Forensic Science
Description
Participants take a written test of basic forensic science theory to qualify as semifinalists. Semifinalist teams will examine a mock crime scene and demonstrate their knowledge of forensic science and crime scene analysis. Students will be expected to survey the scene and use proper techniques to collect evidence from the mock crime scene. Students then will collect their data and perform a detailed written analysis of the crime scene.
see Resources below
Shorewood HS, 2023 1st Place
Event Resources
EVENT EXAMPLES
Click on the links below to view past entries for this event.
additional Resources
Crime scene documentation simplified
YouTube video - Forensics Expert Examines 20 Crime Scene Investigations from Film & TV
In the Dark podcasts - This podcast did a thorough follow up on forensics in their first and second seasons. It is worth listening to, in part, because their work went to the United States Supreme Court.
https://wsp.wa.gov/forensics/crimlabs.htm - Washington State Patrol Crime Lab materials are particularly good.
https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/examiner/role.aspx - King County Medical Examiners office.
https://fws.gov/policy/e1445fw3.pdf - Guide on evidence collection and handling that goes very in depth on things you will want to include in your analysis and keep in mind while in the mock crime scene
There are excellent series on crime scene investigations, particularly as they relate the media. The series that are available for other topics where professionals discuss movies use of skills that they are familiar with are very well done.
Crime scene investigators and techniques
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRRYBe12FEA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OONfQcGd-uE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHTz66Jq0Dg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJcNa2-jprs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gZ7CKKP3MY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jltioeaEyY
FBI Interrogation techniques
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfkOSYpMToo
FBI Interrogation techniques with Chris Voss. He has a bunch of fascinating videos on YouTube.
Event Deadlines
January 11, 2024
Students will need their Participant ID number, and password, from their advisor. Only the team captain will be able to upload the pdf challenge file, but all students should take the test individually.
Students should spend a maximum of 40 minutes sketching the scene, analyzing the challenge and typing up their notes, to simulate the March challenge. Submit notes as a pdf file.
Watch challenge video. Sketch crime scene, with notes of where and what evidence you would document.
EACH student on the team must also take the Forensics test. Students should complete the test without outside resources, in 1 hour. Each student should take the test individually.
March 2024
All students will take a forensic exam on Wednesday evening. Each student must bring a laptop that is capable of conneting to the wifi with a password. Students will have 1 hour for the exam. Individual scores will be averaged for team members.
Once tests are scored, a semifinalist list will be posted.
Semifinalists will analyze a crime scene on Thursday. Each team will have 45 minutes to analyze the crime scene, and write up their analysis, including notes, sketches, photos, etc.
At the conclusion of the event, teams that did not make semifinals will be able to see the crime scene for future reference.
Washington TSA Rules
To compete, students must belong to an affiliated TSA chapter, register for competition by December 15, 2023, and pay the $30 competition fee. Participants must also meet the January 11 event deadlines (see above) to “qualify” for the Washington TSA State Conference in March.
To compete at the WTSA State Conference, students must have been registered in December, met the Jan. 11 deadline, and then register in February for the State Conference ($420/$500 per student package price (4 or 2 students per room)).
At the state level, 3 teams (may be a team of 1 at advisor’s discretion) per chapter may compete.