Instructor: Sharon Plotkin

Course length: 40 hours

Modern Fingerprint Development and Documentation course is a comprehensive workshop that includes a historical perspective regarding latent fingerprints, physical and chemical processing of latent fingerprint evidence as well as latent print photography. The course will provide lectures, power points, hand out materials and many hands-on practicums to ensure all objectives are met.

Course Objectives:

Introduction to the anatomy and physiology of latent prints and latent print residue
Major case prints and exemplars
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Alternate light source
Latent print processing: Porous and Non-Porous surfaces
Latent print processing: challenging surfaces

- human skin, wet surfaces, tape adhesive, fabrics, wood, greasy surfaces

Enhancement and detection of fingerprints in blood
Fingerprint evidence photography including alternate light source photography

At the conclusion of this Modern Fingerprint Development & Documentation course, the student should understand the physiological components of latent print residue, importance and collection of major case prints and identify the most effective latent print processing technique(s) with a consideration of surface and environmental considerations.

The student will learn how to preserve the latent print evidence using alternate light sources and utilizing advanced photography techniques.

Latent fingerprint development techniques include:

          - 1,2 Indanedione
            - DFO
            - Ninhydrin
            - Cyanoacrylate
            - Rhodamine 6G
            - Ardrox
            - RAM
            - Fingerprint powders: black, magnetic, fluorescent
            - Basic Yellow/ Basic Red
            - Amido Black
            - Leucocrystal Violet
            - Coomassie Blue
            - Small Particle Reagent
            - Sudan Black
            - MBD
            - Iodine
            - Adhesive Side Powder

Course Outline:

Day One:

8:00- 10:00 AM -Lecture:

Introduction to the anatomy and physiology of latent prints and latent print residue, PPE (2 hours)

10:00- 10:15 AM- Break

10:15 AM- 11:00 AM - Lecture:

Major case print collection methods; including postmortem methods (1 hour)

11:00 AM- 12:00 PM- Practicum- Rolling fingerprints (1 hour)

12:00- 1:00 PM- Lunch

1:00 PM- 2:00 PM- Lecture- black and magnetic powder technique (1 hour)

2:00 PM- 3:30 PM - Practicum: black and magnetic powder technique (1.5 hours)

3:30 PM- 4:30 PM Lecture: Photographic techniques (2 hours)

4:30 PM- 5:00 PM Practicum:

Photography (1 hour)

Day Two:

8:00- 10:00 AM- Lecture:

Surface considerations and environmental conditions (2 hours)
Fingerprinting techniques- powders (florescent)
Alternate light source use

10:00- 10:15 AM- Break

10:15 AM- 12:00 PM- Practicum:

Florescent powders/ Alternate light source use (1 3/4 hours)

12:00- 1:00 PM- Lunch

1:00 PM- 2:00 PM- Lecture:

Processing challenging surfaces (Small Particle Reagent, Adhesive Side Powder) (1 hour)

2:00- 5:00 PM- Practicum:

Processing challenging surfaces (Small Particle Reagent, Wet Wop) (3 hours)

Day Three:

8:00 AM- 10:00 AM- Lecture:

Chemical use for developing latent fingerprints (2 hours)

10:00 AM- 10:15 AM- Break

10:15 AM-12:00 PM- Practicum:

Cyanoacrylate (fuming), Ninhydrin, DFO, Indanedione, Iodine fuming (1 ¾ hours)

12:00 PM- 1:00 PM- Lunch

1:00- 5:00 PM - Practicum:

Dye stains for developing latent fingerprints (4 hours)

Day Four:

8:00 AM- 9:00 AM- Lecture:

Review from topics in days 1-3 (1 hour)

9:00 AM- 10:00 AM- Lecture:

Blood enhancement and Blood Detection (1 hour)

10:00 AM- 10:15 AM- Break

10:15 AM-12:00 PM- Practicum:

Blood enhancement (1 ¾ hours)

12:00 PM- 1:00 PM- Lunch

1:00- 5:00 PM- Practicums:

Blood enhancement continued (4 hours)
Blood detection
Photographing blood enhancement and detection evidence

Day Five:

8:00 AM- 10:00 AM- Lecture:

Refresher latent fingerprint photography and Alternate Light Sources (2 hours)

10:00 AM- 10:15 AM- Break

10:15 AM- 12:00 PM- Practicum:

Examination of Dye Stain Development, re-staining of evidence (1 ¾ hours)

12:00 PM- 1:00 PM- Lunch

1:00 PM- 4:00 PM- Practicum:

Latent Fingerprint Photography and Alternate Light Source Photography of Latent Fingerprint Evidence (3 hours)

4:00 PM- 5:00 PM- Final Exam/ Certificates (1 hour)

Sharon Plotkin

Specialties

Bloodstain Reconstruction, Crime Scene Investigations, Crime Scene Photography, Crime Scene Reconstruction, Fingerprinting Techniques

TFT Courses Taught

Advanced Fluorescent Fingerprint Processing & Photography Bloodstain Pattern Recognition Crime Scene Investigations Workshop Crime Scene Search Principles & Patterns webinar Detection, Enhancement, & Documentation of Blood Evidence Discovering Trace Evidence Documentation & Collection of Impression Evidence Enhancing & Detecting Blood Evidence on Crime Scenes Fundamentals of Crime Scene Photography Modern Fingerprint Development & Documentation

About Sharon Plotkin

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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