the excavation techniques taught in class to locate and unearth mock graves.
Topics Include
Search techniques in locating clandestine graves and surface skeletons
Collection, packaging and transportation of skeletal material and physical evidence
Documentation through photography and sketching
Search, recovery and excavation of mock burials and surface skeletons through field exercises
Audience
Patrol officers, newly assigned and seasoned detectives, investigations supervisors, crime scene technicians, medical examiner and coroner investigators, prosecutors, and military investigative personnel
This course is restricted to active sworn and non-sworn law enforcement and medical examiner personnel.
This truly practical course will provide you with the skills to gain high quality information from individuals, no matter what their status might be in the investigation.
Topics Include
The verbal communication process
Witness memory enhancement
Flow of information
Interviewing process
Kinesics interview techniques
Detecting deception
Videotaping and recording interrogations
Interview of rape victims
Interview of child witnesses and victims
Criminal personality profiling for interviews
The effective interrogator
Legal aspects
Psychology of interrogations
The first three topics will stress the methods you can employ to establish rapport, improve feedback and become more discerning through efficient listening. An examination of the interviewing process will give you a structured interview to expand your ability to obtain accurate information and detect deception.
Through criminal personality profiling, you will be able to more accurately determine the personality type you are confronting and some of the interviewing techniques best suited to elicit information from that individual.
This course focuses on skill development and will enhance your ability to conduct effective interviews and interrogations.
Audience
Patrol officers, newly assigned and seasoned detectives, investigations supervisors, crime scene technicians, medical examiner and coroner investigators and military investigative personnel
This class is restricted to sworn law enforcement officers and those personnel assigned directly to law enforcement agencies.
Whether you are the first responder or the lead investigator, this course will give you the knowledge and skills to thoroughly and professionally investigate any possible homicide situation.
We will show you the various types of homicides that you may encounter and common approaches to each. You will learn a systematic process for handling the crime scene, from the initial approach through scene documentation and evidence collection. And, you’ll see how the latest technology and forensic sciences can assist you in your investigation.
Beyond the crime scene, you’ll also learn about criminal profiling, interrogation techniques and how to handle the news media’s involvement.
Topics Include
Death scene preservation
Duties of the first officer on the scene
Investigative procedures at the death scene
Team approach to death investigations
Autoerotic death investigations
Causes and manner of death
Time of death determination
Criminal personality profiling
Organized vs. disorganized crime scenes
Death scene search techniques
Handling the news media in death investigations
Suicide investigations
Homicide interrogation techniques
Audience
Patrol officers, newly assigned and seasoned detectives, investigations supervisors, crime scene technicians, medical examiner and coroner investigators, military investigative personnel
Class is restricted to sworn law enforcement officers and those personnel assigned directly to law enforcement agencies.
This course will further enhance the skills you acquired in IPTM's Homicide Investigation course and supply you with the knowledge and abilities to handle even the most challenging homicide investigations.
You will learn how to organize a complex homicide investigation and how to apply advanced forensic techniques to the case. We will discuss criminal profiling and abnormal psychology and you will learn specific interrogation techniques to use on the suspects.
Lectures during the course will be held to a minimum. Instead, emphasis will be placed on practical exercises. You will be provided the opportunity to apply the skills you have acquired while studying complex homicide cases presented by the instructors.
Patrol officers, newly assigned and seasoned detectives, investigations supervisors, crime scene technicians, medical examiner and coroner investigators, military investigative personnel
This class is restricted to sworn law enforcement officers and those personnel assigned directly to law enforcement agencies.
This course was created to build confidence in your ability to work through processing a crime scene from receiving a request for processing to testifying on the witness stand. Techniques and information are provided not only through presentations, but hands-on training and real case examples. Instructors will cover a broad range of topics with emphasis given to recognizing, documenting, collecting, preserving, processing, and analyzing physical evidence. Investigators, crime scene technicians, and agency personnel who investigate crime scenes will all benefit from this course.
We will pay particular attention to the interpretation of discovered evidence, its value within the scene, and usefulness in solving the crime. You will participate in exercises that will give you experience in latent print development techniques and using light energy to process a scene. You will also learn how to interpret bloodstain patterns and use chemical enhancement methods. Courtroom procedures and information for presenting crime scene evidence will also be discussed.
Topics Include
Discussion of specific evidence-related scenes ranging from simple property crimes to crimes against persons
Photography procedures for scene documentation
DNA and where to find it and collect it
Latent print development techniques
Alternative light sources – processing scenes and related evidence with light energy
Casting – tire and shoe impressions, etc.
Bloodstain documentation and chemical enhancement
Evidence collection and packaging
Courtroom testimony
Audience
Crime scene technicians, patrol officers, newly assigned and seasoned detectives, investigations supervisors, medical examiner and coroner investigators, and military investigative personnel
This course is restricted to active sworn and non-sworn law enforcement and medical examiner personnel.
This course is specifically designed for detectives who investigate violent crimes but are not responsible for the documentation or collection of blood evidence.
The objective is to enhance the knowledge of homicide and crimes against persons detectives in various areas of bloodstain pattern analysis, with an emphasis on understanding the value of bloodstain evidence and how it can be effectively applied as a forensic tool throughout their investigation. We will provide you with a cohesive understanding of the cause, effect, and implications of different bloodstains and patterns, as well as the actions that caused them.
We will use several actual case studies to emphasize and illustrate the concepts and fundamentals discussed during lectures. This course is not designed for crime scene investigator, as it does not have a laboratory component.
Topics Include
How to recognize bloodstains and patterns that provide probative information regarding the actions that caused the blood-letting events and movements of individuals - during and after the events
How to extrapolate relevant evidence from altered scenes
How to recognize the differences between medical and suspicious deaths
Understanding the documentation processes available to capture the bloodstains and patterns for future analysis by an expert
Types of bloodstains to select for DNA analysis that will provide the most probative value to the investigation
What to expect from a bloodstain pattern analysis conducted by an expert
How expert analysis can be applied throughout the investigation and its relevance in criminal proceedings
Audience
Law enforcement, detectives, investigators, and military investigative personnel. It is not designed for crime scene investigator, as it does not have a laboratory component.
Class is restricted to sworn law enforcement officers and those personnel assigned directly to law enforcement agencies.
This is a 40 hour Advanced Shooting Analysis & Reconstruction Course offered by Highlands Forensics and hosted by the Orlando Police Department the week of January 5, 2026 to January 9, 2026.
This course will pick up where a basic SIR course ends by providing instruction on topics concerned with the process of performing an objective and unbiased shooting scene reconstruction. Lecture topics will include the methodolgy involved,in the reconstructon process, incorporating bloodstain evidence and the results from autopsy into a reoncstuction and a detailed analysis of the human body as a target. Attendees will work in small groups to proocess a motor vehicle shooting scene and be given an actual shooting case for each small group to perform a shooting scene reconstruction. Ultimately each small group will prepare a PowerPoint presentation of their findings. All materials will be provided by the host and Highlands. The only attendee requirement are to have attended a Basic SIR course and a laptop with Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. more info...
Economic crimes have become the fastest growing and costliest crimes in the U.S. in recent years. Frauds are also one of the most difficult to understand and investigate. This updated course explains the complexities of fraud investigations and arms you with a systematic approach and specific techniques for handling a wide range of financial and consumer fraud-related crimes. It relies heavily on student interaction, case studies, and practical scenarios to help increase your understanding of the ever-changing nature of these investigations.
Our goal is to provide you with current information effecting Economic Crimes Investigators with different levels of training and experience. Topics range from simple check fraud and credit card fraud to identity theft and major offenses like embezzlement, internet scams, and Ponzi schemes. In addition, you will learn current trends involving electronic fund transfers and cryptocurrency, as well as how to investigate these crimes. We will show you how to handle the day-to-day issues with conducting these investigations. These issues include how to determine the appropriate jurisdiction for cases, which cases are civil or criminal, and reviews a variety of investigative resources to assist the students with their investigations. We will also provide you with receive recent examples of a variety of legal processes needed to conduct these investigations.
Topics Include
Introduction into Economic Crimes:
Triaging cases
Determining civil vs. criminal
Jurisdictional issues
Case management
Subpoenas, search warrants and court orders
Resources
Legal process
Classifying and investigating the different types of fraud:
Check fraud
Credit/debit card fraud
Identify theft
Internet/computer crimes
Embezzlement
Ponzi/pyramid schemes
Money laundering
Racketeering
EFT’s/cryptocurrency
Audience
Patrol officers, criminal investigators, and economic crimes unit personnel who are responsible for conducting fraud investigations
This course is restricted to sworn and non-sworn law enforcement personnel.
Join us for three days (24 hours) of hands-on training focused on the search, documentation, and recovery of buried and surface scattered human remains. This training will include the following topics:
Whether you are the first responder or the lead investigator, this course will give you the knowledge and skills to thoroughly and professionally investigate any possible homicide situation.
We will show you the various types of homicides that you may encounter and common approaches to each. You will learn a systematic process for handling the crime scene, from the initial approach through scene documentation and evidence collection. And, you’ll see how the latest technology and forensic sciences can assist you in your investigation.
Beyond the crime scene, you’ll also learn about criminal profiling, interrogation techniques and how to handle the news media’s involvement.
Topics Include
Death scene preservation
Duties of the first officer on the scene
Investigative procedures at the death scene
Team approach to death investigations
Autoerotic death investigations
Causes and manner of death
Time of death determination
Criminal personality profiling
Organized vs. disorganized crime scenes
Death scene search techniques
Handling the news media in death investigations
Suicide investigations
Homicide interrogation techniques
Audience
Patrol officers, newly assigned and seasoned detectives, investigations supervisors, crime scene technicians, medical examiner and coroner investigators, military investigative personnel
Class is restricted to sworn law enforcement officers and those personnel assigned directly to law enforcement agencies.
Course Length
40 hours
Note(s)
For Florida Officers, this course will not qualify for Salary Incentive Credit for FDLE course "Injury and Death Investigation."