The new Crime Scene House at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln gives students hands-on experience through step-by-step crime scenes. The department said it is the only forensic science program in the Midwest with such a campus and program.

“Looking across the state plains, you won’t find a program as comprehensive and detailed as this, with so much hands-on learning,” said Professor Barksdale. . “We take it from the classroom to the field.”

In front of the house, Crime Scene Investigation course students used to evaluate scenes in the classroom, but the new location allows for more dynamic and large-scale crime scenes.

“I could read this in a textbook, but I didn’t understand it well enough to actually complete it and understand how it works in the real world.

Professor Barksdale made a shallow grave next to his crime scene lab a few months ago. He buried items for his students to find, including white powder, clothes, and plastic bones. Students then use tools and protocols similar to what they would do in the field after graduation.

“It is important to place students in an environment that is as close as possible to a real crime scene,” said Michael Adamowitz, Director of Forensic Sciences.

This semester, students will work on eight crime scenes. They examine bullet holes, uncover plastic bones, identify bloody fingerprints, and evaluate materials found at the scene. Students will continue to work at the Crime Scene House through October. After that, go to the laboratory and analyze the materials you find. Next semester, many of the students will take climax classes and return home to tackle more crime scenes.

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