Instructor: Holly Latham

When responding to scenes where blood has been shed, it is essential for investigators to ensure that the patterns formed by bloodstains are preserved and documented.  In cases where the scene will not be visited by a qualified bloodstain pattern analyst, the correct documentation of these bloodstains will permit this type of analysis to be performed later in the investigation.  Improper documentation can lead to instances where no analysis is possible or where such analysis is less meaningful and useful.

This 20-hour Bloodstain Pattern Documentation course is designed for the student who wants to learn how to correctly recognize, document, and collect bloodstains and bloodstain patterns for later analysis by a bloodstain pattern analyst.  Students will be taught terminology, pattern recognition and documentation methods that will ensure the possibility that the patterns can be reconstructed and analyzed at a later date.  Classroom presentations are supplemented with practical exercises and hands-on activities.

By the end of the Bloodstain Pattern Documentation training the student will understand the importance of properly documenting and collecting bloodstained evidence in the context of the overall event reconstruction. This class will be useful to investigators, crime scene personnel involved in documenting and collecting at scenes, and laboratory personnel who test bloodstained evidence.