Professors Train Law Enforcement Pros in Forensic Techniques

image of a magnifying glass

Radford University’s Forensic Science Institute brought to campus last week dozens of law enforcement professionals for a series of workshops focused on forensic science training.

The fifth annual workshop, funded by a grant from the National Institute of Justice to the RU Forensic Science Institute, provides classes to criminal justice practitioners with an "overview of state-of-the-art methods and techniques in forensic science," said Donna Boyd, co-director of the Radford University Forensic Science Institute.

The workshops, which ran July 26-28, offered courses in forensic archaeology, forensic anthropology, remote sensing, indoor crime-scene documentation and practical techniques for cold-case investigations.

The three-day sessions included hands-on demonstrations, lectures, open dialogue, discussion and consultation among criminal justice practitioners, forensic scientists and forensic science educators.

Faculty members from the RU Forensic Science Institute taught workshop courses. Outside experts, including representatives of the Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Virginia State Police and the University of Tennessee Law Enforcement Innovation Center, presented lectures on a variety of topics, such as how to use DNA technology to identify the missing.

Each year, the workshop is open to individuals working in law enforcement or forensic science in the mid-Appalachian region.

Aug 2, 2012
Chad Osborne
(540) 831-7769
caosborne@radford.edu