Enhance Your Skills with Sirchie Training in 2015 Plus New Free Training Webinar Next Week

Sirchie Laboratories has announced that the 2015 website & access to their Training Section where you can sign up for each class or contact them for more details: full schedule starting in January.

[Abstract written by Mercedes Quick, ForensIQ Intern, 11/13/14]

Get Ahead With West Virginia University Summer Courses in Forensics

West Virginia has announced numerous upcoming courses as part of its Forensic Science Initiative. These courses will allow both forensic professionals and civilian practitioners to develop their skills on a variety of topics including, forensic photography, latent print development, paint evidence, blood presumptive testing, and fiber identification. All courses will take place at the Morgantown, West Virginia campus and upon completion; each participant will receive a certificate of completion.

Registration is open for the following WVU summer courses in June and July:

• Basic Crime Scene – June 2 – 6, 2014
• Latent Print Development – June 12 – 13, 2014
• Basic Crime Scene Photography for Law Enforcement – July 1 – 2, 2014
• Paint Evidence and the Forensic Laboratory – July 8 – 10, 2014
• Blood Presumptive Testing & Enhancement – July 10 – 11, 2014
• Identification of Natural and Man-made Fiber – July 15 – 17, 2014
• Characterization & Comparison of Dyed Fibers – July 22 – 24, 2014
• Introduction to Firearm Examination – July 28 – 30, 2014

Registration is free but attendees are responsible for travel and lodging costs.

Source: West Virginia University

[Abstract written by Noel Andres, ForensIQ Intern, 5/15/14]

“Shooting Reconstruction: The 4 Elements of Trajectory” – Free Online Course

RTI International will be holding a free online course on Thursday May 22 at 1pm Eastern time. This course is called “Shooting Reconstruction: The 4 Elements of Trajectory”. It will be presented by Aaron Brudenell and will be approximately 70 minutes. He will discuss how the path of a bullet hole has 4 main elements that require measurement, estimation, or other determination where possible. This introduction to shooting reconstruction course will address these four elements independently and then assessed as a group in examples and case studies.

RTI International also offers free archived training that can be viewed at anytime.

Click here to register!

Click here to view free archived training

Source: RTI International

[Abstract written by Alicia Terrell, ForensIQ Intern, 050814]

Cold Case Safety Net Course: Missing & Unidentified Persons

B.J. Spamer, Program Manager in the Forensic Services Unit at the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification, will present a 60-minute training course for all agencies that handle long-tern missing and unidentified person cases.

This self-paced on demand course will:

• 1. Provide an efficient and effective four-step process to initially address all missing and unidentified cold cases
• 2. Ensure that investigators receive maximum benefits of database searching and outside resources with a minimal initial effort

Once an initial cold case safety net response is complete, traditional cold case selection factors can be applied to prioritize cases for further investigative response. This course is sponsored by the National Institute of Justice and RTI International and is free and open to all.

Click here to learn more and register for this free course!

Source: RTI International

[Abstract written by Noel Andres, ForensIQ Student Intern, 4/3/14]

Free Course on Developing a Missing Persons Protocol

B.J. Spamer and George Adams will deliver a 60-minute presentation designed to provide law enforcement agencies with the information needed to develop protocols that will ensure consistent and effective investigations of missing person cases. The material covered in this online training course is applicable to all law enforcement agencies and will cover resources that will assist agencies to better respond to, and investigate, missing person cases. Although this course is intended for law enforcement, medical examiners, and corners, it is free and open to all audiences.

Click here to register now!

Source: RTI International

[Abstract written by Noel Andres, ForensIQ Student Intern, 4/3/14]

Free Spanish Language Training Course for Law Enforcement Officers

The National Institute of Justice has developed a course to help officers obtain a fundamental understanding of the Spanish language and apply that knowledge to law enforcement situations. The online self-paced training course is divided into five sections:

• Basic knowledge
• Interviews
• Crime scene
• Motor vehicles
• Domestic violence

The first section provides Spanish fundamentals, descriptions, interrogatives, arrest commands, and grammar concepts, while the later sections provide law enforcement scenarios and require the user to answer questions to each scenario. This course is free, open to all, and no registration is required.

Click here to access the website and learn more!

Source: National Institute of Justice

[Abstract written by Noel Andres, ForensIQ Student Intern, 3/27/14]

Challenges in “Drug-facilitated Sexual Assault Investigations” Training Module

Dr. Marc LeBeau, Chief of the FBI Laboratory’s Chemistry Unit, will present an 80-minute online training module that will summarize the challenges associated with drug-facilitated sexual assault investigations. The course will identify evidence collection and laboratory testing strategies, and address recommendations for medical professionals, investigators, prosecutors, and toxicologists to effectively investigate drug-facilitated sexual assault cases. Pre and post course evaluations will be conducted throughout the module and a Certificate of Completion will be granted to the participant upon competition. Although this course is designed for individuals experienced in sexual assault investigations, it is free and open to all!

Click here to register now!

Source: RTI International

[Abstract written by Noel Andres, ForensIQ Student Intern, 3/27/14]

TREXPO Offers Free Training

From May 12-14th at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C there will be a law enforcement expo offering free training. There will be free access for qualified active members of law enforcement. Attendees can learn about new offerings from top vendors, including active shooter and go bags, dispatch solutions, evidence handling systems, guns and ammunition, mobile apps, non-lethal weapons, personal protection equipment, tactical response vehicles and more. The free education being offered at TREXPO includes:

• “Boston Marathon Bombing: A Collaborative Approach to Catch a Terrorist”
• “Marksmanship Under Stress”
• “Resiliency & The Bulletproof Mind: What Happens to the Mind and Body in Combat, and How to Survive and Thrive in this Environment” and “Keeping Our Schools SAFE From Attacks on Our Children: Sandy Hook, Columbine, and Beslan”
• “Tactical and Live Demos”
• “Law Enforcement Firearms Forums”

Click here for full article

Click here for more information on the expo

[Abstract written by Alicia Terrell, ForensIQ Intern, 032714]

Free Webinar on Non-Standard Forensic DNA Research

At the 2014 American Academy of Forensic Sciences Grantees Conference, scholars gathered in Seattle, Washington to discuss their research and findings. Many of these NIJ grantees have been invited to present their research again, but this time in live webinars. These academic presentations are the first of several events and will feature:

• (1) Development of DNA-Based Multi-Species Identification and Quantification Assays by Jillian Ng, University of California-Davis
• (2) Characterization of X Chromosomal Short Tandem Repeat Markers for Forensic use by Toni Diegoli, Armed Forces DNA ID Lab

The live webinars will air on March 18^th, 19^th, and 20^th at 1 p.m. E.T. Upon completion each participant will receive a Certificate of Completion. Register now for a 60 minute live virtual classroom presentation as Jillian Ng and Toni Diegoli discuss topics in Forensic science, technology, and toxicology.

Click here to learn more and to register for one of the three dates!

Source: RTI International

[Abstract written by Noel Andres, ForensIQ Student Intern, 3/13/14]