Criminal Justice Students Learn Through Hands on Approach

Students in Criminal Investigation have begun their multi-step crime scene project by processing a mock crime scene. 

Dylan Shockey (left) takes notes as Mike Gentile (right)
 photographs the scene.

This is the second year for the project and Dr. Marc Hedrick, the professor of this course, and the one who developed this project last year, feels this project has both practical and academic applications.  

"Practically, students learn that it is necessary to thoroughly document crime scenes in order to aid in the investigation of the crime.  This documentation can also serve as the basis for formal reports that can be used in court if a case goes to trial. 

Academically, students applied the concepts of inductive and deductive reasoning.  And, like in any investigation (academic or otherwise) an investigator must be able to reason properly and spot common fallacies in reasoning so that they do not make mistakes that lead them to the wrong conclusions.  While the investigation is not yet complete, students will later interview witnesses and interrogate suspects, processes during which they must continue to apply the principles of logic with lengthening fact patterns." 

Students documented the crime scene through notes about what they observed, as well as through photographs and measurements.  Students then used these notes, photos, and measurements to create a to-scale sketch of the crime scene.   

Be sure to check back later for the next phase of the project when the students interview witnesses and interrogate suspects!