Michigan State Police To Open Forensic Evidence Academy

LANSING (WWJ) - Thursday the Michigan State Police announced plans to open a Forensic Evidence Academy to offer up-to-date forensic training to all law enforcement agencies across the state.

Michigan State Police Forensic Science Division Director John Collins said forensic science has evolved over the years and the academy will help spread this knowledge to agencies across the state.

"One of the things that we know is that nationally there has been the emergence of new practices that we think are (going to) have a positive impact on how we process these crime scenes," said Collins.

Collins said the use of technology is now a staple in forensic science and the academy will try to ensure all crime scenes are processed at the highest level of professionalism.

"A lot of crime scene units have gotten away from conventional … 'wet photography' into the digital age and so there's a lot more digital capabilities that are used at crime scenes now," said Collins.  "Also with mobile devices, iPads, smartphones; these are actually tools that can be used to aid in the processing of the crime scene."

The academy will be offered to all of Michigan's law enforcement agencies beginning next year.