Crime Scene Investigation: Criminalistics Lab Manual

Author(s): David Byrne

Edition: 2

Copyright: 2025

Pages: 100

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Ebook

$85.00 USD

ISBN 9798385192991

Details Electronic Delivery EBOOK 365 days

This one-of-a-kind Workbook contains 36 Topics, 46 Activities, 7 Crime Scene Simulations, and various templates including a Chain of Custody, Witness Statement and Lab Request Forms as well as a Fingerprint Card and multiple Checklists. This Lab Manual covers many important skills that a Crime Scene Investigator would need in handling a criminal investigation. Topics include working a crime scene from beginning to end, collection of fingerprints, blood and firearm evidence and methods and equipment needed to prevent contamination. This Lab Manual is a must for any student interested in a career in Forensic Science.

 

Chapter 1

Topic 1: Initial Crime Scene Procedures

Activity: Crime Scene Procedures 

Topic 2: Searching the Crime Scene 

Activity: Searching the Crime Scene 1 

New Evidence at Crime Scene 

Activity: Searching the Crime Scene 2 

Topic 3: Crime Scene Personnel Log 

Activity: Personnel Log 

End of Chapter Questions 

Chapter 2

Topic 4: Crime Scene Photography 

Activity: Crime Scene Photography 1 

Activity: Crime Scene Photography 2 

End of Chapter Questions 

Chapter 3

Topic 5: Crime Scene Sketches 

Activity: Crime Scene Sketch 1

Activity: Crime Scene Sketch 2 

Activity: Crime Scene Sketch 3

End of Chapter Questions 

Chapter 4

Topic 6: Witness Interviews 

Activity: Witness Interviews 

Topic 7: Witness Written Statements 

Activity: Witness Written Statements 

End of Chapter Questions 

Chapter 5

Topic 8: Where to Look for Fingerprints 

Activity: Where to Look for Prints

Topic 9 Porous vs. Nonporous Surfaces 

Activity: Porous vs. non-Porous Surfaces

Topic 10: Fingerprints—Determine Method to Collect/Reveal Prints 

Activity: Method to Collect/Reveal Prints

Topic 11: Completing a Fingerprint Card 

Activity: Completing a Fingerprint Card 

Topic 12: Fingerprint Collection Is Not a Perfect Science 

Activity: Fingerprint Collection 

Activity: Fingerprint Analysis

Topic 13: Fingerprints—Recording the Evidence 

Activity: Recording the Fingerprint Evidence 

Topic 14: Pattern Identification 

Activity: Pattern Identification 

Topic 15: Comparison of Fingerprints 

Activity: Compare Fingerprints 

Topic 16: Ridge Patterns

Activity: Ridge Patterns 1 

Activity: Ridge Patterns 2 

End of Chapter Questions 

Chapter 6

Topic 17: Firearm Evidence—Internal Ballistics 

Activity: Internal Balistics 

Topic 18: Bullet Cartridge as Evidence 

Activity: Bullet Cartridge Analysis 

Topic 19: Firearm As Evidence 

Activity: Firearm Evidence 

Topic 20: Forensic Examination of a Bullet Cartridge 

Activity: Bullet Cartridge Evidence

Topic 21: Terminal Ballistics: Barrel as Evidence

Activity: Firearm Barrel Analysis

Topic 22: Bullet Striations 

Activity: Bullet Striations Analysis

Topic 23: Terminal Ballistics 

Activity: Terminal Ballistics

End of Chapter Questions 

Chapter 7

Topic 24: Blood Evidence 

Activity: Blood Spatter Patterns 

Topic 25: Blood—Direction of Travel

Activity: Determine Direction 

Topic: 26: Analysis of the Wound Can Indicate the Weapon Used 

Activity: Wound Analysis 

End of Chapter Questions 

Chapter 8

Topic 27: Tread Impression Evidence 

Activity: Tread Impression Analysis 

Topic 28: Collecting Shoeprint Transfer Evidence 

Activity: Shoeprint Evidence 1 

Activity: Shoeprint Evidence 2 

Topic 29: Cataloging Shoeprint Evidence 

Activity: Cataloging Tread Pattern Evidence  

Topic 30: Shoe Tread Class Characteristics 

Activity: Tread Characteristics 1 

Activity: Tread Characteristics 2 

End of Chapter Questions

Chapter 9

Topic 31: Fiber Evidence 

Activity: Fiber Evidence Analysis

End of Chapter Questions

Chapter 10

Topic 32: Crime Lab Tests 

Activity: Lab Tests Requests 

Topic 33: Crime Scene Documentation—Wounds/ Injuries 

Activity: Document Wounds 

End of Chapter Questions 

Chapter 11

Topic 34: Crime Scene Gear

Activity: Crime Scene Gear 

Topic 35: Chain of Custody 

Activity: Chain of Custody Form 

Topic 36: Preventing Contamination 

Activity: Preventing Contamination Methods 

Activity: Case-Study 

End of Chapter Questions 

David Byrne

Dr. David S. Byrne is currently an Assistant Professor at St. John's University in the Criminal Justice & Homeland Security department and teaches courses in Crime Scene Investigation, Intelligence Analysis, Criminal Investigations, and Counterterrorism. Dr. Byrne has over 15 years of experience in law enforcement, having provided intelligence analytical support in cases involving violent transnational criminal organizations. He was also cross-designated as a Special Detective Investigator for the District Attorney offices in Queens, Richmond, and Manhattan counties in New York where he assisted in the investigation and prosecution of organized crime networks involved in narcotics trafficking, violent extortions, and racketeering offenses.

Since 2015, he also taught at SUNY Farmingdale College, Center for Criminal Justice; courses included Criminalistics, Computer Forensics, and Intelligence Operations. Dr. Byrne was the recipient of the prestigious SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching (2023-2024) and received two grants for the development of a Mock Crime Scene simulation program at the school, see https://youtu.be/uwJahkCNsnA

Dr. Byrne's teaching method focuses on applied and experiential learning through the incorporation of hands-on learning activities to improve student outcomes, critical thinking skills, and long-term knowledge retention. His research interests focus on improving criminal justice education via technology simulations, cybersecurity, digital forensics, and intelligence studies and has published articles in these areas in scholarly journals and authored two books.

Dr. David Byrne earned his Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Information Science with a concentration in Criminal Justice Technologies, a Master of Science in Criminal Justice both from LIU Post, New York and a second Masters in Library & Information Science, from St. John's University in New York.

This one-of-a-kind Workbook contains 36 Topics, 46 Activities, 7 Crime Scene Simulations, and various templates including a Chain of Custody, Witness Statement and Lab Request Forms as well as a Fingerprint Card and multiple Checklists. This Lab Manual covers many important skills that a Crime Scene Investigator would need in handling a criminal investigation. Topics include working a crime scene from beginning to end, collection of fingerprints, blood and firearm evidence and methods and equipment needed to prevent contamination. This Lab Manual is a must for any student interested in a career in Forensic Science.

 

Chapter 1

Topic 1: Initial Crime Scene Procedures

Activity: Crime Scene Procedures 

Topic 2: Searching the Crime Scene 

Activity: Searching the Crime Scene 1 

New Evidence at Crime Scene 

Activity: Searching the Crime Scene 2 

Topic 3: Crime Scene Personnel Log 

Activity: Personnel Log 

End of Chapter Questions 

Chapter 2

Topic 4: Crime Scene Photography 

Activity: Crime Scene Photography 1 

Activity: Crime Scene Photography 2 

End of Chapter Questions 

Chapter 3

Topic 5: Crime Scene Sketches 

Activity: Crime Scene Sketch 1

Activity: Crime Scene Sketch 2 

Activity: Crime Scene Sketch 3

End of Chapter Questions 

Chapter 4

Topic 6: Witness Interviews 

Activity: Witness Interviews 

Topic 7: Witness Written Statements 

Activity: Witness Written Statements 

End of Chapter Questions 

Chapter 5

Topic 8: Where to Look for Fingerprints 

Activity: Where to Look for Prints

Topic 9 Porous vs. Nonporous Surfaces 

Activity: Porous vs. non-Porous Surfaces

Topic 10: Fingerprints—Determine Method to Collect/Reveal Prints 

Activity: Method to Collect/Reveal Prints

Topic 11: Completing a Fingerprint Card 

Activity: Completing a Fingerprint Card 

Topic 12: Fingerprint Collection Is Not a Perfect Science 

Activity: Fingerprint Collection 

Activity: Fingerprint Analysis

Topic 13: Fingerprints—Recording the Evidence 

Activity: Recording the Fingerprint Evidence 

Topic 14: Pattern Identification 

Activity: Pattern Identification 

Topic 15: Comparison of Fingerprints 

Activity: Compare Fingerprints 

Topic 16: Ridge Patterns

Activity: Ridge Patterns 1 

Activity: Ridge Patterns 2 

End of Chapter Questions 

Chapter 6

Topic 17: Firearm Evidence—Internal Ballistics 

Activity: Internal Balistics 

Topic 18: Bullet Cartridge as Evidence 

Activity: Bullet Cartridge Analysis 

Topic 19: Firearm As Evidence 

Activity: Firearm Evidence 

Topic 20: Forensic Examination of a Bullet Cartridge 

Activity: Bullet Cartridge Evidence

Topic 21: Terminal Ballistics: Barrel as Evidence

Activity: Firearm Barrel Analysis

Topic 22: Bullet Striations 

Activity: Bullet Striations Analysis

Topic 23: Terminal Ballistics 

Activity: Terminal Ballistics

End of Chapter Questions 

Chapter 7

Topic 24: Blood Evidence 

Activity: Blood Spatter Patterns 

Topic 25: Blood—Direction of Travel

Activity: Determine Direction 

Topic: 26: Analysis of the Wound Can Indicate the Weapon Used 

Activity: Wound Analysis 

End of Chapter Questions 

Chapter 8

Topic 27: Tread Impression Evidence 

Activity: Tread Impression Analysis 

Topic 28: Collecting Shoeprint Transfer Evidence 

Activity: Shoeprint Evidence 1 

Activity: Shoeprint Evidence 2 

Topic 29: Cataloging Shoeprint Evidence 

Activity: Cataloging Tread Pattern Evidence  

Topic 30: Shoe Tread Class Characteristics 

Activity: Tread Characteristics 1 

Activity: Tread Characteristics 2 

End of Chapter Questions

Chapter 9

Topic 31: Fiber Evidence 

Activity: Fiber Evidence Analysis

End of Chapter Questions

Chapter 10

Topic 32: Crime Lab Tests 

Activity: Lab Tests Requests 

Topic 33: Crime Scene Documentation—Wounds/ Injuries 

Activity: Document Wounds 

End of Chapter Questions 

Chapter 11

Topic 34: Crime Scene Gear

Activity: Crime Scene Gear 

Topic 35: Chain of Custody 

Activity: Chain of Custody Form 

Topic 36: Preventing Contamination 

Activity: Preventing Contamination Methods 

Activity: Case-Study 

End of Chapter Questions 

David Byrne

Dr. David S. Byrne is currently an Assistant Professor at St. John's University in the Criminal Justice & Homeland Security department and teaches courses in Crime Scene Investigation, Intelligence Analysis, Criminal Investigations, and Counterterrorism. Dr. Byrne has over 15 years of experience in law enforcement, having provided intelligence analytical support in cases involving violent transnational criminal organizations. He was also cross-designated as a Special Detective Investigator for the District Attorney offices in Queens, Richmond, and Manhattan counties in New York where he assisted in the investigation and prosecution of organized crime networks involved in narcotics trafficking, violent extortions, and racketeering offenses.

Since 2015, he also taught at SUNY Farmingdale College, Center for Criminal Justice; courses included Criminalistics, Computer Forensics, and Intelligence Operations. Dr. Byrne was the recipient of the prestigious SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching (2023-2024) and received two grants for the development of a Mock Crime Scene simulation program at the school, see https://youtu.be/uwJahkCNsnA

Dr. Byrne's teaching method focuses on applied and experiential learning through the incorporation of hands-on learning activities to improve student outcomes, critical thinking skills, and long-term knowledge retention. His research interests focus on improving criminal justice education via technology simulations, cybersecurity, digital forensics, and intelligence studies and has published articles in these areas in scholarly journals and authored two books.

Dr. David Byrne earned his Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Information Science with a concentration in Criminal Justice Technologies, a Master of Science in Criminal Justice both from LIU Post, New York and a second Masters in Library & Information Science, from St. John's University in New York.