J.A. Russell of the Richland County Forensics Department tells members of The Shepherd’s Center’s CSI: Columbia class how foot impressions are made.

The techniques em-ployed in hit crime dramas like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation , and spin–offs CSI: Miami and CSI: NY may seem like science fiction, but in fact, they mirror actual techniques used by crime scene investigators around the country and right here in Columbia.

This is what members of The Shepherd’s Center of Columbia are learning in a nine–week class called CSI: Columbia. The class features a different speaker each week who specializes in a particular area of crime scene investigation.

Previous speakers have been B.L. Oliver, who spoke about the field of criminal investigation; Gary Watts, coroner of Richland County; and Dr. Ted Rathbun, USC Professor Emeritus, who spoke on forensic anthropology.

J.A. Russell of the Richland County Forensics Department brought sample evidence from closed cases to The Shepherd’s Center’s CSI: Columbia class. Photos by Amanda Taylor On February 8, J.A. Russell was the featured speaker. Russell has been working in crime scene reconstruction and analysis for Richland County for six years. He also teaches a forensic science class at USC.

Russell goes to crime scenes to collect data like fingerprints, foot impressions, shell casings, and any other material that may have been left behind. Later, Russell takes the data back to the lab to process the results. Russell said, “A lot of what we do is like what you see on TV.”

One major type of data Russell processes is fingerprints. The first step he takes to find fingerprints is to dust for them in areas where they are likely to be present. When fingerprints are present, they are lifted. These lifted fingerprints are called latent fingerprints and are often more obscured than inked fingerprints.

His next step is to match the latent fingerprints to inked fingerprints in the database. First, the prints are run through an automated fingerprint identification system to narrow down the search. But after that, Russell has the time–consuming and often difficult process of matching the prints visually.

Russell said, “Once I decide the fingerprint is a match, I send it on to be verified.” Russell added, “We don’t just depend on the computer to identify the print.” He said this is one of the major misconceptions with TV crime shows.

Betty Layson with the Shepherd’s Center of Columbia organized the CSI: Columbia class. “They had a class like this at the St. Andrew’s Shepherd’s Center and it was very popular.” Layson attributes the class’s popularity at both Shepherd’s Centers to the public’s strong interest in programs like CSI.

The Shepherd’s Center offers many classes to interested seniors in Columbia. Classes generally run for nine weeks and have minimal cost. Layson said, “There are a lot of retired professional people who don’t want to sit around and rock. They still want to be intellectually stimulated.”

Next week in The Columbia Star: Agent Tim Grambow with SLED’s forensic toxicology lab speaks to CSI: Columbia class.