Presented by Ron Smith and Associates, Inc., and the

 Instructor: Ron Smith, CLPE, CSCSA
 

Course Description

This is the class Fingerprint Examiners, new and old, have been requesting Ron Smith to do for years! Ron has taken his internationally recognized skills as an expert witness and instructor and designed this two day expert testimony course specifically for the needs of today's testifying expert. If you would like to finally get the chance to actively participate in a class where everyone works together in seeking the proper way to answer Daubert style questions, then this is the class for you. If you would like to get the experience of practicing your answers in a non-pressure packed environment, then this is the class you have been looking for. If you would like to help your less experienced latent print examiners refine their testimony skills but need help in how to handle the newest and strongest attacks on the fingerprint science, then register early because everyone else wants your spot in this class.

Some of the "How to" topics which will be thoroughly addressed include:

How to help the jury fully understand ACE-V methodology without getting yourself or them confused.

How to deal with the defense attorney's challenges based upon public forensic errors such as the Mayfield case and others.

How to explain your belief in "biological uniqueness" without sounding pompous.

How to break down the Analysis, Comparison, Evaluation and Verification phases of the methodology in understandable terms.

How to use visual aids without getting trapped with them.

How to explain "Error Rates" in a manner which makes sense to everyone, without seeming evasive or defensive.

How to assist a jury in understanding what proficiency tests really are and why the published results do not adversely affect your credentials.

How to embrace the ever increasing eagerness of the jury to learn about forensic identification.

How to develop a level of "forensic trust" with the jury.

How to keep the jury focused on the facts of your testimony without becoming a pawn for either the prosecution or defense.

How to recognize your individual talents and skills and incorporate them into your testimony.

How to deal with today's jurors who think they really know about your science because they watch C.S.I.

How to deal with the questions regarding the I.A.I. Latent Print Examiner Certification program.

How to be the very best latent print expert witness you can be for the jury and for yourself.

If you really want to get better as a fingerprint examiner, get better as an expert witness, get better as a fingerprint trainer in your agency, or get better as a supervisor, then you need to be in the front row of this class. This is THE class that fingerprint expert witnesses need to attend if they truly wish to succeed in today's forensic environment. Courtroom expectations are higher than ever and Ron Smith has designed this class in such a manner that each student should be able to not only make significant improvements in their own testimony skills but be able to take these skills back to their agency for the benefit of others.
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR  

Ron Smith, President
Ron Smith and Associates, Inc.

Ron Smith has been employed in the forensic identification field since 1972, first with the FBI, then with the Alabama Bureau of Investigation and from 1978 until his retirement in July 2002 with the Mississippi Crime Laboratory. As Associate Director, he served as supervisor of the Meridian Branch of the Mississippi Crime Lab System. He is a specialist in courtroom testimony instruction, latent fingerprint examinations and crime scene examinations and has provided expert witness testimony in over five hundred cases in numerous states. He has been certified by the International Association for Identification in latent prints and crime scenes and is the recipient of the John A. Dondero Memorial Award and the Dedication to Service Award. He has lectured on Courtroom Testimony Techniques, latent print examinations or crime scene examination topics in over forty states and several other countries. He understands what it feels like to sweat bullets, make mistakes, lose sleep and be embarrassed by what has happened or may happen on the witness stand. He also understands how it feels to be successful and how to achieve success on the witness stand.

For over fifteen years, Ron Smith has been conducting research on courtroom testimony techniques and interviewing witnesses, judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys and the most important people of all, “JURORS”, to determine what they believe, what they like and what they specifically don’t like from criminal justice witnesses. The results of this research will surprise you and make you a better witness once you have begun to apply what you will learn. The seminar is exciting, fun and fast paced, with a great deal of interaction between the instructor and the students.

GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION

Daily Schedule: This course will begin at 8:00 a.m. on the 1st day of the workshop. Classes will begin each day promptly at 8:30 a.m. and conclude by 4:30 p.m. On the last day, the class should conclude no later than 4:30 p.m.

Class attire should be casual and comfortable.

This training seminar has been approved for 16 hours of Continuing Education Credit required for I.A.I. Latent Print Certification and Re-certification

Certificates of achievement, authorized by the International Association for Identification, will be awarded to each student successfully completing the seminar.

TUITION: See course registration page

COURSE CALENDAR

October 13-14, 2008

 

 

WAYS TO ENROLL

Online:
Visit the registration link for the scheduled date and location in which you are interested and fill out the online registration form associated with this course.

By FAX:
Complete all the information on the registration form, print it out and fax it to us at 601-626-1122.

By Mail:
Complete all the information on the registration form, print it out and mail it to us at:

Ron Smith & Associates, Inc.
Attention: Training Division
P.O. Box 670
Collinsville, Mississippi 39325


By Phone:
Call us toll free at 1-866–TEAM RSA (832-6772) and register directly with one of our Training
Division staff members.

PAYMENT OPTIONS:
By Check:
Checks are to be made payable to “Ron Smith & Associates, Inc.” All registrants should forward a
department check, personal check or purchase order, along with a copy of their completed registration
form to Ron Smith & Associates, Inc.


By Credit Card:
To pay by credit card, please contact Ron Smith & Associates, Inc. and speak with one of our
representatives. Call toll free at 1-866–TEAM RSA (1-866-832-6772)