Maricopa Community Colleges  LET211   19926-19952 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 05/26/92
LET211 19926-19952 LEC 1 Credit(s) 1 Period(s)
Criminalistics
Study of fingerprinting, crime scene processing, and the handling of situations involving hazardous materials and explosives. Prerequisites: None.
Go to Competencies    Go to Outline
 
MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
LET211   19926-19952 Criminalistics
1. Describe the procedures required to mark, collect, package, and transport evidence. (I)
2. 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; and 4) the preparation of proper reports 5) securing and protecting the crime scene. (I)
3. Identify the types of special assistance available to aid in recording a crime scene. (I)
4. Demonstrate the technique for lifting, recording, preserving, and identifying latent fingerprints at a crime scene. (II)
5. List the steps involved in processing latent fingerprints. (II)
6. Describe the process to prepare fingerprint charts for courtroom presentation. (II)
7. Define hazardous materials and give five examples. (III)
8. List the steps to follow upon arriving at the scene of a hazardous materials incident. (III)
9. Describe the proper procedure to follow up on the discovery of explosives or an explosive device. (IV)
10. Explain proper police procedure regarding a bomb threat situation. (IV)
Go to Description    Go to top of Competencies
 
MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
LET211   19926-19952 Criminalistics
    I. Crime Scene Processing
        A. Evidence
          1. Types of Evidence
          2. Value of Physical Evidence
          3. Characteristics of Physical Evidence
          4. Legal Aspects of Marking and Packing Evidence
          5. Identification of Evidence
          6. Collection and Preservation
          7. Contamination of Evidence
        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. Notetaking
          4. Crime Scene Searches
          5. Crime Scene Photography
      II. Fingerprinting
          A. Laboratory Bureau Latent Print Section
          B. Why Fingerprint Identification
          C. Latent Fingerprints
            1. Suitable Surfaces for Latents
            2. Unsuitable Surfaces for Latents
            3. Factors Involved in Leaving Latent Prints
            4. How to Search the Crime Scene for Latents
            5. Techniques for Processing and Preserving Latent Fingerprints
            6. Filling out the Paperwork
          D. Rolled Impression Fingerprints
          E. Preparation of Fingerprint Charts for Courts
        III. Hazardous Materials
            A. Definition of a Hazardous Material
            B. Hazardous Material Detection
            C. Hazardous Material Scene Management
          IV. Recognition of Explosives
              A. Blasting Caps
              B. Safety Fuse
              C. Explosives
                1. High Explosives
                2. Low Explosives
              D. Military Items
              E. Bomb Threats
          Go to Description    Go to top of Competencies    Go to top of Outline