Crime Scene House
This unique facility is where we stage mock crime scenes as laboratory components within our Forensic Science program. Major crimes scenes include:
- Bloodstain patterns simulating attacks.
- Impression evidence indicating forced entries.
- Bullet damage revealing trajectory patterns and number of shooters.
- Shattered windshields demonstrating hit-and-run accidents.
You will receive hands-on training in the practical skills required by forensic investigators, including:
- Learning to collect trace materials, impression patterns and biological fluid evidence
- Proper documentation and sketching of a variety of crime scene scenarios
- Vehicle accident reconstruction
- Clandestine grave identification and excavation techniques
- Decomposition experiments
- Recovery of entomological and botanical evidence
Practical training exposes you to the roles of both police officers and scientists in crime scene investigations.
Each room in the Crime Scene House is equipped with a video camera for professors to monitor you while you conduct investigations and to observe techniques, including watching for possible contamination of crime scenes. Investigations are recorded for future reference and allow professors to review them with you.
The Crime Scene House also features a forensic garage. Vehicular crime scenes, such as theft, hit and run, and vehicle collisions are simulated in this facility. You learn how to collect important evidence from vehicles. Currently we have five vehicles used for collecting fingerprints, blood spatter analysis, recovery of trace evidence, accident reconstruction and shooting scenarios.
