The Law Enforcement Track is developed around providing forensic science and legal training, information, and support to law enforcement, district judges, and other appropriate criminal justice agencies. The learning opportunities are appropriate for attorneys, judges, and other criminal justice professionals.
Law Enforcement Track Courses
> Medicolegal Death Investigation
Module 1: Death Investigation System in Alabama
Module 2: The Autopsy and Human Identification
Overview of Medicolegal Death Investigation is an on-demand two-module self-paced course designed to familiarize those taking this course with the nature, reasons, and procedures of the death investigation system in Alabama along with its strengths and limitations. The course is presented by Edward A. Reedy, PhD, MD, State Medical Director with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.
Course Level Learning Objectives:
- Distinguish between roles and responsibilities of a Medical Examiner and Coroner
- Distinguish between cause and manner of death
- Execute an accurate and complete death certificate
- Understand the steps of the autopsy process including differentiation between forensic and hospital autopsy, as well as full, partial, and external autopsy
- Describe and contrast methods of human identification
Target Audience: Overview of Medicolegal Death Investigation learning opportunities are appropriate for medical professionals and law enforcement personnel. Continuing education credits will be offered.
CEU for Law Enforcement
This course was approved for 2.5 hours of continuing education credit by the Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission.
Registration and Course Dates
Registration Opens: April 1, 2024
Registration available through December 1, 2024
Register for Medicolegal Death Investigation> Oral Fluid Testing in DUID Investigations
Module 1: Identification of when to collect Oral Fluid Samples for Roadside Screening or Confirmation Testing
Module 2: State Statues for Roadside Screening and Confirmation Testing Using Oral Fluid
Module 3: Roadside Screening of Oral Fluid Using Dräger DrugTest 5000
Module 4: Roadside Screening of Oral Fluid Using Abbott SoToxa™ Mobile Test System
Module 5: Collection of Oral Fluid Evidentiary Sample Using Quantisal™ Oral Fluid Collection Device
Module 6: Submission of Oral Fluid Evidentiary Sample Collected using Quantisal™ Oral Fluid Collection Device
Roadside Oral Fluid Testing is an on-demand six-module self-paced course.
Law enforcement officers face the challenge of keeping motorists safe when irresponsible drivers get behind the wheel under the influence of drugs that cannot be detected using a breathalyzer. New roadside screening instruments have been developed to detect these drugs in oral fluid samples and can be performed by certified officers similar to using a breathalyzer to detect alcohol in breath. This course describes two roadside instruments for testing oral fluid and also describes a method for collecting an additional oral fluid sample to be sent to the lab for confirmation testing. Officers completing this course will be prepared to take a certification exam, which will qualify them to administer these tests and collections. Officers will view lectures and video demonstrations of using the instruments and collection devices. The course is presented by Curt E. Harper, Ph.D., F-ABFT, Chief Toxicologist with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.
Course Level Learning Objectives:
- Describe the differences between using oral fluid for roadside screening and using oral fluid for evidentiary testing.
- List the screening devices used for roadside screen collection of oral fluids and collection devices used for evidentiary collection of oral fluid.
- Describe your state statues that allow for the use of oral fluid for roadside screening or evidentiary testing.
- Describe the process for collecting and testing a sample for the purpose of roadside screening using an Abbott SoToxa or Draeger DT5000
- Describe the process for collecting oral fluid using Quantisal™ Oral Fluid Collection Device.
- Describe the process for submitting an evidentiary sample to the lab.
Target Audience: Roadside Oral Fluid Testing learning opportunities are appropriate for law enforcement personnel. Continuing education credits will be offered.
CEU for Law Enforcement
This course was approved for 2.50 hours of continuing education credit by the Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission.
Registration and Course Dates
Registration Opens: June 4, 2024
Registration available through December 1, 2024
Course available through December 15, 2024
CEU Certificates Emailed by December 20, 2024
Registration Instructions (opens a PDF)
> Alabama Breath Testing Operator Recertification
Implied Consent Recertification
Module 1: Introduction & Resources
Module 2: Legal Issues: Alcohol & the Law
Module 3: Alabama Breath Testing Program
Module 4: Administering the Breath Test
Module 5: Factors Affecting the Breath Test
Module 6: Admissibility of the Evidence
Module 7: ADFS Toxicology
Module 8: Other Important Legal Issues, Information, and Program Reminders
Course Level Learning Objectives:
- Describe how to contact ADFS during weekdays.
- Describe how to contact ADFS after-hours, weekends, and holidays.
- Describe how to request data packs and order breath testing supplies and blood kits.
Target Audience: Alabama Breath Testing Operator Recertification opportunities are appropriate for law enforcement personnel. Continuing education credits will be offered.
CEU for Law Enforcement
This course was approved for 4.0 hours of continuing education credit by the Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission.