Crime Scene Technology

Program Description
With the sudden dramatic expansion of the field of crime scene investigation and simultaneous technological changes in criminal investigation, a serious void exists in educational opportunities for students who want to prepare for a career as an evidence collection specialist.

Erie Community College intends to assist in providing police agencies and other criminal justice or investigative organizations that need crime scene technical assistance with qualified investigators.

The Crime Scene Technology Certificate Program is designed to provide education and training in crime scene technology focusing on the collection of evidence, crime scene photography, and the processing of fingerprints. The student will learn to compare fingerprints properly and to prepare and present evidence in the courtroom.

The program may include criminal justice students, police officers, security officers, emergency responders, or individuals interested in the field of crime scene technology or forensics.

The design of this certificate program recognizes that students interested in criminal justice may not be interested in becoming a police officer, but are interested in the field of solving crimes with the use of physical evidence. This program has been designed to fulfill this desire by introducing the student to criminal justice with specialized study in the field of crime scene technology.

This is a 31-credit program designed for full- or part-time study. The first half of the curriculum includes composition and occupational communication, introduction to criminal justice and related fields in public safety.

Students have the option of transfer into the two-year Criminal Justice Program after certificate completion.