The AAAF staff is devoted to a philosophy of training that encompasses both conceptual and practical approaches to learning. Because the forensic sciences are advancing so rapidly, it is essential that crime scene investigators be trained not merely as technicians who collect and process evidence using one technique or another, but instead are equipped to be investigative professionals who understand and can apply the scope of scientific principles that govern evidence collection and preservation.

Equally important in AAAF’s training philosophy is the belief that instruction include hands-on opportunities to practice critical skills using the latest technology. AAAF’s staff of instructors is committed to using this combination of academic and technical expertise along with practical exercises to make our training comprehensive, responsive to the ever-changing nature of the discipline and applicable to the crime scene investigator’s day-to-day responsibilities.

With that training philosophy as a foundation, the American Academy of Applied Forensics offers two paths in the field of crime scene investigation: general forensics and digital evidence.
General Forensics

AAAF uses the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) model, Every Scene, Every Time as a foundation for its General Forensics curriculum. The program is designed to prepare the generalist crime scene investigator as well as provide advanced training for the veteran and specialist crime scene investigator. Courses are taught by nationally known forensic experts in such fields as bloodstain pattern analysis, forensic anthropology, forensic entomology, crime scene photography and numerous facets of latent evidence.

All General Forensics training is conducted in compliance with the standards of recognized national professional associations including the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, International Association for Identification, National Board of Death Investigators, American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors – Laboratory Accreditation Program and National Association of Medical Examiners.
Digital Evidence

In today’s technologically advanced world, any crime scene can potentially harbor digital evidence: information stored in digital form that may be of evidentiary value in a criminal investigation. Today more than ever before, the identification, collection and preservation of digital evidence are critical skills in crime scene processing and require forensically sound methodologies.

AAAF uses the U.S. Department of Defense Defense Computer Investigation Training Program (DCITP) as a model for its Digital Evidence curriculum. Using the DCITP model, AAAF has established one of the few comprehensive Digital Evidence training programs and state-of-the-art computer forensics teaching laboratories in the nation. AAAF’s Digital Evidence training curriculum provides training in three areas: incident response, hardware forensics and network forensics, as well as, a full range of related courses in such areas as electronic forensics (surveillance devices and video), presentation of forensic evidence in court, and quality assurance in forensic investigations.