Event Details
Alternate Light Source (ALS), BLUESTAR and Impression Evidence - Richmond, VA
Date(s): Wednesday, August 27th 2025 at 08:30 AM – Friday, August 29th 2025 at 05:00 PM
In this three-day hands-on workshop students will learn how to deploy ALS and BLUESTAR® in a crime scene environment. In addition to learning the proper methods of usage, students will learn through practical exercises the best methods of photographic documentation of positive reactions in laboratory and field settings. Students will also be introduced to techniques for locating, photographing, and recovering three dimensional and two-dimensional impression evidence during a systematic approach to a crime scene investigation. Students will be given hands-on exercises in photography, casting and lifting techniques.
This course is designed for personnel who process crime scenes and have knowledge of crime scene photography utilizing Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras. The techniques learned in this course cannot be applied with standard “point and shoot” digital cameras due to the need for extended shutter speed times. The Department of Forensic Science (DFS) will supply ALL necessary equipment to complete the course. Students may choose to bring their own photography equipment, provided it is an SLR digital camera and includes all applicable equipment (flash unit, close-up rings, tripod, etc.) as well as their own ALS equipment. If you choose to bring outside equipment, please bring the corresponding manuals as well. Those bringing their own digital cameras must also bring a laptop with the appropriate software loaded to download their images for viewing.
There is no fee to attend this course.
This course will only accept 12 applicants and is restricted to personnel from Virginia law enforcement agencies. There is no fee to attend this course.
The course will be held at the Virginia Department of Forensic Science’s Training Section located at 737 N. 5th Street in Richmond, VA 23219 from 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
The registration will close on August 18th, 2025 at 5:00PM unless the course receives an overwhelming number of applications, which will prompt closing the course sooner.
It is very important that you include your duties and responsibilities when prompted during the application process; that information is needed to be considered for this course. Remember, you must have a valid email address to complete your application and follow the instructions to create a profile (one email address per profile, no duplications). In the field for “Middle Initial”, input a hyphen (-) if you do not have one since it is a required field. The email address utilized will receive a confirmation message once the application is submitted and a following email stating acceptance or denial to the course once the application has been reviewed. If you have already created a profile, you need only to log-in after entering the event password above. ***If you do not receive a confirmation email, check your SPAM folder. If it DOES end up there, then most likely, the email indicating your acceptance will be sent to SPAM as well. ***
Course Resources