Behind the Crime Scene

Case File Management: Organization and Disclosure in Homicide Investigations

Case File Management: Organization and Disclosure in Homicide Investigations

Effective case file management in homicide investigations ensures evidence is secure, accessible, and legally sound. From centralized digital storage to automated disclosure, proper organization isn't optional-it's essential for justice.

Interrogation Techniques: Psychological Approaches That Work

Interrogation Techniques: Psychological Approaches That Work

Psychological interrogation techniques have evolved from confrontation to connection. Modern methods like rapport-building and evidence presentation produce more accurate results and fewer false confessions than traditional accusatory approaches like the Reid Technique.

Blood into Blood: How Intersecting Drip Patterns Reveal Crime Scene Secrets

Blood into Blood: How Intersecting Drip Patterns Reveal Crime Scene Secrets

Intersecting drip patterns in bloodstain analysis reveal movement, timing, and injury severity at crime scenes. Learn how physics, surface type, and drying time turn bloodstains into forensic evidence.

Version Control for Forensic Reports: Track Drafts, Changes, and Audit Trails

Version Control for Forensic Reports: Track Drafts, Changes, and Audit Trails

Version control for forensic reports ensures every edit is tracked, who made it, and when. It’s not optional-it’s essential for legal defensibility, compliance, and avoiding costly errors in investigations.

Industrial Accident Cleanup: How to Handle Large-Scale Biohazards

Industrial Accident Cleanup: How to Handle Large-Scale Biohazards

Industrial biohazard cleanup after major accidents requires professional teams, regulated disinfectants, and strict safety protocols. Learn how contaminated sites are assessed, contained, cleaned, and verified to meet OSHA and EPA standards.

Evidence Packaging Materials: How to Choose the Right Containers for Forensic Integrity

Evidence Packaging Materials: How to Choose the Right Containers for Forensic Integrity

Choosing the right evidence containers isn't optional-it's essential for preserving forensic integrity. Learn how kraft paper, plastic bags, and cardboard boxes must be selected, sealed, and labeled to maintain chain of custody and ensure courtroom admissibility.

Evidence Security: Physical Controls and Access for Lab Accreditation

Evidence Security: Physical Controls and Access for Lab Accreditation

Physical controls are the backbone of evidence security in forensic labs. Learn how locks, biometrics, surveillance, and access logs ensure lab accreditation and court-admissible evidence integrity.

Cold Case Reanalysis: How New DNA Tools Are Solving Decades-Old Crimes

Cold Case Reanalysis: How New DNA Tools Are Solving Decades-Old Crimes

New DNA tools are solving cold cases once thought unsolvable. From bloodstains to genealogy databases, forensic science has entered a new era where decades-old crimes are closed in days-not decades.

Shotgun Evidence: How Wads, Pellets, and Gauge Reveal the Firearm Used

Shotgun Evidence: How Wads, Pellets, and Gauge Reveal the Firearm Used

Forensic experts use shotgun wads and pellets to determine gauge, shot size, and ammunition type. Learn how wad measurements, pellet weight, and new imaging tech like DECT help solve crimes involving shotguns.

CSI Certifications from the International Association for Identification: How to Get Certified and Why It Matters

CSI Certifications from the International Association for Identification: How to Get Certified and Why It Matters

IAI CSI certifications are the gold standard for crime scene professionals. Learn the three certification levels, eligibility rules, training requirements, and why this credential matters more than a degree in many forensic jobs.

Contact, Intermediate, and Distant Gunshot Wounds: Forensic Indicators Explained

Contact, Intermediate, and Distant Gunshot Wounds: Forensic Indicators Explained

Forensic experts use distinct wound patterns to determine if a gunshot was fired at contact, intermediate, or distant range. Each distance leaves unique signs - from muzzle imprints to stippling - that help solve crimes.

Training Exercises for Photographic Documentation: Real-World Scenarios

Training Exercises for Photographic Documentation: Real-World Scenarios

Photographic documentation training teaches how to capture meaningful, accurate images for forensic, educational, and tactical contexts. Learn practical exercises like the 100 Paces method, five-minute action shots, and the three-point art documentation system.