Event Details
Latent Print Refresher Course - Mechanicsville, VA
Date(s): Tuesday, January 19th 2027 at 08:30 AM
This course is intended to serve as hands-on instruction for law enforcement personnel responsible for processing evidence for latent prints. The course will start with a lecture that covers the history of the use of fingerprints as a means of identification, why fingerprints can be used as a means of identification, and the latent print processing methods approved for use at the Department of Forensic Science. After the lecture, the group will split into four smaller groups to work with an experienced examiner on one of the following topics: photography, powder processing, porous processing, and non-porous processing. The small groups will rotate through all four topics before completion.
This course will be limited to 12 students and is restricted to personnel from Virginia law enforcement agencies.
There is no fee to attend this course.
The course will be taught at the Virginia Department of Forensic Science’s NEW Central Laboratory located at 8850 Times Dispatch Blvd, Mechanicsville, VA.
The registration will close on December 31st, 2026 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. ***
For additional information, view “Course Resources”, as additional information may be posted. If you have any questions or concerns with submitting, please feel free to contact me.
Tiffany J. Alston
Virginia Department of Forensic Science - Central Laboratory
Division of Technical Services
Forensic Training Section
8850 Times Dispatch Blvd.
Suite 100
Mechanicsville, VA 23116
Desk: 804-588-4132
Cell: 804-992-3654
Course Resources