Below you'll find a description of the various training courses offered by LEVA along with the next scheduled date for that course, as well as a link to the complete course details (e.g. objectives, eligibility, tuition, travel, etc...).
NOTEWORTHY: LEVA will now confer Certified Forensic Video Technician (CFVT) status on students who have performed video evidence processing for at least one year and successfully complete its three core courses within a six-year period (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3). This track is designed for certification of individuals who are not doing full analysis but still process video and testify in court.
Level 1: Forensic Video Analysis & the Law (40hrs)
The exponential growth in forensic video applications in law enforcement is staggering. Crime scene and security videos form a frequent component of serious criminal investigations. This course provides students an in depth analysis of the uses and evidentiary value of videotape. The latest video analysis technologies will be explored in detail. Student/Investigators receive comprehensive hands-on training with the most advanced video imaging and analysis tools available to law enforcement. Lectures include an updated overview of the law and court decisions relating to video digitization, analysis and admissibility. The course will analyze the proliferation of video cameras in today's society and demonstrate to investigators how they can take advantage of this accurate and powerful source of evidence.
Scheduled for October 4 - 8, 2010 (PDF w/Complete Details)
Scheduled for April 11- 15, 2011 (PDF w/Complete Details)
Level 2: Digital Multimedia Evidence Processing (40hrs)
The migration from analog visual security systems to digital recording technology has outpaced all expectations; as a result, almost half of all CCTV evidence seized by police today is digitally based. This course exposes students to the Best Practices for the Acquisition and Processing of Digital Multimedia Evidence (DME). Legal issues relating to the admissibility of DME will be explored in detail with special attention given to verification, authentication and expert requirements. Common compression codecs are examined in depth and students will conduct hands-on work in the nation's most advanced forensic video analysis training laboratory as they develop skills to recover reliable detail from their digital video evidence. (formerly known as Intermediate FVA&L)
Scheduled for December 13 - 17, 2010 (PDF w/Complete Details)
Scheduled for June 6 - 10, 2011 (PDF w/Complete Details)
Level 3: Advanced Forensic Video Analysis & the Law (40hrs)
This course is primarily hands-on in which students process video evidence, write a report and present it in a moot court. Perfecting the CV is also featured. Class size is limited to 19 students. This 40-hour advanced level of instruction focuses on case law and relevant issues in both the U.S. and Canada as well as advanced forensic video analysis techniques. There is considerable discussion of the legal issues surrounding the seizure and examination of digital CCTV images. Grading will be based on practicals throughout the week, a written exam and the moot court.
Scheduled for September 13-17, 2010 (SOLD OUT)
Scheduled for May 2 - 6, 2011 (PDF w/Complete Details)
Scheduled for November 14 - 18, 2011 (PDF w/Complete Details)
Forensic Imaging Techniques (16hrs)
Adobe Photoshop has become one of the most-used imaging tools in law enforcement for tasks from printing crime scene photos to latent print enhancement and forensic video analysis. It is important that law enforcement agencies utilize this tool using valid forensic procedures, maintaining the integrity of visual evidence. This two-day workshop begins with an introduction to Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Bridge, developing best practices and then using this tool in “digital darkroom” applications (printing, contact sheets, court displays); image enhancement (using brightness, contrast, color isolation, pattern removal filters, etc.); and image analysis (forensic video analysis, making measurements in images, on-screen comparison methods, etc.). Throughout the entire workshop, recommended best practices will be used with non-destructive processes employed whenever possible. This workshop will also cover the use of Photoshop plug-ins, such as ClearID by Ocean Systems.
Scheduled for March 12 - 13, 2011 (PDF w/Complete Details)
Scheduled for September 10 - 11, 2011 (PDF w/Complete Details)
Photographic/Video Comparison Course (45hrs)
Photographic/Video Comparison focuses on the science of comparing known objects, vehicles, clothing and humans with CCTV images of questioned objects, vehicles, clothing and humans. The process of cataloguing class characteristics and unique characteristics found in questioned evidence is examined in detail. Using Avid Media Composer, Photoshop, PowerPoint and Ocean Systems’ dTective in a forensic lab environment, analysts/examiners develop a scientific workflow involving the hands-on analysis of video evidence, criminal-case report writing and courtroom presentation.
Scheduled for March 14 - 18, 2011 (PDF w/Complete Details)
Scheduled for September 12 - 16, 2011 (PDF w/Complete Details)
