Georgia Forensic Academy
Phone:
(706)894-4219
Email:
Address:
1021 Central Ave,
Demorest, GA 30535
Course Descriptions
The Georgia Forensic Academy is a Georgia P.O.S.T. approved Limited Purpose Academy offering specialized training for law enforcement professionals pursuing state certification as Crime Scene Technicians and Latent Print Examiners. We also provide a variety of P.O.S.T. approved courses designed to support continuing education and professional development in forensic science and law enforcement. Participation in P.O.S.T. courses is limited to individuals who are actively employed by a law enforcement agency.
Crime Scene Technician Certification
The courses listed in this series are applicable for Georgia P.O.S.T. credit hours for a Crime Scene Technician Certification.
Crime Scene Investigations
40-Hours
Fingerprint Science
40-Hours
Friction Ridge Comparisons
24-Hours
Latent Print Development
24-Hours
Basic Photography & Digital Imaging
40-Hours
Courtroom Demeanor & Evidence Presentation
24-Hours
Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
40-Hours
This 40-hour course is designed to teach students the fundamentals of crime scene investigations. This course is designed for personnel who investigate crime scenes or process physical evidence. Topics include documentation, search techniques, collection, preservation, and processing of physical evidence. Students are encouraged to bring a laptop computer with Microsoft capabilities to class.
This 40-hour course is designed to teach students the fundamentals of fingerprint science. This course will cover topics such as types of patterns and their interpretation, biology of friction ridge skin, orientation of ridge flows, and how to capture fingerprints and palm prints with live scan technology. Students are encouraged to bring to class a laptop computer with Microsoft capabilities. Students are required to bring a fingerprint magnifier with a Henry Disc and a Pointer.
This 24-hour course is designed to teach students the fundamentals of friction ridge definitions, ridge flows, orientation, and potential issues in comparisons of all friction ridge skin. Students are required to bring a fingerprint magnifier with a Henry Disc and a Pointer.
This 24-hour course will cover topics such as the searching, collection and transportation of latent print evidence, processes and procedures used to develop latent prints, and latent print processing techniques.
This 40-hour course is designed to teach students the fundamentals of crime scene
photography, as well as familiarity with all forms of camera equipment and capture systems. Students are required to bring a digital camera which is capable of manual exposures and a tripod. A digital single lens reflex camera is highly suggested.
This 24-hour course is designed to teach students the fundamentals of courtroom testimony, court and jury expectations, professional presentation of facts, and evidence presentation. This course is designed for personnel who present evidence in a court of law. Topics include preservation and handling of evidence, requirements for admissibility, courtroom testimony, and expert testimony.
This 40-hour course is designed to develop and/or enhance the skills and abilities of law enforcement officers and crime scene analysts to interpret bloodstains found at
the scene or on the suspect. This would enable the investigator to determine the most probable sequence of events of the crime. This course is designed for personnel who investigate violent crimes. Topics include blood detection, blood composition, blood pattern types, and scene reconstruction.
Latent Print Examiner Certification
The courses listed in this series are applicable for Georgia P.O.S.T. credit hours for a Latent Print Examiner Certification as well as International Association for Identification (IAI) credit hours toward a Tenprint or Latent Print Examiner Certification.
Fingerprint History, Biology, and Ridgeology Concepts
40-Hours
Friction Ridge Analysis
40-Hours
Friction Ridge Comparisons
40-Hours
*This course is not the same as the 24-hour Friction Ridge Comparisons for Crime Scene Technicians.
Palm Print Comparisons
40-Hours
Courtroom Demeanor & Expert Testimony
40-Hours
This 40-hour course is the first in the latent print examiner series. This course is designed to teach students the history and scientific basis for comparative analysis of friction ridge skin.
This 40-hour course is the second in the latent print examiner series. The purpose of this course is to provide friction ridge analysis practical examination time while providing the students examples of report writing of their analysis. This course will cover topics such as ridge flows, pattern recognition, ACE-V documentation, orientation of friction ridge skin and comparisons of known-to-known impressions.
This 40-hour course is the third in the latent print examiner series. The purpose of this course is to teach students the fundamentals of friction ridge comparisons. This course will cover topics such as the historical overview of friction ridge comparisons, the scientific basis of friction ridge comparisons, court acceptance of friction ridge evidence, and the comparison of friction ridges.
This 40-hour course is the forth in the latent print examiner series. This course is designed to provide advanced level training in palm print comparisons, and includes topics on analysis, comparison, evaluation, and verification of palmprint comparative analysis.
This 40-hour course is the fifth and final course in the latent print examiner series. This course is designed to teach students the fundamentals of courtroom testimony and evidence presentation as it relates to qualification as a field specific expert in development, identification, and comparison of friction ridge skin examinations.
Continuing Education
The courses listed in this series include continuing education opportunities that are applicable for Georgia P.O.S.T. credit hours.
Medicolegal Death Investigations
40-Hours
Shooting Reconstruction
40-Hours
Impression Evidence
24-Hours
Advanced Crime Scene Photography
24-Hours
Expert Testimony for Crime Scene Investigations
40-Hours
This 40-hour course will cover topics such as manners of death, post-mortem intervals, death scene investigation, and the Medical Examiner’s role. This course will assist investigators in their ability to distinguish between suspicious death and natural occurrences during the death process. This course is designed for Investigators, Patrol Officers, Coroners, and Medical Examiner Investigators.
This 40-hour course provides a structured approach to the documentation and analysis of shooting scenes. Participants will learn key terms and definitions essential to firearm-related investigations and follow step-by-step procedures for effective scene management. Instruction covers shooting scene preservation, projectile impact documentation, trajectory measurement, and projectile recovery. Students will also explore additional relevant evidence types and examinations, methods for recording and reporting observations, and become familiar with commonly used equipment in shooting reconstruction.
This 24-hour course introduces participants to the foundational principles and practices of footwear and tire impression evidence. Emphasis is placed on recognizing, documenting, collecting, and understanding the processes used by forensic experts in accordance with OSAC and ANSI/ASB standards. Through classroom instruction and hands-on exercises, participants will learn basic scene procedures and gain an appreciation of how impression evidence is examined and interpreted in the forensic laboratory.
This 24-hour course provides a comprehensive foundation for photographing crime scenes under low-light or no-light conditions, as well as scenes that require controlled lighting. Participants will explore a range of techniques including the use of available light, flash, laser trajectory, alternate light sources (ALS), chemical enhancements, and painting with light.
This 40-hour course equips participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide clear, objective, and defensible expert testimony that supports the integrity of forensic science in the justice system. Emphasis is placed on professional standards, ethical responsibilities, and best practices that ensure credibility and accuracy when testifying.