Sandra Price, a student from Cherokee in the new Latent Evidence curriculum at Southwestern Community College, peers into a microscope. She’s studying what could be a piece of evidence from a crime scene.

SCC Latent Evidence instructor Dale Hall observes student Sandra Price’s work on a polarizing microscope that is used to study materials similar graduates of the program would analyze from a crime scene as LE technicians.

Instructor Dale Hall comes over and checks on Price’s work, then that of her classmates. “In here students learn the different kinds of things they might actually come in contact with on the job,” he says. “They’re looking at practical application while relying on a general knowledge of biology. They’re becoming skilled latent evidence technicians.”

Price looks up from her microscope, one of several different types used in forensic science with which the Latent Evidence students become proficient. “This is a polarizing microscope. It gives information on the source of a material,” she explains. “For example, if I were studying a piece of glass from a car wreck, the glass from a headlight would polarize light differently under this microscope than glass from the windshield would. With such detailed information, we actually learn to analyze evidence taken from a crime scene.”

Latent Evidence, a new curriculum offered at SCC, is a concentration within the Criminal Justice Technology program. It is designed to provide knowledge of latent evidence systems and operations. Study focuses on local, state, and federal law enforcement, evidence processing and procedures.

Students learn both theory and hands-on analysis of latent evidence. They gain skills in fingerprint classification, identification, and chemical development. They record, cast, and recognize footwear and tire-tracks and process crime scenes. Issues and concepts of communications and the use of computers and computer assisted design programs in crime scene technology are also discussed.

Students become interested in the Latent Evidence program for a variety of reasons. For example, Janet Rosas attributes family and personal experience to her choice. “I have two uncles and a cousin in law enforcement and I helped out in a funeral home,” Rosas explains.

Price looks back to childhood interests. “I was always interested in science and law enforcement when I was younger. Now I get to mix the two,” she said.

A lifelong interest also drew Barbie Gillett to the field. “Law enforcement always interested me and I was fascinated by the science and procedures of it,” she said.

According to Hall, Latent Evidence allows students to bring many interests and skills together in service to criminal justice.

“Law Enforcement teaches the legal aspects of going to a crime scene and how to process the materials,” Hall said. “Latent Evidence teaches the lab component. Our students learn to analyze trace evidence which would have been collected at a crime scene. Our perspective is analysis, processing, report writing and how to testify in court in order to report findings accurately.”
According to Hall, the students will soon begin DNA studies and they are eager to get started.
“We’ll learn how DNA separations are done,” Rosas said. “We’ll learn how to replicate DNA, then separate it, then match it with other DNA. It’s really complicated.”

Hall agreed. “It’s not like you see on CSI,” he said. “We won’t have the results in five minutes.
“Latent Evidence is a blend of technical science and law enforcement. It’s sophisticated in a lot of ways and understanding that sophistication is what makes law enforcement work.”

According to Hall, graduates should qualify for employment in a variety of criminal justice organizations especially in local, state, and federal law enforcement, and correctional agencies.
For more information about the Latent Evidence program, contact Hall at 828.586.4091 or 800.447.4091, ext. 285, or visit www.southwesterncc.edu.

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