men walking gavel columns columns and light

CJ Class  Projects

A Criminal Investigation with Dr. Dwayne Marshall

Dr. Marshall's Class


A mock crime scene was conducted by Dr. Marshall’s Criminal Investigation Class near the LHU football field.

Two wooden structures were constructed by the CJ students to represent mock buildings.  Furniture was added to portray a life-like setting.

The mock crime scene was put in place and the buildings were set on fire.  The Lock Haven Fire Department was on hand to extinguish the fires.

Students were given the assignment to investigate
the criminal aspect, such as the cause of the fire and evidence leading to a suspect.

The purpose of this event was to relate classroom lectures with practical experience.

The project was a collaborative effort between the following:  The CJ Department, LHU, Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania State Fire Marshals, Lock Haven Fire Department, Your Building Centers, LHU Police, and the Lock Haven Police Department.

    

during fire

during fire

                                                       time to investigate...

   

 

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 Crime Scene Investigation

Students mark evidence and take notes during this crime scene investigation.

LHU Criminal Justice Students
Get Hands-on "Crime Scene" Experience

 

On the afternoon of October 19, 2010, students from Dr. Dwayne Marshall’s Criminal Investigation classes moved outside the classroom to demonstrate their skills, first-hand, and perform what seemed to be a “true-to-life” crime scene investigation. 

Five different crime scenes (involving vehicles) were staged at the Lock Haven University, Campus Village parking lot, prior to student arrival.

Investigation White Van

Students were divided into five groups – one group per crime scene – and each group consisted of a lead investigator, photographer, lab reporter, technician, and a sketch artist. 

The Criminal Justice students were responsible for coming up with a theory for the crime scene, collecting evidence and taking photographs.

MCS Blood

Throughout the afternoon the students roped off the area, inspected the crime scene, marked evidence, took pictures, measured distance, and collected samples. Discussion was everywhere as the students were busy carrying out their assigned duties.  The students used walkie-talkies to communicate back to Dr. Marshall as clues were uncovered.  Some of the visual evidence collected included (but was not limited to) blood, shell casings, a gun (toy), and beer cans.

Blue Car Measure

 

The crime scenes looked so real and the students were so into character that one student even instructed an observer to remove the pictures from her camera and leave the crime scene immediately!

No Parking

 A special “thank you” goes out to Dr. Marshall and all his students
for this wonderful enactment and education on Crime Scene Investigation!