This eight-hour hands-on course is designed for patrol officers, community service officers, and other first responders responsible for recognizing, preserving, documenting, processing, and collecting latent print and DNA evidence. Students will learn practical field methods for protecting potential evidence from contamination or loss, selecting appropriate latent print processing techniques, lifting and preserving developed impressions, collecting biological material for DNA analysis, and properly packaging and documenting evidence.
Through instructor demonstrations and practical exercises, students will develop the skills needed to recover latent print and DNA evidence while maintaining evidence integrity and minimizing cross-contamination. Emphasis will be placed on scene assessment, personal protective equipment, contamination prevention, proper collection techniques, packaging, labeling, documentation, and chain of custody.