This CD-ROM is designed to teach law enforcement officers about the best practices for the identification, preservation, and collection of DNA evidence at various types of crime scenes.
The first section of the training provides instruction in general knowledge about DNA evidence, as well as details on the collection and packaging procedures for DNA evidence. An overview of the history of the use of DNA evidence in criminal trials mentions the first known case in England in 1986 and the 1996 case of California v. Parker, in which DNA evidence led to a murderer’s confession. Lesson objectives are then outlined. They include learning how a crime scene is processed for DNA evidence; how to collect, package, and transport DNA evidence; how to establish a chain of custody for DNA evidence; identifying the sources, locations, and the limitations of DNA evidence; collecting, packaging, and transporting DNA evidence; the importance of elimination and reference samples; and learning how to use the combined DNA Index System to solve crimes. The user is guided through lesson activities on these and other topics related to the police tasks associated with DNA evidence. The training then moves to the applications of DNA evidence procedures at specific types of crime scenes, namely, a homicide, a sexual assault, a burglary, and a violent crime. The student enters each crime scene as an evidence technician, and the student is given choices about how to handle DNA evidence. In order to obtain a guilty verdict in each case, all questions asked of the student must be answered correctly. Following completion of the training, a test is administered to the student. A glossary and 18 references are provided.