Maricopa Community Colleges  LET211   20016-20082 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 06/26/01
LET211 20016-20082 LEC 2 Credit(s) 2 Period(s)
Criminalistics
Study of fingerprinting, crime scene processing, preliminary investigations, and crime scene management.
Prerequisites: Permission of Department or Division.
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
LET211   20016-20082 Criminalistics
1. Identify responsibilities of the first officer at the scene of a criminal investigation. (I, III)
2. Identify and describe physical evidence. (I)
3. Describe the procedures required to mark, collect, package, and transport evidence. (I)
4. Given a simulated crime scene, describe the proper management of the scene, including: 1) the identification, evaluation, collection, and preservation of evidence; 2) the interviewing of victims, witnesses, and suspects; 3) the conducting of a thorough search 4) the preparation of proper reports; and 5) securing and protecting the crime scene. (I)
5. Identify the types of special assistance available to aid in recording a crime scene. (I)
6. Differentiate between various types of fingerprint processing. (II)
7. Demonstrate the technique for lifting, recording, preserving, and identifying latent fingerprints at a crime scene. (II)
8. Identify procedures and techniques for tracking persons. (III)
9. Identify resources used in criminal investigations and explain their importance to the investigation. (III)
10. Manage a crime scene. (I-III)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
LET211   20016-20082 Criminalistics
    I. Crime Scene Processing
        A. Evidence
          1. Types of Evidence
          2. Value of Physical Evidence
          3. "Chain of Custody"
          4. Characteristics of Physical Evidence
          5. Legal Aspects of Marking and Packing Evidence
          6. Identification of Evidence
          7. Collection and Preservation
          8. Contamination of Evidence
          9. Types of Information Received from Laboratory Analysis
          10. Safety Considerations
        B. Crime Scene
          1. Arrival at the Scene
          2. Entering the Scene
          3. Protecting the Scene
          4. Injured Person at the Scene
          5. Firearms at the Scene
          6. What to Do Until the Investigator Arrives
          7. Dead Person at the Scene
        C. Processing the Crime Scene
          1. Specialized Assistance
          2. Investigative Plan of Action
          3. Note Taking
          4. Crime Scene Searches
          5. Crime Scene Photography
          6. Locating Witnesses
      II. Fingerprinting
          A. Laboratory Bureau Latent Print Section
          B. Why Fingerprint Identification
          C. Latent Fingerprints
            1. Suitable Surfaces
            2. Unsuitable Surfaces
            3. Factors Involved
            4. Search the Crime Scene for Latents
            5. Techniques for Processing and Preserving Latent Fingerprints
            6. Paperwork
          D. Rolled Impression Fingerprints
          E. Preparation of Fingerprint Charts for Courts
        III. Investigations
            A. Responsibilities
            B. Locating Witnesses, Victims and Suspects
            C. Tracking Persons
            D. Follow Search Pattern Techniques
            E. Sketches
            F. Records
            G. Resources
              1. Rap Sheets
              2. Memorandums of Operation (M.O.s) 3 Driver's License
              4. Fingerprints
              5. Law Enforcement Information Systems
              6. Lab Reports
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