Forensics for Detectives

Course Duration: 3 days

Location: John H Stamler Police Academy

Dates: October 26-28, 2026

Cost: $375

Provider: Libra Forensic Consulting, Lewistown, MT

Course Description

This specialized three-day program is designed for detectives and supervisors seeking to enhance their forensic knowledge and investigative capabilities. The course emphasizes practical, immediately applicable forensic techniques that participants can integrate into their current and future investigations. Through comprehensive instruction, attendees will develop a more sophisticated understanding of crime scene interpretation, learn to identify and prioritize evidence effectively, and strengthen their ability to connect forensic findings with sound investigative strategy.

Upon completion, participants will possess the skills necessary to make more informed investigative decisions, conduct interviews with greater effectiveness by leveraging crime scene observations, develop thorough and defensible case documentation, and present evidence persuasively during legal proceedings. This course is particularly valuable for professionals investigating property crimes, violent offenses, suspicious deaths, and complex crime scenes where detailed forensic analysis significantly impacts case outcomes.

Course Objectives

• Develop competency in recognizing, categorizing, and assessing physical evidence found at crime scenes
• Enhance interviewing techniques by incorporating crime scene observations into questioning strategies
• Analyze bloodstain patterns—both spatter and non-spatter varieties—and apply findings during suspect interviews
• Implement fundamental shooting incident reconstruction principles in investigative work
• Identify characteristics indicative of staged or manipulated crime scenes
• Understand forensic factors unique to death investigations, including distinguishing features between homicide and suicide cases
• Communicate forensic observations in investigative reports that withstand legal scrutiny