Title of Effective Practice: - California Postsecondary Education ...

Direct Connection to Policy Area 1 of The Illinois Commitment
Crime Scene Investigation
Northwestern Business College - Chicago
What issue or need is addressed by the effective practice?
The College’s objective is to present criminal justice students with real world experience in the area of police science in
general and active learning techniques to facilitate learning. In this practice, the focus is on crime scene preservation and
investigation in particular.
Description of the effective practice:
Students in our Criminal Investigation Course attend a presentation by a Crime Scene Investigator with the Illinois State
Police. The investigator discusses the misconceptions that the public has concerning the real role of the crime scene
investigator. He also discusses and demonstrates several tools that are used such as fingerprint lifts, plaster tire casts and
ultraviolet lighting to determine the presence of substances. He shares with the students some of the cases he has worked on
and the evidence collected. He explains how the evidence leads to conclusions concerning the cause of death and method of
execution of the offense. The students then participate in a mock crime scene investigation. The faculty create several
crime scenes at the school. The scenes are made as realistic as possible with the use of shell casings, costume blood and
simulated bullet holes. Victims are positioned in the crime scenes and witnesses are supplied to the students. The students
then go about the task of securing the crime scene, identifying and tagging evidence and interviewing and memorializing
witness statements.
A specific example: A crime scene was created in the bookstore by one of the college's professors. Four current municipal
police officers were recruited to act as victims, witnesses, and police personnel. The crime presented to the students was an
armed robbery. Bullet casings, blood splatters, a victim, bullet damage, witnesses, and a dead victim were all left at the
scene for students to process. Students were to photograph the scene, interview the witnesses, and arrive at conclusions
based upon the evidence. Each student was given a role to play in this exercise and graded on their performance.
Another example: One of the professors at the college was able to secure the SWAT truck shared by several local suburban
police departments for class demonstration which coincided with a college-wide student event. The vehicle and three
active SWAT officers displayed the equipment and procedures used by the team. Weapons and armor were available for all
to handle and understand. The two hour program was highlighted by students being outfitted in full body armor weighing
over 100 pounds.
Final example: One of the college professors in this program is a Master Instructor in the Police Simulator which is co
owned by several southwest suburban police departments. The professor was able to invite his class to participate in a six
hour session. Students were given a laser gun and instructed to respond to different orchestrated calls including a burglary,
a traffic stop, an armed robbery, a domestic dispute, a car jacking, and several other scenarios. Students were graded by
how well they gave verbal commands, the appropriate use of force, and their reaction times.
How does this practice achieve sustainability?
The crime scene exercise is a valuable tool in our crmiinal justice program to train future police officers in an important
area of police science. Faculty teaching the course are either current or retired law enforcement personnel and bring real life
scenarios to the students. Students are excited to take part, and it is wonderful to note their enthusiasm while training for
the exercise and carrying out the investigation. Photographs are taken and displayed in the class rooms. We have noted that
many actually seem to become transformed into quite serious police officers during the exercise. Students entering the
program are told about the crime scene investigation exercise and look forward to participating in it.
What are the results/measurable outcomes?
Students are graded by at least two instructors on their use of proper police procedures in terms of crime scene preservation
and investigation. Students also submit written reports concerning the investigation which are graded. Instructors then
provide feedback to the students concerning their performance. Through this role playing exercise, students learn what is
expected of them in actual law enforcement. Also, students rely on their writing skills to prepare an accurate report which
is necessary for law enforcement personnel to be able to do.
Contact Information
Name: Diane Ritz
Email: dritz@nwbc.edu
Phone: (847) 318-8550
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