Forensic Identification (FIC)

Formerly known as Identification Methods and Techniques Course

Purpose of the Course

The purpose of this course is to develop the student's competencies in forensic identification duties such as fingerprints, physical comparisons, forensic photography, crime scene techniques, as well as in the recognition, gathering, examination, preservation and presentation of evidence. It prepares the students to perform these duties in a supervised environment for the period specified in their respective department policy.

Course content

After registering for the course, students will receive training modules on a CD-ROM which must be successfully completed prior to attending the course. Students will also be required to successfully complete an entrance exam.

Pre-course Modules

1. Introduction to Photography
2. Authorities to Fingerprint and Photograph
3. Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (W.H.M.I.S.)
4. Types of Physical Evidence

Fingerprints (Qualitative - Quantitative Friction Ridge Analysis)

1. Friction
2. Skin Structure
3. Fingerprint Pattern Recognition
4. Fingerprint Comparison
5. Fingerprint Analysis Report
6. Palmprint Comparison

Photography

1. Proper Film Exposure
2. Flash Photography
3. Digital Imaging (including Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator)
4. Introduction to Copying
5. Crime Scene Photography
6. Fingerprint Photography
7. Small Objects Photography
8. Close-up Photography
9. Negative Evaluation
10. Filtration
11. Perspective
12. Forensic Lights (UV and IR)

Crime Scene

1. Powders and Chemicals
2. Plan Drawing
3. Physical Evidence
4. Two Dimensional Impressions
5. Three Dimensional Evidence Recovery
6. Vehicle and Tire Track Evidence
7. Crime Scene Approach and Processing
8. DNA Evidence
9. Introduction to Video Camera
10. Bloodstain Pattern Recognition
11. Criminal Profiling (elective topic)
12. Virtual Reality (elective topic)
13. Major Case Presentation (elective topic)
14. Forensic Pathology (elective topic)

Expert Advice

1. Comparative Charts (electronic)
2. Preparation and Presentation of Expert Evidence
3. Moot Trials

Special features

Night and Weekend Assignments: Students are expected to spend several hours on study and course related assignments during evenings and some weekends.

Absenteeism: Absenteeism may result in the student not successfully completing the course, or being rescheduled to a subsequent one. To eliminate recall to their duty districts, students are requested to clear up as many commitments as possible before proceeding on course. Where such commitments are unavoidable, a request by fax from the department or copy of the subpoena is required.

Participant Selection Criteria

1. The course is open to all law enforcement agencies which:
   • have functional Identification Services; or
   • will be establishing functional Identification Services during the current fiscal year.
2. Personnel from accredited police forces who are presently employed, or about to be employed, on a full time basis as identification specialists. 
3. Students must successfully complete, as a prerequisite, the assigned training modules and pass the entrance examination.
4. The students must be able to operate a computer in a windows environment to the extent that they can; a) locate files on multiple hard drives, b) create and rename files, c) move, copy, cut and paste files and d) use pop down file menus e) work with multiple applications f) resize, maximize and restore application windows. Please include documentation of computer courses taken and a cover letter from a direct supervisor confirming that the candidate has the necessary computer skills as set out.

Examinations/Assessments

Students are examined and must achieve a minimum score of 70% in all examinations (including the modules examination), except the fingerprint comparison examination where no errors are allowed. Examinations are conducted in the following areas;

1. Practical fingerprint comparison
2. Photographic theory
3. Scenes of crime theory
4. Scenes of crime practical

An assessment report will be forwarded to the department with a copy to the student.

Duration: Thirty-eight working days.

Number of Students: Twenty.

Language: English, French.