IAI SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

Each year the association accepts applications for scholarships to be awarded during the annual conference. Last year, due to poor economic conditions, no scholarships were awarded. This year however the IAI’s Board of Directors decided to earmark funding so scholarships could again be awarded. Scholarship applications are accepted from students who are in their junior or senior years in a college or university environment. Graduate students may also submit applications. More information about the scholarship program can be found on the IAI’s web site at: http://www.theiai.org/foundations/funding.php

Last year, when the IAI’s two foundations were consolidated into the Johnson-Whyte Memorial Foundation Fund, the aims and goals of each fund were incorporated into the combined fund. This year, for the first time, the IAI will be accepting applications for “Vocational Scholarships”to fund the Spokane Conference registration fee for up to six attendees from outside the United States. That was a primary goal of the previous William Whyte Foundation and is now incorporated into the goals of the combined foundation-fund. The application for those vocational scholarships can also be found on the foundation web site at:
http://www.theiai.org/foundations/funding.php

Note that the deadline for the academic scholarship applications is May 1 and the deadline for the vocational scholarship applications is April 30.

CALL FOR GRANT PROPOSALS

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has posted the application for the Paul Coverdell Grant Program.  That can be found at this web link.  There is $35 million in funding available with applications due by May 17, 2010.

TRAINING REVIEW: LATENT PALM PRINT EXAMINATION AT CPCC

TIM SEGUIN, CCSI

This is the first in a continuing series of training program reviews, some out of the Michigan-Ontario area or unconventional. All are of interest to the forensic practitioner.

Finding a latent print comparative course in the Michigan-Ontario area has at best been difficult. I myself have tried for nearly two years to find ANY latent comparative course at a reasonable price, since I was unlikely to obtain employer reimbursement.

Needless to say I was excited to find that the American Academy of Applied Forensics at Central Piedmont Community College (AAAF-CPCC) (Huntersville NC) offered a number of reasonably priced courses taught by renown faculty. So on April 4 I made the twelve hour drive from Lansing to Huntersville, North Carolina where the AAAF-CPCC has it's campus just north of Charlotte, North Carolina. The area is served by the Charlotte International Airport (a US Airways hub), but due to my schedule I opted to drive.

CPCC Associate Dean Dr. Lili Johnson was kind enough to give me a tour of the AAAF. The facilities are newly constructed and represent the state-of-the-art in forensic and law enforcement training. The facility, which also serves as their regional police academy has a fully functional forensic and computer laboratory, search/crime scene rooms, exercise facility, mock courtroom, lecture halls, and classrooms as well as student lounges and support staff offices. As far as equipment, supplies, and appointments are concerned, it was easily on a level with any federal or Defense Department training facility I've ever been to. The staff, especially Program Director Dale Callan and administrative assistants Andrea June and Shelia Priest were helpful, knowledgeable, and accommodating to the needs of the student.

The Latent Palm Print Comparison course was taught by Johnny Leonard, CLPE. Leonard's career in fingerprints spans more than thirty seven years, including appointments to the FBI, the North Carolina SBI, and the City-County Bureau of Identification of Raleigh/Wake County NC, where he retired as it's Deputy Director. Leonard is also IAI certified as a footwear examiner and has testified in federal, state, and local courts.

This course was forty hours in length. The first day is divided into lecture and practical exercises covering ACE-V issues, anatomy, and the use of creases and ridge patterns to speed up searches. The remainder of the week is devoted to palm print comparisons. Latent and known exemplars are casework quality and appropriate to each examiner's level.

Leonard's course is also offered at a well known forensic supply company for $600. However, as Dr. Johnson and Dale Callan explained, CPCC receives federal and state funding, which brings course fees to $50 for North Carolina personnel and $179 for out-of-state personnel. This puts it easily in reach of most agencies with no compromise in quality. At the end of the week it was probably the most exhausting, yet most informative class I have taken to date. I know that I am a much better palm print examiner having taken the course. I would readily recommend any examiner, novice or experienced, take this course.

Persons with news of interest should submit them by e-mail to webmaster (at) moia.org or via fax at (267) 347-8923.

1999-2009

Our web site, moia.org, celebrated ten years of continuous operations.

This Newsletter is an official publication of the Michigan-Ontario Identification Association (Division of the IAI).

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