Lectures

The Wealthy Forensic Scientist  - Forensic scientists work hard every day to help others. Since you are here to improve your professional skills, take an hour to also invest in yourself and your family’s future. This lecture provides a simple financial framework anyone can use. Learn how to maximize your hard-earned money through government-provided investment accounts and work toward becoming "the wealthy forensic scientist.

10 Things Everyone Should Know (& Do) About Attending External Training - Don’t just show up for a conference or training event; learn how the trainee, analyst, technical lead, and manager can all get the most from each new training experience. Shared from the perspective of a forensic trainer who has created, instructed, and attended countless forensic identification courses, this lecture provides the listener with important insight on attendance expectations, instructor communication, attendance follow-up, and even insight on how to host your own training course. Get the most out of attending conference workshops, lectures, and forensic provider training courses!

Human Factors: The Benefits of Errors During Training - Forensic laboratory culture tends to punish technical and administrative errors—even in the learning process. This seems to mirror most American educational beliefs; however, growing research—and an international perspective—supports that people learn from errors. Errors can then be leveraged during training exercises to improve learning outcomes and build better analysts. This discussion focuses around an NIJ-RTI International sponsored working group comprised of both forensic and cognitive scientists whose final goal is to provide a sourcebook on human factors to the forensic science community.

Real Transparency in Latent Print Testimony - For years, an often-overused reason for making changes in the field of latent print identification has been, “It’s more transparent”. If something is more transparent but also harder for a jury to understand, is it truly better? This lecture will demonstrate an efficient and practical way to be transparent and helpful in court with every latent print examination.

The 6 Rules of Courtroom Testimony - This lecture outlines the six fundamental rules of courtroom testimony for all forensic scientists. Stop spending your career worrying about court; understanding these essential rules will empower any forensic expert to be a more confident and effective witness.

Beat the Board - Crime Scene Investigator Edition - Landing a Crime Scene Investigator position requires more than technical knowledge, it requires knowing how to successfully navigate the hiring process. This session prepares aspiring CSIs for the interview process by covering common interview formats, frequently asked questions, effective response strategies, and ways to stand out from other candidates. Attendees will also learn how to ask thoughtful questions that demonstrate professionalism and leave a lasting impression on hiring panels. 

Balancing Burnout - We have experienced or are teetering on the edge of it. The reality is our jobs are demanding mentally, physically, and emotionally, and sometimes we get stuck when trying to come back to ourselves. In this presentation and workshop, we will bring awareness to burnout and its effects, identify resources for regulation, and end with gentle movement for the body and mind. You will be left equipped with ways to identify burnout, integrate mindfulness into your daily life, and regulate your nervous system for your overall well-being, and to extend your longevity in your career.

Workshops

Collection of Footwear Impressions" to include hands-on photographing, casting, dry-casting in water, cleaning and photographing casts, and lifting 2D impressions (Limit: 12) - This workshop is intended for entry-level crime scene investigators seeking foundational training in impression evidence recovery. Emphasis will be placed on the forensic value of footwear impressions, which are frequently underutilized despite their evidentiary potential. Participants will receive instruction in the proper documentation and recovery of three-dimensional impressions through photographic techniques and casting methods in substrates such as soil and mud, including dry-casting in aqueous environments. The course will also cover post-recovery procedures, including cleaning and photographing casts, as well as techniques for locating, enhancing, photographing, and lifting two-dimensional impressions from non-porous surfaces. This workshop has been approved by the IAI for 4 hours of training credit toward crime scene certification.Course is approved for IAI Crime Scene Certification.

Required equipment:  Cameras with with external flash and sync cord. 

Suggested equipment: Tripod.

Basic Distortion - abstract coming soon

Lectures

Press Play - Physical activity is a boost for your brain and body, so come start your day on a different and fun note. In this window of time, you’ll be guided through gentle stretching, movement, and breath.  Join Danica Scales to prime your mind, energize your body, and "press play" to your day.  Please wear comfortable clothing to move in. We will also be on the floor for some segments, you may bring a yoga mat, blanket, or towel for your comfort. 

Bloodstain Pattern Classification (Interactive) - This is an interactive lecture on bloodstain pattern classification. A BPA decision-making flowchart will be used as a tool (Bevel and Gardener, 2021.) BPA terminology (ASB, 2017) will also be used. Students will practice their skills by analyzing projected photographs; discussion will take place throughout the lecture. With the remaining time available, students may walk around the room and analyze laminated bloodstain patterns. An answer sheet for the laminated patterns will be provided to ensure correct analysis.

The Architecture You Can’t See: Arch Pattern Analysis - In arch pattern analysis, the most critical information often hides in plain sight. This lecture explores this overlooked and misunderstood outlier, examining the unique challenges and advantages of its identification.

Utilizing Body Worn Camera (BWC) Recording to Guard Against Errors and Overstatements - Performing a thorough crime scene reconstruction typically involves the examination and review of a multitude of materials, to include crime scene documentation, evidence examination, review of laboratory analysis and autopsy/medical reports and photographs, etc. But how frequently are crime scene analysts requesting BWC recordings as part of that review? This lecture will discuss multiple cases where BWC recordings were utilized following examination of other materials (in an LSU fashion) to shed light on crime scene details and how those recordings were used to support specific conclusions, and guard against errors and overstatements.

Exploring Identical Twins Nature's Close Non-Match - abstract coming soon.

How to Give a Presentation - Many people believe that being a confident public speaker is beyond their reach or that they simply lack the gift. However, public speaking is not a talent reserved for a select few; it is a skill that anyone can learn. Developing this essential life skill will allow you to help others while elevating your own career. This lecture provides actionable techniques that can be applied to any speaking opportunity.

Missing Bullets? Homicide Case Review: Crime Scene and Autopsy Findings with Synthetic-Core Ammunition - Modern developments in ammunition technology have introduced lead-free, non-toxic alternatives designed to mitigate heavy metal exposure and reduce environmental impacts. However, these specialized projectiles present unique and highly challenging hurdles for forensic investigators, crime scene technicians, and forensic pathologists. This presentation reviews a homicide investigation involving synthetic core ammunition. We will conduct a comprehensive review of the crime scene evidence and the subsequent pathological findings. At the scene, typical physical evidence was notably different and at autopsy, the absence of a traditional lead core caused confusion. Attendees will gain a practical understanding of: the specific evidence left behind at crime scenes, autopsy considerations, the unique behavior of synthetic core ammunition, and potential destabilization/trajectory considerations. By analyzing this case study, forensic practitioners will learn how to recognize the distinct physical "signatures" of this ammunition, helping units identify and/or misinterpreting a projectile's disappearance. Disclaimer: This presentation will feature graphic autopsy photographs. 

Exclusions: A Problematic Conclusion?! - There has been much recent discussion on concept and practice of documenting and reporting exclusions. Week-long training courses have been created to assist us in formulating these conclusions as accurately as possible. But will training and discussion resolve the concern with the high rate of errors associated with exclusions? This lecture will discuss the possible differences in how we reach the conclusion of either ‘exclusion’ or ‘individualization’. Definition, policy and standards associated with exclusions will also be discussed, including ‘root cause’ assessment of casework involving erroneous exclusions. The lecture will conclude with a discussion of the possible cognitive factors that may affect the exclusion process.

Advancing in Forensics: A Workshop to Prepare You for Your Next Promotion - Preparing for a leadership role in forensic science begins long before a promotional opportunity becomes available. This session explores practical strategies for positioning yourself for advancement by building leadership skills, strengthening your professional reputation, and preparing for promotional interviews. Attendees will learn how to effectively answer common interview questions, present themselves with confidence, and develop the long-term habits that increase their chances of earning their next promotion.

Workshops

Firearms Identification and Safe Handling (Limit 32) This class repeats after lunch- This class will educate the students on the different types of firearms they may encounter while working in law enforcement. We will cover the various types of firearms and learn how they operate. The students will learn how to safely handle and unload each firearm. This can be done using just PP and props, or, given the time and space, we will set up real firearms with dummy rounds and allow the students to physically handle the firearms and render them unloaded. If we use live firearms, they will be rendered inoperable prior to bringing them to the training. We will have a strict policy of no live ammunition in the classroom but these firearms are unable to be fired regardless.

Revealing the Invisible: Specialized CS Photography (Limit: 24) - This workshop will provide attendees with a foundational understating of specialized crime scene photography and evidence enhancement techniques commonly used in forensic investigations. You will be introduced to a variety of search and enhancement methods used to visualize and document  and preserve evidence that may be difficult or impossible to observe under normal lighting conditions. 

Hands-on instructions will include application and photographic documentation using the following chemicals: Bluestar, Leuco Crystal Violet, and Small Particle Reagent, in conjunction with ALS technology. Attendees will also gain insight in how to properly document and ensure accurate preservation for analysis, reporting and courtroom presentation

Required equipment: Camera & tripod

Suggested equipment: Battle light

Fingertips: Comparing Extreme Distal Impressions  (Limit 20) - Taken directly from the RS&A class Friction Ridge Symposium: Palms, Plantars, Tips and Toes, this three-hour workshop focuses on analyzing and comparing fingertip impressions—those tricky areas that are literately at the tip of our fingers! Practical exercises, visual demonstration, current research, and in-depth lectures will provide the attendee with a tangible experience and heuristic insight on how to effectively and efficiently compare routinely encountered fingertip impressions. This workshop is approved for credit toward both IAI Latent Print Certification and Recertification. Each attendee will need to bring a magnifying glass. Note: Attending Ten-print/Biometric analysts will need to have a firm understanding and a practical utilization of Level 2/Minutia features. 

Required equipment: Magnifying Glass

Lectures

Press Play - Physical activity is a boost for your brain and body, so come start your day on a different and fun note. In this window of time, you’ll be guided through gentle stretching, movement, and breath.  Join Danica Scales to prime your mind, energize your body, and "press play" to your day.  Please wear comfortable clothing to move in. We will also be on the floor for some segments, you may bring a yoga mat, blanket, or towel for your comfort. 

Smart Forensic Budgeting: Maximizing Resources and Justifying Your Needs - Managing a forensic unit's budget requires more than tracking expenses—it requires strategic planning and effective justification of resources. This session provides practical guidance on building and managing a budget, identifying funding priorities, and developing compelling justifications for equipment, personnel, and other operational needs. Attendees will also learn strategies for maximizing limited resources and monitoring spending throughout the fiscal year.

The Korean Case: Murder or Suicide? Bloodstain Pattern Analysis on a Decedent and Defendant's Bodies - This case involves a South Korean married couple; one deceased, the other arrested for murder. Do the bloodstain patterns on their bodies prove murder or suicide?

Perception & Cognition of Friction Ridge Impressions - This lecture provides a fundamental understanding of our visual perceptions through basic cognitive science terminology and tangible visual examples. Those terms and examples are then directly associated to friction ridge scenarios that friction ridge analysts routinely observe during the analysis, evaluation and comparison process. Hiring, testing, and the key traits cognitive scientists’ feel are needed in a perspective fingerprint analyst will also be discussed.

Forensics in Brazil: Understanding Brazil's Judicial System: From Police Department's Laboratories to Court-Appointed Experts - Brazil’s forensic system brings together professionals working in police laboratories, state scientific police agencies, Federal Police, the Judiciary, and private practice. Although they apply the same scientific principles, their legal roles, institutional positions, and responsibilities differ significantly. This class explains how Brazilian forensic expertise is organized, with particular attention to court-appointed forensic experts and technical assistants—professionals whose functions may be unfamiliar to an international audience.

Participants will follow an anonymized real case study showing how expert evidence is requested, produced, challenged, and presented in Brazilian judicial proceedings. The session will connect institutional structure with practical experience, highlighting both the strengths and challenges of a model in which forensic science operates from different seats at the table.

Workshops

Phalanges: Analysis and Comparison (Limit 20) - Expanded beyond concepts discussed in the RS&A class Latent Print Search & Comparison Techniques, this three-hour workshop focuses on analyzing and comparing the distinct ridge flow of phalange impressions. The Level 1/macro and Level 2/micro features of these impressions are demonstrated and then tangibly utilized through numerous comparison exercises dedicated specifically to the friction ridges of the medial and proximal phalanges. Shared contemporary terminology—explained and supported by OSAC’s Standard for Friction Ridge Examination Training Program—including searching smart heuristics will each assist the attendee with a better understanding and an applied comparison experience with these unique friction ridge impressions. 

Required equipment: Magnifying glass.

Navigating Complex Analysis (Limit TBD) - abstract coming soon.

Fundamentals of Photography (Limit 20) - Photography is essential to crime scene documentation, and it is imperative for investigators to understand how to take the best photograph to capture the scene or the evidence. This is an introductory workshop to photography that covers understanding the camera, the exposure triangle, metering, depth of field, and using manual. Students will learn to use the different modes (Auto/Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Speed Priority, and Manual). This workshop sets the foundation for advanced photography skills such as night photography and flash photography.

Required equipment: Camera & tripod

Mastering Low Light Photography (Limit 20 - Evening 1800-2200HRS) - Understanding low light photography is essential to every crime scene investigator; however, mastering it can sometimes be tricky. This workshop will allow attendees to explore and practice the technical skills required for taking well exposed low light photographs. The workshop will cover camera settings using ambient light and artificial light sources. Attendees will learn painting with light techniques and some advanced low light techniques such as capturing laser trajectory. Whether you are a new CSI or have many years in the field, you will leave the workshop with a stronger grasp of low light photography techniques.

Required equipment: Camera & tripod

Lectures

Press Play - Physical activity is a boost for your brain and body, so come start your day on a different and fun note. In this window of time, you’ll be guided through gentle stretching, movement, and breath.  Join Danica Scales to prime your mind, energize your body, and "press play" to your day.  Please wear comfortable clothing to move in. We will also be on the floor for some segments, you may bring a yoga mat, blanket, or towel for your comfort. 

The Murder of Julian Andrade - On May 28, 2018, the L.A. County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau responded to a residence in the Los Angeles suburb of Azusa. Inside the location Investigators found a chaotic and bloody scene. Evidence at the scene included a disheveled bed, a comforter, pillows, broken glass containers, cooking pots, large rocks, and a dented metal chair, all of which were saturated in blood. The floor, ceiling and walls were also covered with blood stains, smears and spatter. There was no victim at the scene. On May 30, 2018, Investigators located the body of Victim Julian Andrade on the side of a cliff in the nearby San Gabriel Mountains. The teamwork demonstrated by all involved resulted in the arrest of four suspects, a thorough and successful investigation and later prosecution. However, the true success lies in the dedication and professionalism of the LA County Sheriff’s Crime Lab.

If You are Doing Their Job, Then Who's Doing Yours: Rethinking the Role of the "Working Supervisor" - Balancing supervisory responsibilities while continuing to handle casework is one of the greatest challenges facing forensic leaders. This session explores the common pitfalls of the working supervisor role, including time management, burnout, shifting from peer to leader, and competing priorities. Attendees will learn practical strategies for managing workloads, setting boundaries, and leading effectively while maintaining operational responsibilities. 

Which came first? Blood Activity Level Issues & Can We Tell? - Abstract coming soon.

Workshops

Documentation Methods of Bloodstain Patterns and Defects on Clothing and Shoes (Limit 30) - A short PowerPoint presentation will first be provided to show a case example of documenting bloodstain patterns and defects on clothing and shoes.  Next, attendees will work in groups of 2 and will start by analyzing and documenting bloodstain patterns (fake blood) and defects on either one clothing article or one shoe. When the team is finished, they will switch with another team until they have analyzed and documented at least one clothing article and one shoe. Attendees will conduct analysis, photography, take notes, and create a rough sketch of defects and bloodstains/bloodstain patterns on at least one clothing article and shoe.  The “road mapping” technique, created by Toby Wolson, will be used.

Advanced Flash Photography (Limit 20) - Flash photography can feel intimidating, and many investigators either avoid using flash altogether or struggle to use it effectively in the field. In this workshop, I’ll break down the fundamentals of flash exposure, balancing ambient light, reducing harsh shadows and glare, and understanding how light impacts the documentation of evidence. I will also cover practical tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your flash. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have a better understanding of how to use flash as a tool to improve the quality of your crime scene photography.

Required equipment: Camera & tripod

Scars: Their Feature Attributes and Comparison (Limit 20) - Considered by many to be both discriminating and persistent, observed scars can assist in our analysis and comparison of friction ridge impressions. However, during a three-year period, 56% of participants attending Jon’s RS&A comparison class erroneously excluded a matching pair of fingerprints that involved a scar. There was no induced trickery, nor a concerted plan to deceive. Why then did so many fail to formulate an identification? This workshop is a practical setting for comparing friction ridge impressions having numerous and varying scarring scenarios, but it also dissects the previously mentioned error: exposing the ‘root cause’ of those who errored, and the reasoning behind the success of those who identified the matching pair. Pertinent for biometric and forensic analysts, this insight—along with numerous practical exercises and shared OSAC concepts—will educate participants to avoid such errors in their casework.

Required equipment: Magnifying glass.

Lectures

Balancing Burnout - We have experienced or are teetering on the edge of it. The reality is our jobs are demanding mentally, physically, and emotionally, and sometimes we get stuck when trying to come back to ourselves. In this presentation and workshop, we will bring awareness to burnout and its effects, identify resources for regulation, and end with gentle movement for the body and mind. You will be left equipped with ways to identify burnout, integrate mindfulness into your daily life, and regulate your nervous system for your overall well-being, and to extend your longevity in your career.

Unlocking the Keys to Effective Communication - Communication is one of the most influential and often overlooked factors in a forensic unit's success. This session explores practical communication strategies that improve teamwork, reduce conflict, minimize errors, and increase accountability. Attendees will learn how to adapt their communication style to different DISC behavioral profiles, strengthen nonverbal communication, and create clearer, more effective interactions with colleagues and staff. 

The Child Skeleton in Crime Scene Search and Recovery - Child skeletal remains present unique challenges during crime scene searches and recoveries. Smaller bones, incomplete skeletal development, fragmentation, and environmental changes make juvenile remains more difficult to recognize, document, and recover than adult remains. Using case studies, this presentation will provide crime scene investigators with practical guidance for identifying and recovering juvenile skeletal remains in buried, burned, and surface scatter scenes. Attendees will learn how skeletal development affects scene recognition, search strategies, recovery techniques, and evidence interpretation. The session will also highlight common field challenges, including distinguishing juvenile remains from animal bone and recognizing how postmortem processes can alter skeletal appearance and distribution. This presentation is designed to give investigators practical, field-based knowledge that can improve scene processing and recovery outcomes in cases involving child remains.

Money, Bling, Sex and Murder: Six Degrees of Separation between Decedent, Defendants and Investigators - This case involves three young women ages 18-20, one murdered by the other two. There are unusual circumstances weaved throughout the case and trial that connect several law enforcement personnel, demonstrating the “six degrees of separation” theory.

Workshops

Crease Attribution  (Limit 20) - Creases are durable morphological features that allow our friction ridge skin to flex, extend, or simply be pliable. All friction ridge skin analysts should be familiar with the position and variation of creases; when observed in either a latent print or known standard, they can significantly assist in establishing search parameters. Although this workshop does not promote their singular use for Source Identification, it does strongly support and utilize their role in our comparison process—to search and locate! Finger and palm print association exercises—lacking Level I and II (macro & micro) features, but numerous creases—are part of the practical tools used in this workshop. These exercises will provide the attendee with tangible experience, understanding and then attributing creases to a possible source. This three-hour workshop will also provide an international perspective of creases—from the North American philosophies to the European Expert Group perspective on ‘skin fold’ terminology, definition, and practical usage. This workshop is approved for credit toward both IAI Latent Print Certification and Recertification.

Required equipment: Magnifying glass

Implementing an Expanded Conclusion Scale (Limit TBD) - abstract coming soon.