Students in the PSA program transformed into forensic investigators this week as they participated in a mock crime scene investigation — the hands-on culmination of their unit on evidence and crime scene analysis.

“So, what we’re doing is crime scene investigation,” said April Schwartz, PSA instructor. “We’ve been learning about crime scenes, evidence, and evidence collection. This is the culmination of that lesson, where students have to collect evidence, take photos, and put everything together in a report.”

During the simulation, students worked in small teams to photograph the scene, collect fingerprints, and analyze clues to solve a fictional case. 

“We’re examining a crime scene and lifting fingerprints from evidence,” said Izabella Hovanessian, one of the student investigators.

Each team was tasked with developing a theory of what happened based on the evidence they gathered.

“I think the partner that he was hiking with killed him because the evidence showed that,” said Elen Danoyan, explaining their group’s conclusion.

Schwartz said the project allows students to think critically and apply scientific methods in a realistic setting. 

“They’re learning how to pay attention to details, work together, and communicate their findings like real investigators,” Schwartz said.