Training

The 1999 Forensic Science: Status and Needs published by the National Institute of Justice stated that the education and training needs of the forensic community are enormous.

?Training of newcomers to the field, as well as providing continuing education for seasoned professionals, is vital to ensuring that crime laboratories deliver the best possible service to the criminal justice system. Forensic scientists must stay up to date as new technology, equipment, methods, and techniques are developed. While training programs exist in a variety of forms, there is a need to broaden their scope and build on existing resources.?

To address the need for training, West Virginia University Forensic Science Initiative, created the Forensic Educational Alliance (FEA) with an award from the National Institute of Justice (2001-RC-CXK001 or 2003-RC-CX-K001). The Forensic Science Initiative?s FEA has developed online and onsite courses that are free to practicing forensic scientists who are with a state or local agency. FSI currently has seven online courses and provides many onsite training courses around the country year round.