BLOODSTAIN PATTERN COURSES:

Bloodstain courses are available in the following formats:
     2 - Hour Overview of Bloodstain Evidence
     4 - Hour Overview of Bloodstain Evidence
     8 - Hour Introduction to Bloodstain Evidence
   40 - Hour Basic Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

The 2, 4, and 8 hour courses are a good addition to any Law Enforcement or Para Law Enforcement training conference.  In a time when agencies and employees wrestle with being away from their caseload for a week at a time, these “overview” classes provide the participant with a basic working knowledge of identifying, preserving, and documenting bloodstain evidence for future examination even long after the scene has been released.

______________________________________________________________________________


OVERVIEW OF BLOODSTAIN EVIDENCE AT CRIME SCENES

The Overview of Bloodstain Evidence at Crime Scenes Course is offered in 2 and 4 hour blocks of instruction depending upon your training schedule needs.  An emphasis is placed on identifying, preserving, documenting and collecting bloodstain patterns.  Depending on the length of the course, topics may include:

1.   History of Bloodstain Evidence.
2.   Characteristics of Liquid Blood.
3.   Types of Bloodstain Patterns.
      ► Dripped Blood.
      ► Cast-off Blood.
      ► Projected Bloodstains Associated with Beatings.
      ► Projected Bloodstains Associated with Gunshot Wounds.
      ► Expirated Bloodstain Patterns.
      ► Transfer Patterns.
      ►Altered Bloodstain Patterns.

4.   Documenting Bloodstains.
      ► Bloodstain Photography.
      ► Scene Sketching.
      ► Report Writing.

5.   Identifying, Preserving, and Collecting Bloodstain Evidence.
6.   Scene Preservation.

______________________________________________________________________________


INTRODUCTION TO BLOODSTAIN EVIDENCE – 8 Hour Course

The Introduction to Bloodstain Pattern Evidence course is a compacted version of the 40 - Hour Basic Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Course.  This intensive 8-hour course is designed to assist those who investigate, process, or t,  in understanding the science behind the dynamics of liquid blood at crime scenes.  Participants will learn the basics of bloodstains, pattern identification, and how to properly document crime scenes requiring bloodstain pattern analysis.  The Introduction to Bloodstain Evidence course is designed to give the participant a broad understanding of bloodstain pattern analysis, in order to properly preserve, document, and deliver the evidence to a qualified bloodstain pattern analyst for case review.  This will be accomplished through lecture and demonstrations.

Topics will include: Origin of blood patterns, Identification of stains and patterns, Interpretation of blood stain patterns, Area of origin demonstration.

The Introduction course topics include:
      ►Characteristics of Liquid Blood
      ►Characteristics of Liquid Blood at Impact
      ►Characteristics of Blood Droplets in Flight
      ►Types of Bloodstain Patterns
      ►Documenting Bloodstain Evidence
      ►Photographing Scenes Involving Bloodstain Evidence
      ►Presumptive Tests for Blood
      ►Chemical Enhancements
      ►Collecting and Preserving Blood Evidence

______________________________________________________________________________


40 - HOUR BASIC BLOODSTAIN PATTERN ANALYSIS COURSE:

The 40 hour Basic Bloodstain Pattern Analysis course follows the recommended guidelines developed by the International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts (IABPA) as well as the Scientific Working Group on Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (SWGSTAIN).  This Basic Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Course is 20 years in the making and is designed to provide the basic training required for students to begin the path toward becoming a qualified bloodstain pattern analyst. Course topics include:

Introduction to Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
1.   The History of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
2.   The Purpose of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis in an Investigation
2.   Characteristics of Liquid Blood
3.   Bloodstain Sizes and Their Characteristics
4.   Bloodstain Shapes and Their Characteristics
5.   The Effects of Surface Texture on Blood Droplets
6.   Effect on Horizontal Motion
7.   Splashed Blood
8.   Projected Blood
9.   Cast-Off Blood
10. Projected Bloodstains from Impact
11. Projected Bloodstains from Explosive Trauma
         ►Characteristics of Impacted Blood Droplets
         ►General Bloodstain Observations
         ►Measuring Bloodstains
         ►Determining Impact Angles
         ►Determining Area of Convergence
         ►Determining Area of Origin
         ►Contact Transfer Determinations

12. The Application of Basic Scientific Method in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
13. Blood borne Pathogens, Bio-Hazards and Personal Protection

Identification and Creation of Bloodstain Patterns
The 40-hour Basic Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Course uses a combination of lecture and practical exercises designed to lead the student through a progressive approach to learning.  First, the theoretical information is delivered in a variety of teaching methods, and then the student engages in hands-on experimentation, producing a series of bloodstain patterns designed to replicate those bloodstains observed in crime scene settings.

1.   Passive Stains (Blood Affected by Gravity)
         ►Drip Patterns
         ►Flow Patterns
         ►Pools of Blood
         ►Saturation Bloodstains

2.   Cast-Off Bloodstains
         ►Dripped
         ►Swing (Vertical and Horizontal)
         ►Cessation

3.   Projected Bloodstains
         ►Blunt Trauma Bloodstains (a.k.a. Medium Velocity Impact Spatter)
         ►Gunshot Wound Bloodstains (a.k.a. High Velocity Impact Spatter)
         ►Expirated Bloodstains
         ►Bloodstains from Arterial Damage

4.   Non-Projected Bloodstains
         ►Contact Transfer Bloodstains
         ►Altered and Large Volume Bloodstains

Preserving Blood Stain Pattern Evidence
1.   Bloodstained Items of Evidence from Scenes
2.   Bloodstained Clothing
3.   Swabbing Blood / Bloodstains
         ►Identifying/Marking Bloodstains
         ►Control Swabs
         ►Photographing bloodstains prior to collections
         ►Proper use of swabs
         ►Collecting bloodstain swabs
         ►Properly air drying bloodstain swabs
         ►Properly packaging and preserving bloodstain swabs

Submitting Blood Stain Evidence to the Crime Lab
1.   Documenting the Location of Bloodstain Patterns
2.   Documenting the Location Where Swabs Were Taken
3.   Packaging Bloodstained Evidence for Transport
4.   Bloodstain Pattern Analysis vs. DNA processing
         ►Locard’s Principle of Exchange

DNA and Its Application to Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

Documenting Bloodstain Patterns.
1.   Photographic Techniques: Mid-Range and Close-Up Photographs
2.   Use of Scales and Photography Enhancement
3.   Latent Blood Enhancement Chemicals Techniques
4.   Writing a Bloodstain Pattern Report
5.   Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Testimony

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis and Other Scene Evidence
1.   The Importance of DNA and Serology to Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
3.   Associating Bloodstain Patterns To Wound Pathology
4.   Sequencing Bloodstain Pattern Events

Practical Classroom Exercises
1.   Stain Size vs. Distance Fallen
2.   Shape vs. Impact Angle
3.   Cast-off Patterns
4.   Medium Velocity Impact Spatter
5.   High Velocity Impact Spatter
6.   Splashed and Projected Blood
7.   Transfer and Impression Patterns
8.   Blood Drying Time
9.   Volume vs. Area
10. Blood Trailing

In the classroom, workgroups will use digital photography and sketch forms to photograph, label, document, and collect blood stain samples in the various scenes provided.  Each group’s exercise will then be discussed and critiqued.


In the classroom, workgroups will use digital photography and sketch forms to photograph, label, document, and collect blood stain samples in the various scenes provided.  Each group’s exercise will then be discussed and critiqued.

Upon completion of the 40-hour Basic Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Course, participants will have created a field reference manual with multiple exemplars of the various types of bloodstain patterns studied in this course.

_______________________________________________________________________________


Scheduled Bloodstain Pattern Classes:

For additional information about Bloodstain Pattern Training, contact Dan@Christmanforensics.com