International Forensic Program

IFP Courses: Crime Scene & Evidence Documentation

For International Human Rights Investigators

Tallahassee, Florida
April 26 – 30, 2010

Application Deadline – January 15, 2010 (application below)
     (Late applications will be considered on a rolling basis.)
Acceptance Notification – February 1, 2010
Financial Aid Notification – February 15, 2010

Objective
This training course is designed for human rights field investigators who may be confronted with having to document evidence of human rights violations as first responders to a crime scene. This course offers an understanding of the essentials of digital forensic photography, note taking, sketching and chain of custody. Alumni will be able to document evidence of human rights violations in a manner which will be admissible in court at a later date and maximize the information shared with other experts.

Course Description
The course will span five days of lecture and practical training including student documentation of several mock scenes. As digital photography is now commonly used for evidence purposes, the course will focus on basic training on digital image management, digital photography, as well as basic sketching techniques. Photographic documentation methods will be taught through traditional methods of crime scene evidence documentation, including three dimensional spaces photography and sketching.

While the focus of this course is in documentation of crime scenes, a limited amount of time will be devoted specifically to the photo documentation of evidence of alleged torture and abuse. 

This course is appropriate for human rights field investigators, medical professionals, employees of human rights NGOs, journalists, and anyone who might find themselves as a "first responder" to a crime.

Necessary Equipment

• Camera: It is best for each student to bring their own digital camera. A digital SLR camera with a flash is recommended. Please contact the IFP with any questions regarding the suitability of your camera.
• Laptop

Instructor(s)

• Stefan Schmitt is the Director of the International Forensic Program at Physicians for Human Rights. In 1992 Schmitt helped set the foundation for an independent non-governmental forensic anthropology team exhuming and analyzing skeletal remains from mass graves in Guatemala. Prior to joining Physicians for Human Rights, he worked for nine and a half years in the Crime Scene Section at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Crime Lab.
• Lindsay Welch is the International Forensic Program Coordinator at Physicians for Human Rights. She has extensive digital photography experience and has taught photography courses in the US and Mexico. 
• Additional instructors to be announced.

Location
The training will take place at the Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy, which is located in a rural area 14 miles outside of Tallahassee, Florida.

Cost/Accommodations
The cost of the course, including lodging and 2 meals a day, is $1000/student.

• Accommodations will be provided from the evening of Sunday April 25 through the morning of Saturday May 1. Please plan to arrive on Sunday the 25th.
• Lodging for all students has been arranged at the Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy in Tallahassee, Florida, which is approximately seven (7) miles outside of town. Each student will have an individual room and bathroom. 
• Students are required to cover their own transportation to and from the Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy outside Tallahassee, Florida. The closest airport is the Tallahassee Regional Airport.
• An onsite cafeteria will provide two meals a day (breakfast and lunch).
• Dinner is not included. Nightly arrangements will be made for student purchased dinners. Recommended budget is $20-$30 per day for dinner.
• Students interested in making in-town visits or their own dinner plans during the week should arrange to rent a vehicle.

Application Process
Students must submit by January 15, 2010:

• the Course Application,
• a current CV/Resume, and
• 2 letters of recommendation - use this form.

Late applications will be considered, space permitting. 

A limited number of scholarships are available to offset the cost of tuition. To apply for a tuition scholarship, please submit our Scholarship Application with your course application. Scholarship notifications will be sent by March 1, 2010. Please be aware that we are not able to assist with travel expenses.

If you are in need of a letter of invitation in order to apply for a visa to attend this course, please use this form.

Acceptance notifications will be sent by February 1, 2010.

A $500 non-refundable deposit is due by February 15, 2010, with the balance due by March 1. No refunds will be given after April 1. 

The Crime Scene & Evidence for International Human Rights Investigators course is offered by the International Forensic Program at Physicians for Human Rights, and is made possible through the generous support of the Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy.

The IFP also offers other forensic training. See more information here.