​Instructor: Sharon Plotkin, MS, CCSI
Course length:  40 hours

Detection, Enhancement, & Documentation of Blood Evidence

Many crime scenes depict scenes of violence and blood-shedding events. It is on these scenes that many questions arise as to the events that may have occurred.  These questions may relate to the location of people present, instrumentation that may have been used, directionality and recognition of bloodstain patterns.  Documentation of these blood-shedding scenes assist crime scene and bloodstain reconstructionists in rendering critical opinions as to the events that occurred. Further investigation of blood-shedding scenes through the use of alternate light sources, presumptive blood tests and chemical enhancement techniques also assist in locating and collecting blood evidence for lab analysis and successful outcomes for criminal investigations
 
The purpose of this five-day workshop is to introduce attendees to proper documentation of blood-shedding events through photographic techniques, sketching components and proper collection of blood evidence so the reconstruction process can proceed. Attendees will also be introduced to different chemicals used to enhance bloodstains that are visible on crime scenes and evidence and also to detect blood that is difficult to visualize because the amount of blood is too small or because the blood has been removed by cleaning or altering of the scene. The use of chemical presumptive tests to determine if blood is present and to determine if the detected blood is of a human or a nonhuman source will also be introduced.
 
Photographing chemical reactions to bloodstains and the use of infrared photography and grid mapping of bloodstain patterns are also important aspects of documentation of these scenes and will be addressed in this workshop.
Upon completion of this course, attendees will be able to discuss, report and apply concepts to bloodstain patterns and the use of chemicals to enhance and detect bloodstains. Attendees will also be able to apply photographic and sketching techniques to document blood-shedding events and scenes properly and effectively in order that the reconstruction process can occur.
 
Attendees will utilize advanced photographic techniques as well as using blood enhancement chemicals such as Amido Black, Coomassie Blue, Leucocrystal Violet on various porous and nonporous surfaces. Detection of blood will be utilized with chemicals such as Bluestar. Presumptive blood testing will be conducted using materials such as Phenolphthalein, OBTI, and Sero Stix in the determination of blood.
 
 
Schedule:
Day One- 8 hours- Documenting crime scenes with blood evidence, bloodstain reconstruction
Day Two- 8 hours- Documenting crime scenes with blood evidence through sketching and gridding
Day Three- 8 hours- Alternate light source and presumptive blood tests
Day Four (8 hours): Enhancement and Detection of blood evidence
Day five (8 hours): Mock Crime scene practical


This course has been approved for 40 hours of certification/recertification training credits by both the IAI Bloodstain Pattern & the Crime Scene Certification Boards, and 23 hours of credits by the IAI Forensic Photography Board.
Sharon Plotkin, MS, CCSI
Holding Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology, a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work, and an Associate of Arts degree in Psychology, Sharon Plotkin is currently seeking a doctoral degree in education.

Sharon has received specialized training in various fields of crime scene investigations, including bloodstain reconstruction, photography, crime scene reconstruction, fingerprinting, shoe wear casting and other various topics. She is certified in crime scene investigations and has been doing crime scene work for almost 21 years.

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