Behind the Crime Scene

Cross-Training in Forensics: Career Benefits and Skill Development

By : Ian Brophy
Date : May 7 2026

Discover how cross-training across forensic disciplines boosts career prospects, increases salary potential, and enhances job security for forensic professionals seeking advancement opportunities.

Oil Red O: Visualizing Lipid-Contaminated Fingerprints

By : Ian Brophy
Date : May 7 2026

Discover how Oil Red O, a lipophilic dye, reveals latent fingerprints on greasy and lipid-contaminated surfaces. Learn the chemistry, application steps, and when to choose this method over traditional forensic techniques.

Biological Evidence Drying: Proper Procedures, Timelines, and Storage

By : Ian Brophy
Date : May 7 2026

Learn the proper procedures for drying biological evidence to preserve DNA integrity. Covers timelines, contamination prevention, and storage guidelines.

How to Authenticate Digital Video Evidence in Court: A 2026 Guide

By : Ian Brophy
Date : May 6 2026

A comprehensive guide to authenticating digital video evidence in 2026, covering FRE rules, SHA-256 hashing, metadata preservation, and deepfake detection strategies for legal admissibility.

Digital Signatures: Legal Acceptance, Validation, and Chain of Custody

By : Ian Brophy
Date : May 6 2026

Explore the legal acceptance of digital signatures globally, focusing on PKI technology, chain of custody, and key regulations like eIDAS and ESIGN. Learn how to validate signatures and ensure compliance in 2026.

Glass Fragments: Collection and Comparison Methods

By : Ian Brophy
Date : May 6 2026

Learn professional methods for collecting and comparing glass fragments in forensic investigations. Covers sampling protocols, refractive index testing, elemental analysis, and avoiding common pitfalls.

Shot Pattern Testing Guide: How Choke and Pellet Spread Affect Accuracy

By : Ian Brophy
Date : May 5 2026

Learn how to pattern your shotgun correctly to understand pellet spread and choke influence. Discover why point of impact and pattern quality matter more than just hitting the target.

Contamination Controls in Trace Microlabs: A Practical Guide for Forensic Accuracy

By : Ian Brophy
Date : May 5 2026

Master contamination controls in trace microlabs with practical strategies for airflow, sterilization, and workflow design. Essential reading for forensic accuracy and ISO 17025 compliance.

The Stringing Method: How to Reconstruct Attack Patterns in Bloodstain Analysis

By : Ian Brophy
Date : May 5 2026

Explore the stringing method in bloodstain pattern analysis. Learn how forensic experts use physics and manual reconstruction to pinpoint attack origins, victim positions, and weapon dynamics in crime scenes.

Duplicate Evidence Sets: How to Manage Sub-Samples and Splits for Chain of Custody

By : Ian Brophy
Date : May 4 2026

Learn how to manage duplicate evidence sets, sub-samples, and splits to maintain chain of custody integrity. Covers field duplicates, lab replicates, and best practices for forensic accuracy.