2023 Training Schedule
Violent Crime Specialist Program -Learning modules
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE ANALYSIS (CIA) – Ten Filters of PROFILING: An Investigative Model
Interchangeable with “Criminal Profiling”, CIA may be considered a A study and examination of the secret life committed in a private setting and exposed to public scrutiny and evaluation. While human behavior is a response to stimuli produced by thoughts, feelings, and emotions, it represents a universal language commonly understood. CIA interprets behavior from the offender’s and victim’s perspectives allowing the examiner, through the process of elimination, to focus on the most probable (informative material) rather than the least possible (distracting) data. Cold Case Foundation’s unique and tailored “Investigative Model: Ten Filters of Profiling”, will be introduced and applied using case examples illustrating the analysis of behavioral interactions between the victim and offender that leads the investigation rather than reacting to it. Additionally, this model will facilitate the analysis and interpretation of behavior revealing offender characteristics, offender motivation, investigative leads, proactive investigative strategies, interview/interrogation strategies, prosecution strategies, search warrant affidavits, victim risk continuum, victim-offender relationship.
Prescriptive Interview & InterrogatioN: Diagnose then prescribe
“He Who Is Good with a Hammer, Thinks Everything is a Nail”. It’s a common tendency to apply the same or similar interview/interrogation approaches with suspects during interview/interrogation settings. However, just as a carpenter understands that different types of nails require specialized hammers to effectively apply their skills, an investigator recognizes that certain personalities and crimes require a tailored approach for a successful interview/interrogation. “Diagnose then Prescribe” is CCF’s model for developing effective interview/interrogation strategies. It employs applying principles of criminal behavioral investigative analysis with related personality models exposed from the systematic analysis of the crime scene and the dynamics of victim/offender interactions. Applying related diagnostic questions to effectively probe the jugular issues will allow the investigator to effectively “diagnose” unique factors and related personality characteristics before “prescribing” a tailored interview/interrogation strategy specific to the individual that will lead to the truth.
SUSPECT BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS INTERVIEW
Presenting key questions to the suspect is generally effective in eliciting either truthful or deceptive responses. This tool complements an investigator’s knowledge of the case and interview skills. It is not intended to replace or substitute for a thorough investigation, but as a supplemental tool in an interview/interrogation setting to provide additional insights and considerations in the pursuit of truth and corroborative information. It is not considered to be an exclusive “lie detecting” instrument yet can be very effective as an additional tool to assess and gauge verbal and non-verbal responses that have generally been associated with truthfulness or deceit.
DNA, COLD CASES, AND SCENE MANAGEMENT
In the age of DNA, proper control and management of crime scenes are critical to investigators efforts in resolving violent criminal and cold cases. Forensic Evidence Specialists and Investigators analyze behavior of offenders and victims in identifying and securing crime scenes that have evidentiary value; review state-of-the-art DNA technology to increase investigatory reach; identify DNA testing solutions that are more reactive, diverse, accurate, and versatile, plus mitigate inconclusive results, false positives, and testing delays.
CRIME ANALYSIS FOUNDATIONS
The duties of a crime analyst are heavily focused on research. It involves studying patterns and trends in criminal behavior. In many cases, crime analysts directly contribute to the identification of suspects. In general, they use crime-mapping technology, police reports, and other raw data to develop a better understanding of criminal behaviors and patterns. When working on specific cases analyst review case data, evidence, and crime scenes. Based on their findings, they can assist investigators in developing potential personality traits and tendencies. These insights aid investigators in narrowing down a suspect list and ultimately bring the criminal(s) to justice.
VICTIMOLOGY: AN INVESTIGATIVE PERSPECTIVE
Victimology is the first of the “Ten Filters of Profiling”© and the key to crime analysis, or the study of the victim. By examining who the victim is, we begin to unravel and eliminate an often perplexing web of misguided leads. A thorough understanding of the victim can often lead the investigation toward a probable suspect, rather than an endless pool of less likely possibilities. Victimology is often one of the most beneficial investigative tools in classifying and solving a violent crime. Through it, the investigator tries to evaluate why this particular person was targeted for a violent crime. Very often, just answering this question will lead to a motive, which will lead to the offender. If the investigators fail to obtain a complete victim history and properly analyze it, they may overlook critical information that could more quickly direct their investigation to motivations and suspects.
VICTIMOLOGY: LESSONS LEARNED
Victimology examines the contributing factors leading to the crime while revealing lessons learned that will reduce and prevent victimization. The key to crime analysis is Victimology, the study of the victim. A thorough understanding of the victim can often assist an investigation toward a probable suspect, rather than an endless pool of less likely possibilities. Victimology is an essential step in arriving at a possible motive and solving a violent crime.
PREDATORS
Explore the deviant minds of convicted serial lust killers and other violent sex offenders. Specifically, the psychology behind the crime is discussed, while analyzing and interpreting true accounts and disturbing viewpoints and motives of some of the most notorious serial lust murders; will conduct an intense examination of criminal deviant behavior: necrophilia, cannibalism, criminal sexual sadism, voyeurism, bestiality, and serial lust murder.
FIRE SCIENCE DEATH: BODY DUMPS, SUICIDE, FILICIDE
Prepare experienced investigators in conducting and managing fire death scene investigations of every type, and teach concepts that will bring them to an accurate finding after the investigation; an intense study of who dies in fires and why; how to process a highly complex scene and issues which may arise.
Fire Effects on the Human Body
Fire is a destructive force that causes great damage and sometimes death. At fire fatality events, the destructive nature of fire along with fire suppression activities greatly impacts evidence and complicates investigations. Added to that, the fire also heavily impacts the human body, which can add massive confusion to the event. However, in the past twenty years, a large amount of research, including the burning of medical cadavers has added significant knowledge to those who investigate fire fatality scenes. This class will cover fire effects on humans from moderate burns to full incineration. It will technically explain how and why people die in a fire, what various fire artifacts remain after the fire, and what exactly can be scientifically interpreted from those artifacts.
Processing Fire Fatality Scenes
The fire fatality scene is one of the most technically difficult crime scenes to process. Typically, three different entities are working these scenes; Homicide, Arson/Fire, and Coroner/ME. Each of these entities has its own CSI issues to consider and process. The complex issues faced at these scenes demand that all specialists communicate, cooperate, coordinate, and collaborate as an investigative team. Only then will the truth be learned about what exactly happened during the incident, and why the victim did not survive". The instructor has attended thousands of arson and fatality scenes and will demonstrate that historically, the mistakes or omissions made during these investigations are due to a combination of poor training, improper planning, and a failure of all the investigators to communicate with each other".
STATEMENT ANALYSIS ESSENTIALS
Every investigation contains written or verbal statements; from 911 calls to witness and suspect interviews and written statements. Within each of those statements there is latent content about the person giving the statement or about the incident being investigated. Latent content is information hiding in plain sight, that most investigators do not know how to recognize and therefore they do not use. Having a firm understanding of Statement Analysis principles allows the investigator to glean more information from each statement, including where deception is present and other information that could be critical to the case. Learn Analytical Interview, which is the most effective interviewing technique today. Remove the guess work from the interview and recognize if and how deception is present.
PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE ROOM CUSTODY
We begin at the collection of evidence at a crime scene, through the chain of custody and trial, to the final disposition of the evidence and its disposal; maintain the security and integrity of your agency’s property and evidence; the importance of the chain of custody, how to properly document, inventory, and dispose of all types of evidence; examine physical security of a evidence room, and legal issues that may arise; Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) protection requirements, hazardous evidence, proper packaging issues, and procedures will be discussed.
BLOODSTAIN PATTERN ANALYSIS: AN OVERVIEW
Provide a fundamental understanding of the underlying scientific principles related to bloodstain pattern analysis and their application to actual casework; understand the development and advancement of bloodstain pattern analysis; inherent limitations and the ability to recognize, document, collect, preserve, and examine bloodstain pattern evidence; understanding of how pattern analysis can greatly assist in the investigation of crimes scenes where blood has been shed.
CRIME SCENE PROCESSING, ANALYSIS & RECONSTRUCTION
Crime scene processing, analysis and reconstruction are all inseparably linked. The actions/non-actions taken by those involved in an investigation directly and indirectly impact the investigation, subsequent analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and conclusions. The actions of processing, analyzing, and reconstructing of crime scenes must be scientific and must follow an appropriate methodology to be judicially sound. Learn the historical importance and foundation of crime scene reconstruction, data collection, reconstructive framework, the scientific method, what is evidence and the importance of victimology in crime scene analysis and reconstruction.
RECOVERY OF SKELETAL REMAINS
With the publication of Forensic Archaeology in 1976, Dan Morse and colleagues created a sub-discipline within the study of Forensic Anthropology where he suggested methods used by archeologists were also applicable to sites containing forensically significant remains. Understand the ‘how to’ in planning the recovery of remains and the special processes, and procedures (forensic anthropologist) while recovering remains, entomological aspects in skeletal remains cases, locating, searching, and mapping remains, excavating of skeletal remains and working with the medical examiner/forensic anthropologist.
FORENSIC HANDWRITING ANALYSIS
Forensic handwriting analysis, or graphology, is the process of determining an individual’s psychological state or personality trait through handwriting. Learn to identify personality, character, demeanors, and tendencies. Two methods are taught to uncover behaviors hidden behind the pen. The ‘7 Universals’ method (zone, baseline, slant, size, pressure, margins, and spacing) method teaches that no matter the language, analysts can identify and decipher the significance of the universals and extract valuable information from any handwriting sample. The Gestalt method focuses on how the human brain perceives experiences and how our minds organize and interpret that visual data. The gestalt principles, once applied, describe how humans’ group similar elements, past experiences, current environment, thoughts, feelings, and needs together.
INVESTIGATIVE DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
The systematic study of written or spoken language as it flows together, considering the larger discourse context, in order to understand how it affects the meaning of the sentence. This qualitative and interpretive method of analysis can prove to be an important investigative tool when analyzing verbal or written statements, by helping to possibly determine truth or deception within the statement.
Vin Detection: Leveraging Investigations
Learn foundational lessons on how mobile communications work with cell phone carriers. The foundational lesson will build into the exploration of the different types of mobile phone records, the differing types of data, and what can be utilized with this information for investigations. Participants will understand how cell phones communicate, how carriers maintain records, how the cellular network communicates with vehicles and why. The course will delve into extensive details by vehicle makes and year models which are connected to the cellular networks. The final portion of this course will show the step-by-step to obtain the proper records, demonstrate practical uses to develop leads, and identify an unknown suspect vehicle after becoming proficient in analyzing the data. Participants will increase proficiency and understanding through a multitude of practical application scenarios.
Investigative Failures: Causation & Avoidance
Criminal investigative failures have serious consequences. Unsolved crimes, unsuccessful prosecutions, unpunished offenders and wrongful convictions bring the criminal justice system into disrepute, often costing agencies hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. The primary cause of investigative failures is how investigators think. Participants will focus on how cognitive biases and other subtle traps and hazards in investigators' thinking contribute to investigative failures and provide recommendations on how to avoid them. Case examples will be used demonstratively.