Measuring, taking notes, collecting evidence -- it's all standard operating procedure for a crime scene investigation. LHU Criminal Investigation students got first-hand experience at mock crime scenes at Campus Village.

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - On the afternoon of October 19, 2010, students from Dr. Dwayne Marshall’s Criminal Investigation classes moved outside the classroom to demonstrate their skills 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. 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.

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.

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!