Evidence Technician

If you are a law enforcement or security professional, this certificate can give you the skills to carefully collect and preserve physical crime scene evidence. You’ll learn how to examine and reconstruct crime scenes, as well as how to collect, analyze and protect biological and trace evidence. Through hands-on experience, you’ll learn techniques for detecting and recovering impression evidence such as footwear marks, fingerprints, tool marks and tire treads. You will become a valuable member of the investigative team.

COURSE LIST

Course list for reference only. Current students please refer to your individualized program plan or see your advisor.
**Outside effort hours are an estimate based on state standards, and may vary from person to person.

Technical Studies (14 Credits)

Course Title
Course Number
Credits
Instructional Hours
Outside Effort Hours**
Prior Learning Credit Eligibility
• Introduction to Forensic Science

  10-504-110

  3Credit

  72

  90

  View Information

  • Instructional Hours: 72
  • Outside Effort Hours: 90
  • Course Number: 10504110
  • Credits: 3.00

  Credit for Prior Learning Options Available

  Explores the applications of science in the field of crime scene management from the crime scene to the courtroom and beyond. Students will focus on the examination and reconstruction of various crime scenes with the emphasis on the identification, collection, documentation and preservation of physical evidence.

  Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

  • Accuplacer Reading 250+ OR HS GPA 2.75+ OR ACT Reading 18+ OR Reading Level 3 Coursework

  • Accuplacer Sentence 250+ OR HS GPA 2.75+ OR ACT English 18+ OR English Level 2 Coursework

  • Student is in progress in the Program of Study of Forensic Science (10-504-4) OR Criminal Justice Studies (10-504-5)

  Coreq: Student has completed or is simultaneously enrolling in ALL of the following:

  • CRIME 94900315 - A.C.E

  OR ALL of the following:

  • Student is not in progress in Associate Degree, Apprenticeship, or Technical Diploma (31 or 32 level)

• Biological & Trace Evidence

  10-504-122

  3Credit

  72

  90

  N/A

  • Instructional Hours: 72
  • Outside Effort Hours: 90
  • Course Number: 10504122
  • Credits: 3.00

  Provides the student with the knowledge of protecting, recognizing, documenting, collecting, preserving and analysis of biological and trace evidence. Students will learn about the different types of biological evidence and trace evidence that can be used to assist in criminal investigations. This course deals with the real science and myths of DNA along with the identifying suitable types of evidence for DNA analysis. This course is offered on-campus in fall term and online in spring term.

  Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ANY of the following options:

  • CRIME 10504131 - Basic Crime Scene Photography

  • Student is in progress in Evidence Technician (20-504-24) Program of Study

• Basic Crime Scene Photography

  10-504-131

  3Credit

  54

  108

  N/A

  • Instructional Hours: 54
  • Outside Effort Hours: 108
  • Course Number: 10504131
  • Credits: 3.00

  Designed to develop basic skills in preparing effective crime scene photographs and to instruct the student in the type of photographs necessary, as well as the lighting needed for good crime scene photography. This course will educate the crime scene investigator, homicide detective, sworn law enforcement officer, rape detective, arson investigator, domestic violence investigator, and other law enforcement personnel in the aspects of photography and provide the skills needed to apply this technology in the crime scene investigation field and/or related areas.

  Coreq: Student has completed or is simultaneously enrolling in ALL of the following:

  • CRIME 10504110 - Intro to Forensic Science

• Impression Evidence

  10-504-146

  3Credit

  72

  90

  N/A

  • Instructional Hours: 72
  • Outside Effort Hours: 90
  • Course Number: 10504146
  • Credits: 3.00

  Focuses on the many different types of two/three dimensional impression evidence (footwear, fingerprints, tool marks, tire tread, etc.) found at crime scenes, detection/recovery techniques in the field and examinations in the lab and beyond to include the courtroom. Students will have practical hands-on applications (casting, lifts, etc.) with the collection techniques used in the field and lab environment. This will aid the student in developing tools and technologies to enhance their abilities to identify, document, collect and preserve impression evidence. This course is offered online in fall term and on-campus in spring term.

  Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

  • CRIME 10504110 - Intro to Forensic Science

• Property/Evidence Management

  10-504-168

  2Credit

  36

  72

  N/A

  • Instructional Hours: 36
  • Outside Effort Hours: 72
  • Course Number: 10504168
  • Credits: 2.00

  Focuses on the applications of all forms of property and evidence management systems that include a number of key stages from the piece of property/evidence's acquisition to its eventual disposal. Students will learn versatile time saving tools for managing property, evidence, and equipment through warehousing and inventory control. Develop formal standards for the management, administration, handling of property/evidence and benchmark references specific to the initial property/evidence handling procedures and life time standards for an organization.