Move over, CSI: Students following in your footprints

Friday, Sept. 26, 2003 | 9:16 a.m.

Evidence of a break-in and vandalism was everywhere in the cafeteria Thursday at Las Vegas High School -- spilled food, what looked like drops of blood and mysterious symbols painted in scarlet on the glass of the trophy display case.

But Principal Patrice Johnson wasn't overly concerned. She watched students from Kevin Jones' advanced biology class swarm over everything from a scuff mark on the floor to a partial palm print on a window.

"I know the criminal will be caught," Johnson said. "I have full confidence in our kids' abilities."

The mock crime scene was part of Court TV's "Forensics in the Classroom," a partnership with the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the National Science Teachers Association.

Las Vegas High School is the first campus to try out the latest addition to the curriculum -- "The Cafeteria Caper."

Clad in white lab coats, the students listened intently as crime scene investigator Rick Workman of Henderson Police walked them through the procedure for securing the area. Workman, who was featured on Court TV's "Las Vegas CSU" program, also offered tips on sharpening observational skills.

When students noticed a palm print on the glass on one of the cafeteria's main doors, Workman urged them to look deeper.

Was the print on the inside or outside of the door? What part of the hand appeared visible? Was it a right or left print? When was the last time the custodian came through, and did he clean the door?

"We can't ever tell how long a print has been there, that's why we need to try and narrow the window," Workman told the students. "If (the custodian) says he cleaned the door thoroughly at 10 p.m., that can help."

Jenna Horrocks, a junior, studied another door intently before focusing on the metal push bar.

"There's probably a latent print on that because you have to push it to get out," she said. "It's the only way of opening the door. We better check that."

That kind of critical thinking is exactly what the curriculum is intended to encourage, said Linda Finney, vice president of Court TV.

"We were hearing from teachers that they were taping our programs and using them in the classroom, so we decided to come up with lesson plans designed especially for the students," said Finney, who was at Las Vegas High Thursday. "Our goal is to give teachers the tools and resources they need to make learning exciting."

It may even spark a few careers in crime scene investigation.

"I want to be an engineer, but I've got to admit, this is interesting," said Tyler Lewis, a junior, as he puzzled over splintered bits of wood scattered under a cafeteria table.

After collecting the evidence, students took it to the school's lab and analyzed it, Jones said. The students will be running tests that check for organic compounds and will also do a hair analysis, Jones said.

Although the Court TV curriculum ends with the class solving the whodunit, Jones will take his students a step further. One of the government classes will hold a mock trial, with biology students serving as expert witnesses.