Forensic Training Academies

Week #17 was focused on the topic of complex examinations.

The following topics/concepts were covered, discussed and applied during Week #17:

• Understand the terminology used when conducting simultaneous impressions
• Understanding simultaneous impressions past and present
• Understand current research on simultaneous impressions
• Understand the court rulings on simultaneous impressions (review of Commonwealth v Patterson)
• Understand the logic behind the conclusion of simultaneity
• Understand the uses of simultaneous impressions in casework
• Understand the SWGFAST standard for simultaneous impression examination
• Applying the concepts learned during distortion week to the analysis of simultaneous and complex impressions
• Practical exercises on simultaneous impressions
• Practical exercises on complex impressions

The students were able to get a much better understanding of simultaneous and complex impressions by the end of the week. It was also beneficial to have them utilizing the newly acquired information from distortion week to aid them in their analysis. All complex latent prints (37 latent prints) were digital images and were compared on-screen in the classroom. These were extremely complex images and comparisons. The students were instructed to give a definitive answer if possible, but inconclusive would also be considered as an acceptable answer. The students had to present their conclusions on complex comparisons to the class during the week in an attempt to help them verbalize what they were seeing. The students were reminded to be sure of every conclusion during the week, because when they graduate, there are real people behind every latent print image and every case that they work.