Workshops Currently Open for Enrollment:
Principles of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
Dates: February 3-7, 2025
Location: UF TREEO, 3900 SW 63rd Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32608
Course Description
This course will provide basic and fundamental knowledge in the field of bloodstain pattern interpretation. It will illustrate the scientific principles and practical applications of bloodstain pattern analysis in casework.
Course Objectives
- Describe the advancement of bloodstain patter analysis.
- Describe the inherent limitations of bloodstain pattern interpretation.
- Recognize, document, collect, preserve, and examine bloodstain pattern evidence.
- Recognize and distinguish between spatter stains and non-spatter stains and sequencing of events.
- Understand bloodstains on clothing absorbent vs non-absorbent substrates.
- Recognize and interpret the mechanism by which bloodstains were created.
- Recognize the variety of wounds and various weapons used to create wounds.
- Explain the mathematical relationship which applies to bloodstain patterns in determining the area of convergence and area of origin.
- Prepare scientifically based reports and understand peer review and courtroom testimony.
- Understand cognitive, subjective, and objective bias.
Instructor
Dr. Gabriele Suboch, Ph.D.
Dr. Suboch holds a PhD from Northcentral University. She is a certified bloodstain pattern analyst certified by the International Association of Identification. She also was a founding member of OSAC, bloodstain pattern analysis committee, for 5 years. Dr. Suboch as over 25 years of experience in crime scene investigation and bloodstain pattern analysis.
Nationwide Compassion Resiliency Program for Marine Mammal Responders
Meeting Times:
Feb 6, 2025, 8:00am – 5:00pm EST (Conference workshop day)
Feb 7, 2025, 8:00am – 5:00pm EST (Presentation recordings both on UF campus and at the HGI)
Location: Hilton Garden Inn Gainesville, 4075 SW 33rd Place, Gainesville, FL 32608
Course Description
This program will bring together subject matter experts on marine mammal stranding to discuss and develop an online, on-demand, training course for the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (National Marine Mammal and Disentanglement Network) to address the need for compassion resiliency and self-care when responding to strandings, entangled and injured marine mammals and euthanasia. The work will also provide guidance at the organization level to create a culture of wellness in marine mammal response communities.
Registration
Registration is online – It’s fast, safe and convenient. To register with your Visa, MasterCard, or American Express, please visit our secure, online registration website.
Registration Fee: $50.00
Forensic Photography Workshop
Dates: June 9-13, 2025
Location: UF TREEO, 3900 SW 63rd Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32608
Course Description
Photography is one of the most important aspects of crime scene investigation since it provides a permanent visual record of the scene. The photographic record will aid in both the investigation and the legal proceedings leading to and including courtroom testimony.
Course Objectives
his annual course focuses on the techniques necessary for the photographic documentation of crime scenes, gunshot wounds, bitemarks, weapons, and trace evidence as well as the creation of consistent approaches to photographic exposures, storage, and security. This workshop will introduce the many challenges facing crime scene and law enforcement personnel in documenting crime scenes through photographic techniques, and how to overcome these challenges. Scene photography, alternate light source photography, and working in low lighting situations will be addressed. Mock crime scenes will be established in indoor and outdoor locations and participants will be divided into teams for the photographic documentation portion of the course. Participants are encouraged to utilize this course as an opportunity to become familiar with their own photographic equipment.
Topics
- Basic DSLR camera use
- Off and on camera flash use
- Painting with light
- Low light photography
- Stop motion photography
- Control of depth of field, shutter speed, and aperture
Instructor
Dr. Sharon Plotkin, Ed.D, M.S.
Sharon has a Doctor of Education, a M.S. in Criminal Justice, and is a IAI certified crime scene investigator. She has over 18 year’s experience in crime scene investigation and specializes in crime scene documentation, training, photography, bloodstain recognition and fingerprinting.
Principles of Crime Scene Investigation
Dates: September 29 – October 3, 2025
Location: : UF TREEO, 3900 SW 63rd Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32608
Course Description
This in-person, interactive course has been designed to give students a hands-on approach regarding the basic concepts of forensic science and crime scene investigation and related examination of evidentiary items. Students will become familiar with the multidisciplinary nature of forensic science and several of the specializations within them and perform tasks pertaining to each specialization.
Course Objectives
- Perform and explain crime scene security, approaching a scene, searches and documentation of evidence
- Perform basic photography as it is related to crime scenes
- Perform latent print recovery using different processing methodology and documentation
- Perform tasks related to trace evidence identification and recovery
- Perform biological examinations, including blood pattern analysis, alternative light source applications and chemical enhancement procedures
- Perform the basic steps of forensic anthropology and archeological recovery
- Perform basic concepts of DNA recovery, examination, and preservation
- Perform concepts related to firearm examination including GSR testing, muzzle-to-target distance determinations, and other analyses
- Analyze, process, and document a mock crime scene using the culmination of all methodologies and present evidentiary findings in a courtroom setting
- Pass a test using the culmination of all forensic science disciplines presented
Instructor
Dr. Sharon Plotkin, Ed.D, M.S.
Sharon has a Doctor of Education, a M.S. in Criminal Justice, and is a IAI certified crime scene investigator. She has over 18 year’s experience in crime scene investigation and specializes in crime scene documentation, training, photography, bloodstain recognition and fingerprinting.