Cultural Anthropology for Crime Scene Investigators
Cultural Anthropology for Crime Scene Investigators is a hands-on course combining lecture, multi-media presentation and activities designed to familiarize investigators with cross-cultural encounters with practitioners, artifacts and sacred spaces at crime scenes. Investigators will become familiar with traditional cultures frequently misidentified as ‘cults’ as opposed to living traditional cultures.
Students in this class will gain an understanding of cultural anthropology and its application to interpretation of ceremonies, rites of passage and material culture. The class will look at cultural relativism and controversial topics including animal sacrifice and the use of human remains in religious shrines. The class focuses on communicating respect for cultural traditions while focusing on performing professional investigations.
This three-day course will inform attendees of:
Key Topics Include
The Anthropology of Religion, Magic and Witchcraft
The Presence of Culture at Crime Scenes
Shrines and Sacred Spaces
Cross-Cultural Communication with Practitioners
Trends in Religion and the Cultural use of Psychotropic Drugs
Trends in Human Trafficking and Cultural Appropriation
Religious Artifacts and Evidence
Avoiding Violating Sacred Activities and Constitutional Protection
Goal
The goal of this program is to provide in-depth knowledge of ethnic and religious cultures. The course will prepare attendees to look at cultures through an anthropological lens. Attendees will learn to interpret cultural symbols, artifacts and sacred spaces that may be encountered in the course of investigations. Consideration is given to material culture found at scenes including herbs, oils, and powders. Lastly, attendees will gain an understanding into many of the misunderstood but constitutionally protected religions and cultures they may encounter in the field.
Day 1
8:00-9:00 Welcome/Introduction 9:00-10:00 Crime Scenes and Culture: Case Histories and Learning from the Past 10:00-10:15 Break 10:15-12:00 Cultural Anthropology 101 for Public Safety 12:00-1:00 Lunch 1:00-2:00 Cults or Cultures: Cultural identification and Transcultural communication at the scene 2:00-2:15 Break 2:15-3:15 Anthropology of Magic & Witchcraft: Understanding worldview as motivation for evidence or circumstantial materials 3:15-3:30 Break 3:30-4:30 Responding to Cultural Activities: Ceremonies, rituals & rites
Day 2
8:00-9:00 Neo-Paganism: Wicca, Witchcraft and Shamanism 9:00-10:00 Spiritual Groups and Psychotropic Drugs 10:00-10:15 Break 10:15-12:00 Understanding African Traditional Religions 12:00-1:00 Lunch 1:00-2:00 Santeria: Beliefs and Practices 2:00-2:15 Break 2:15-3:15 Santeria: Encountering Clergy & Sacred Spaces 3:15-3:30 Break 3:30-4:30 Death Investigations: Practitioners as Victims and the Victim’s Culture
Day 3
8:00-9:00 Palo Mayombe (Regla de Kongo) 9:00-10:00 Ceremonies and Sacred Spaces 10:00-10:15 Break 10:15-12:00 Voodoo 12:00-1:00 Lunch 1:00-2:00 Latin Folk Cultures 2:00-2:15 Break 2:15-3:15 Identifying Substances used in Cultural Practices at Scenes 3:15-3:30 Break 3:30-4:30 Training Scenarios
*This webinar has been approved by the the Crime Scene Certification board for 24 hours of certification/recertification credits.
Tony Kail
As a former deputy sheriff and practicing cultural anthropologist, Tony Kail has over 25 years experience in researching and documenting African and esoteric religious cultures throughout the U.S. and Africa.
