Virtual Crime Scenes: The Future of CSI Education

Susan Clutter, Dr. Leggie Boone, & David McGill

March 30, 2022

The nature of Crime Scene Investigation naturally means that the classroom poses some challenges. How do you adequately prepare future CSI's when lab space and resources are limited? Without being able to put course concepts into practice, it's hard for budding investigators to develop the critical thinking necessary for real-life situations.

Fortunately, there are some exciting new alternatives in the world of CSI Education! Join Susan Clutter, Leggie Boone, and David McGill, former (and current) Crime Scene Investigators, as they provide step-by-step guidance on how to use virtual components in the CSI classroom and prepare tomorrow's investigators with the skills they need to be successful.

Susan Clutter received a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Clark University and a Master’s Degree in Forensic Science from the George Washington University. She worked as a CSI for the Montgomery County and Baltimore City Police Departments in MD before becoming a college professor in 2003. She has taught at various colleges in the Maryland and Virginia area, and has taught forensic courses for the Virginia Fire Marshal Academy and the State Department. Her specialty areas include Crime Scene Investigation, Blood Pattern Interpretation, and Fire Science. Susan is now an Associate Professor in the Forensic Science program at Youngstown State University. She has one 16 year old son and a very bossy corgi.

Dr. Leggie [Leh ‘jee] Boone is a Forensic Analyst for a sheriff’s office in Florida. She has been involved in forensic sciences since 1993, including overlapping years as a crime scene investigator and educator in Baltimore, Maryland. When her daughter was born, she left the hectic schedule of being a Forensic Services Supervisor, pharmacy assistant, and adjunct professor to teach full-time. Teaching high school and college sciences inspired the pursuit of her Master’s degree in Forensic Science. In 2008, she moved to Florida where she returned to crime scenes and was recruited to become a Forensic Analyst with her current agency. Boone attained her Ph.D. and Master of Philosophy in Public Policy and Administration, in Criminal Justice, with the goal of improving policies and curricula in collegiate forensic sciences and law enforcement agency crime scene investigation training.

David McGill received his BA at the University of Maryland at College Park, and his MFS in forensic Science at The George Washington University. He has over two decades of forensic examination experience, with a specialization in Footwear and Tire Track Examination. He is a Police Training Commission Certified Instructor, and in addition to his publication with Kendall Hunt, he also has published several research articles on Crime Scene Investigation.

Virtual Crime Scenes: The Future of CSI Education

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