Technical Programs in Crime Scene Management
The Crime Scene Management Program focuses on crime scene investigations and the collection, preservation, packaging, transportation, and documentation of physical evidence left at the crime scene. The program is an extension of LSUE’s nationally recognized associate degree program in fire and emergency services and was also developed in conjunction with the associate degree program in criminal justice.
Professionals responding to crimes may be crime scene investigators, arson investigators, or evidence recovery technicians. Regardless of the job title, the forensic specialists handling crime scenes must be well versed in all areas of recognition, documentation, and recovery of physical evidence and must know how to preserve evidence for laboratory processing.
Students in the program learn the importance of correctly handling evidence from the outset of an investigation. An entire criminal investigation can hinge on the initial responder properly identifying and securing the scene to restrict access and prevent evidence destruction. Investigators must be able to collect both physical evidence and testimonies from witnesses to prove that a crime has been committed, to establish key elements of a crime, to link suspects to the crime, to identify a victim, and to exonerate the innocent.
All course work in the program must be completed with a grade of “C” or better. Additionally, course substitutions will be highly restricted and can be approved only by the Head, Division of Health Sciences and Business Technology.
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