Course Catalog

This is the second session, intended for students who took part 1 of the course or is already familiar with 3D-printing. We will look at finished 3D-printed items as they relate to firearms. The items examined will be actual examples and there will be a discussion as to their functionality and durability. The primary focus will be a case study of a hybrid, parts-completion kit, semi-automatic pistol from start to test-firing. The final sections will cover the potential for trace evidence and toolmarks present on 3D-printed items. There will be a discussion on how these items of evidence can be used to potentially locate manufacturers of 3D-printed items.

Kirk Garrison

This is part 1 of a potential two part class, intended for a practitioner that has not done any 3D-printing themselves. This course will cover the basics a forensic practitioner needs to know when investigating 3D-printing in relation to a crime. The introduction will cover the basic anatomy of a 3D-printer to know what to look for on scene, but also to know what to collect, how to collect it, and where trace evidence and toolmarks can be located. The next section will cover how to 3D-print a part. This section will cover the basics of initial printer set-up, some websites where 3D-printed designs are located, and the 3D-printing process. Once the 3D-printing process is complete, there are finishing steps that can create other usable items of evidence that should be considered and could be used for probable cause.

Kirk Garrison

Este curso examina cómo los sesgos cognitivos pueden influir, de manera consciente o inconsciente, en la observación, la interpretación y la toma de decisiones durante el análisis forense. Los participantes estudiarán la teoría del proceso dual, los principales tipos de sesgo y los factores que aumentan la vulnerabilidad del examinador, como la ambigüedad de la evidencia, la información contextual irrelevante, las expectativas previas, la presión por el tiempo y el exceso de confianza. Mediante ejemplos prácticos, preguntas reflexivas y análisis de casos, el curso enseña a identificar en qué etapas del proceso puede introducirse una influencia indebida y a distinguir entre información necesaria y datos que solo generan ruido. También presenta estrategias para reducir el riesgo de sesgo, entre ellas: el análisis lineal, la consideración de hipótesis alternativas, la verificación y las pruebas a ciegas, el desenmascaramiento secuencial, la documentación de las observaciones antes de conocer la información contextual y el uso de protocolos estandarizados. Finalmente, el curso aborda la importancia de la revisión técnica, la preparación para el testimonio judicial, los códigos de ética y las prácticas que fortalecen la integridad, la neutralidad y la credibilidad del trabajo forense. El propósito no es afirmar que el sesgo pueda eliminarse por completo, sino proporcionar herramientas para reconocerlo, controlarlo y reducir su posible influencia en las conclusiones.

Rhina Colvin

This course is designed for experienced firearm examiners who have been tasked with training a new hire, due to their level of bench experience, even though they lack teaching training and/or experience. We will review what kind of questions to ask in the interview process and how to interpret the responses so the best person is hired. Then we will discuss adult learning theory, learning style, and the learning process, and how to apply this knowledge to all styles of learning to help every trainee become successful, as well as when and how to have difficult conversations. If time allows, we will also discuss how to leverage virtual applications for training remotely.

Stacey Phetteplace

This 2-hour online class focuses on recognizing reloaded ammunition, an essential part of firearms examination, evaluation, and comparison that is often overlooked in the training plans and technical procedures in many laboratories. The course includes a brief look into the history of reloading, commonly encountered reloading marks, and the interpretation of potential reloading marks, should they be encountered in casework. In addition, report writing examples will be explored and toolmarks at each stage in a reloading process will be examined. Objectives: To recognize and interpret the meaning of potential reloading marks observed on ammunition

Nancy McCombs

Desarrollar en el participante las competencias claves para la interpretación y aplicación operativa de la norma ISO/IEC 17025 consolidando la figura del líder técnico a través de las herramientas de gestión, metrología y liderazgo necesarias para fungir como el puente estratégico entre la operación pericial y la acreditación, para mitigar riesgos técnicos y optimizar la certeza científica del laboratorio.

Irma Ivonne Garcia Vega

La formación a impartir consiste principalmente en conocer la historia de la evolución de la industria española dedicada a la fabricación de armas, en concreto el gran auge de la industria del Pais Vasco, compuesta por las marcas más conocidas de armas cortas y escopetas: Llama, Astra, Star... En la formación se incluirán algunos de los modelos más fabricados y sus peculiaridades.

Ekaitz Juarez

Have you ever struggled to get your camera to capture a scene exactly as it appears in real life? Forensic photography demands absolute accuracy, but fighting with complex settings under pressure is the last thing you want to worry about. This 2-hour course is designed to take the guesswork out of forensic photography. You will learn how to command your equipment to capture precise, accurate images that stand up in court and also save you valuable time on exhaustive written notes. This course will break down the essential theory behind exposure, focus, and lighting so you can make deliberate, purposeful choices. If manual mode feels overwhelming, this course will also show you how to efficiently leverage your camera's automation, allowing you to spend less time fighting your gear and more time accurately documenting the evidence. This course will improve your record shots of evidence, serial number restoration photos, photomicrographs of critical comparisons, and other important documentation that supports your examination.

Joseph Vandenburgh

The interaction between a fired bullet and the target surface can cause specific types of deformation, which when recognized, may provide valuable information regarding the details of a crime. This 2-hour class will teach students how to recognize and evaluate that damage, as well as how to document it to support any current or future reconstruction efforts.

Toniann Rebick

What is the science behind silencers? This 2-hour class will discuss the physics principles behind sound and the reduction of it through the use of various types of silencers, including those that are homemade. We will discuss the history of silencers, legal issues regarding silencers, and ways to document and evaluate silencers in casework.

Toniann Rebick

El curso Seguridad en el Laboratorio Forense de Armas de Fuego y Marcas de Herramienta ofrece una formación integral sobre las prácticas esenciales para trabajar de manera segura en un laboratorio forense. A lo largo del curso, los participantes aprenderán sobre la seguridad física, el uso adecuado de equipo de protección personal, normas de almacenamiento, trazabilidad de evidencia, manejo seguro de armas de fuego y evidencia relacionada, control de riesgos asociados al uso de equipos, medidas preventivas para evitar accidentes durante pruebas de funcionamiento, y respuesta ante incidentes. Además de discusiones, habrán demostraciones prácticas para fortalecer la comprensión de los riesgos y las mejores prácticas en laboratorios. Al finalizar, los participantes estarán preparados para aplicar protocolos de seguridad para sí mismos, compañeros de trabajo y la evidencia.

Loandra Pellot Vazquez

This 2-hour course offers a comprehensive overview of the origins of firearms and the evolution of forensic identification techniques. It examines historical development from the invention of gunpowder to modern weapons, analyzing their technological and social impact. Additionally, it introduces the fundamentals of forensic ballistics, including internal, external, and terminal ballistics. The course delves into the principles of firearm identification by studying the unique marks left on projectiles and casings, using comparative microscopy and accepted scientific methods. Identification criteria, limitations, sources of error, and laboratory quality standards will be discussed. Furthermore, practical exercises and real-case analyses are integrated, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge in investigative contexts.

Hery Figueroa