PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Keeping current in forensic science today represents a major challenge. Forensic professionals follow a strict regimen of training within their scientific disciplines in order to remain proficient.

Beyond that there is the need to expand forensic knowledge across disciplinary lines and the need to train law enforcement and other players in the criminal justice system. That's what the Lab's Professional Development Program does. Staffed by a seasoned criminalist, the Professional Development Program delivers both formal and informal training.

Forensic Scene, an on-line publication distributed throughout San Diego's criminal justice community, delivers practical insight into the tools of forensic science for patrol officers and Sheriff's deputies, criminal investigators, prosecutors and defense attorneys. Published quarterly the emphasis is on the practical: What works in criminal investigations and how does that translate into the courtroom?

This website is a function of the Professional Development Committee, which consists of laboratory personnel from management and from the bench. It's a way of keeping the public informed about the Lab-including the availability of student internships. The Virtual Crime Lab Tour assists the public in becoming familiar with the different sections within the crime lab.

While sponsoring formal training-in Report Writing and crime scene operations, the Professional Development Program also delivers regular Brown Bag Seminars: an in-house opportunity for colleagues to present and discuss challenging cases and forensic techniques over lunch in the library. An occasional outside speaker keeps the learning environment cutting edge.

In the works is a Regional Forensic Training Facility with laboratory facilities, to provide greater training for forensic professionals and law enforcement professionals. The plan is to have the facility up and running on site of the current Laboratory by the spring of 2006.