University Marketing & Communications: Layton Shumway | 801-863-6863 | LShumway@uvu.edu
Written by: Barbara Christiansen | 801-863-8208 | BarbaraC@uvu.edu
Some of the most popular television shows, books and movies through the years have been mysteries and police procedurals. Utah Valley University invites the public to learn more about some of those investigations at the official ribbon cutting for its crime scene investigation house.The event will be from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, April 21. The house is just off the main portion of the campus, at 1138 S. 400 West, Orem. It replicates a standard residence in most ways; one difference is that the garage has been converted to an office space. In each of the home’s rooms, there are cameras. An instructor in that garage office views the students as they conduct their investigations and records their findings.
“The instructor doesn’t have to be there right on top of the students,” said Amie Houghton, assistant professor of forensic science at UVU. “They can watch and even see if something is in someone’s hands.”
Those searches and studies are recorded and the instructor can review the students’ efforts for later teaching.
Attendees can watch demonstrations of that equipment and see the scenes set up at the house.
Both the interior and exterior of the home will serve to help students learn how to investigate a crime scene. Inside the home, there are furniture, appliances and even clothing in the closets. The students learn how to discover and handle items that may become evidence and how to document their discovery.
Students not only do investigations, but also learn tactics to clear a house to ensure the “bad guys” are no longer there.
The house will be used for more than forensic science students.
“We are going to try to put on some in-service training for local police officers,” Houghton said. They are required to update their education on a regular basis.
“POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) will start using it for cadets to learn how to execute a search warrant,” she said.
Fourth region (Section 1)