The National Youth Leadership Forum on Law and Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) introduces high school sophomores, juniors and seniors from across the nation to the fields of law, forensics and crime scene investigation. Throughout this six-day program, scholars meet and personally interact with professionals from some of the nation’s top law firms, observe the legal process in action and meet faculty from renowned law schools. Students test the fundamentals of law through simulations and directly engage in debate over some of the most important legal issues facing our country today.
Law and CSI scholars also explore the burgeoning fields of forensics and crime scene investigation as they take part in a legal case prepared by Dr. Lawrence Tate of the Center of Science and Industry (COSI). Dr. Tate is one of the nation’s most renowned pathologists whose 33-year career has taken him to morgues, crime scenes and crash sites. After reviewing the case, scholars will take on roles of prosecutors and defense attorneys and, via a live broadcast, question Dr. Tate as an expert witness. Dr. Tate will then give a presentation, providing insight into the world of forensics and crime scene investigation, and will answer questions from scholars about these exciting fields.
At the Forum on Law and CSI, you will analyze evidence, apply legal reasoning to the importance of evidence collected at a crime scene, determine the significance of the evidence to both the prosecution and defense, follow the chain of that evidence from the crime scene to the trial and examine DNA and wrongful convictions. Law and CSI scholars will explore and practice the process of forensic crime-solving by performing hands-on forensics testing, including crime scene analysis, fingerprinting, document and ink analysis, handwriting analysis and hair and fiber analysis.
Students interact with nationally-recognized legal professionals and gain valuable insight into legal careers. Past visits to the Supreme Court have included a welcome by the resident judicial fellow, and although not a scheduled portion of the program, students have even met individual Supreme Court Justices. For the conclusion of the program, students conduct a model Supreme Court hearing based on an actual case. Law and CSI scholars apply standard court procedures as they analyze and argue the constitutionality of the issue at hand, by immersing themselves in the roles of attorneys or Justices. Throughout this student-led simulation, scholars gain an understanding of the judicial process and develop critical thinking, public speaking and leadership skills.
