Training

Elite Forensic Services, LLC provides training for workshops and courses on various subject matter topics.  These courses typically are provided by partnerships with other consulting agencies.  A list of the available courses is provided below.  Customized training can be provided upon request.

Advanced ACE-V Applications
Practical Answers to Challenging Questions in the Courtroom
Understanding Exclusion and Sufficiency Decisions
Incorporating Technology into the ACE-V Process
Master Class: Preparing for Admissibility Hearings
Statistics Applied to ACE-V
Current Research Supporting ACE-V
Demystifying Error Rates in Forensic Science
Basic ACE-V Principles

Advanced ACE-V Applications
Instructor: Glenn Langenburg
Length: 40 hours, 5 days
Provided through Ron Smith and Associates
Synopsis:
Advanced ACE-V Applications (AAA) for Fingerprint Examiners is an intermediate to advanced level fingerprint course. In the course, we deconstruct the ACE-V process to understand the stages of ACE-V, its history and philosophy, decision-making processes, and quality assurance mechanisms. We review the current research that demonstrates the strengths and limitations of ACE-V. We also explore other difficult topics such as error rates, distortion mechanisms, complex cases, documentation, accreditation issues and preparation, and testimony post-Daubert and post-NAS report.
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Practical Answers for Challenging Questions in the Courtroom
Instructors: Glenn Langenburg, Brendan Max, and Carey Hall
Length: 24 hours, 3 days
Provided through Ron Smith and Associates
Synopsis:
This intermediate/advanced fingerprint testimony course provides practical answers to challenging questions in today’s courtroom environment by delivering the material to you in a novel way. Students will gain practical information for improving their courtroom performance. They will also be better prepared for Frye and Daubert challenges. This course is aimed at Latent Print Examiners, although some ten-print examiners (depending on their duties and level of challenge) may benefit from the material.

This unique course is taught by three instructors. Two of the instructors are experienced fingerprint experts. These instructors take turns answering mock court questions asked by a third instructor, an experienced criminal defense attorney, who will dynamically attack the answers. The instructors will demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of different responses—both “good” and “bad” answers. Students will be able to ask questions and get feedback on their own personal responses. The instructors will highlight what strategies a defense attorney might take depending on the answer. The instructors will share court experiences, case law, and other court decisions so that students are aware of precedent cases and emerging legal trends.
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Understanding Exclusion and Sufficiency Decisions
Instructors: Glenn Langenburg and John Black
Length: 36 hours, 4.5 days
Provided through Ron Smith and Associates
Synopsis:
This intermediate/advanced level course explores the concept of “sufficiency” both for determining latent prints of value and also sufficiency for decisions. Students will also explore several approaches to Exclusion decisions and how to reduce erroneous exclusions. We will discuss current decision making models and definitions of Exclusion decisions based on best practices, policy, error rates, utility, etc.
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Incorporating Technology into the ACE-V Process
Instructors: Glenn Langenburg and Carey Hall
Length: 24 hours, 3 days
Provided through Ron Smith and Associates
Synopsis:
This intermediate level course explores the inclusion of technology into the ACE-V process. Students will learn to use a variety of tools to increase the objectivity of their ACE-V process. Students will be instructed on the IDEMIA Case AFIS (a stand-alone laptop AFIS system). They will learn how to create a case-specific database, encode and search latent prints. We will also explore the use of other technology including: quality mapping, GYRO annotation, complete ACE documentation, and statistical models. This software will be loaded onto the Case AFIS and available for use during the practical exercises..
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Masterclass: Preparing for Admissibility Hearings
Contact Glenn Langenburg at [email protected]
Instructor: Glenn Langenburg
Length: 16 hours, 2 days
Provided through: Elite Forensic Services
Synopsis:
This is a 2-day “master class” in sharpening your testimony skills. The focus of the course is on admissibility hearings (i.e. Daubert, Frye, 702, etc.). The first day consists of lectures that will increase your knowledge of the relevant case law, rules of evidence, and legal issues in admissibility hearings. The second day is your chance to practice testimony related to admissibility issues. In a small, intimate group, we will perform moot court exercises. These exercises however will emphasize learning and practice and not on “crushing the student”. I use an innovative method for moot courts which will take some of the pressure off of the student. Increase your confidence in handling these legal challenges and develop a strategy for admissibility challenges now before it is too late. Note: This course is only taught for single agencies and no more than 5-10 students.
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Statistics Applied to ACE-V
Instructors: Cedric Neumann and Glenn Langenburg
Length: 40 hours, 5 days
Provided through Two N’s Forensic LLC
Synopsis:
Statistics Applied to ACE-V is an advanced level fingerprint course. In the course, we explore basic probability theory and statistics. We apply this theory to forensic concepts and explore such topics as Bayes theorem, likelihood ratios, error rates, and statistical models. We explore the use of traditional ACE-V approaches and how to incorporate a statistical model into the framework of ACE-V. We also look at the history and use of probabilities in the courtroom and common pitfalls and issues. Note: students will NOT have to do a lot of mathematics. As instructors, we focus much more on the principles and applications and not complex mathematics and equations. This is a fun and challenging fingerprint course—not a mathematics course!
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Current Research Supporting ACE-V
Contact Glenn Langenburg at [email protected]
Instructor: Glenn Langenburg
Length: 8-16 hours, 1-2 days
Provided through: Elite Forensic Services
Synopsis:
This workshop explores the research, papers, and studies that report on the ACE-V process. This workshop is especially useful for preparing for admissibility hearings (Frye, Daubert, Rule 702, etc.) because we review all of the relevant research that applies to ACE-V and friction ridge examination.
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Demystifying Error Rates in Forensic Science
Contact Glenn Langenburg at [email protected]
Instructor: Glenn Langenburg
Length: 8 hours, 1 day
Provided through: Elite Forensic Services
Synopsis:
This workshop explores the theory and foundation of error rates. We explore the concepts of false positives, false negatives, error rates, discovery rates, sensitivity, and specificity. Students will learn how to calculate and apply error rates using actual data from published error rates studies in forensic science. Additionally we will discuss the statistics and views discussed in the 2016 PCAST report. This workshop is applicable to any forensic discipline where categorical decisions or assignments (qualitative or quantitative apply) are made.
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Basic ACE-V Principles
Contact Glenn Langenburg at [email protected]
Instructor: Glenn Langenburg
Length: 40 hours, 5 days
Provided through: Elite Forensic Services
Synopsis:
This basic introductory course is a mix of comparison (searching) exercises and basic fingerprint topics. We explore the basics of ACE-V, ridgeology, some high profile, notable fingerprint cases, fingerprint history, and Daubert. Between lectures we will learn how to be efficient in comparisons and perform hundreds of latent print comparisons. This is a great introductory course for new latent print examiners (or experienced ten-print examiners) who are looking for a well-rounded course in broad fingerprint topics and comparisons. NOTE: Students MUST bring hand-held magnifiers to class.
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