ISP Crime Scene Investigation

Registration Deadline: January 24, 2026 

This course has been approved by ILETSB for the following mandates:

Lead Homicide – 8 hours
Civil Rights - .50
Constitution Use LE Authority – 3.0 hours
Procedural Justice – 2.0/scenario-based hours – 1.0
Laws concerning Stops, Searches, and the Use of Force – 1.0 hours

PURPOSE OF COURSE: 

The purpose of this unit of instruction is to inform the student of responsibilities of officers arriving at a crime scene, emphasizing: (1) the need and techniques for protecting the scene, (2) identifying witnesses and assuring their availability for interview or testimony at a later date, (3) initial actions to identify the perpetrator, if possible, (4) effective techniques for searching the crime scene and collecting, preserving, and handling evidence. This unit will also familiarize the student with methods and techniques for developing latent fingerprints. 

COURSE OVERVIEW: 
This block of instruction is designed to provide the student with basic knowledge and skills necessary to protect and begin processing a crime scene. 

COURSE GOALS: 
Officers will: 
• Identify methods of conducting crime scene searches. 
• Recognize circumstances where particular methods of searching crime scenes are appropriate. 
• Identify factors that aid in recognition of evidence during a crime scene search. 
• Identify proper techniques for collection of various forms of physical evidence at crime scene. 
• Define chain of custody. 
• Identify articles of evidence that are subject to rules concerning chain of custody. 
• Identify proper procedures for establishing chain of custody of evidence. 
• Identify methods of preparing a crime scene diagram. 
• Identify methods of measuring a crime scene. 
• Identify methods to photograph a crime scene. 
• Identify uses of a crime lab report. 

THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC MEETING