Horry Georgetown Technical College utilizes state-of-the-art forensics technology to teach its criminal justice classes.
Professor Jeffrey Scott, who teaches classes ranging from forensic photography to blood stain pattern analysis at the school, says agencies like SLED might not even have the kind of technology the school has.
Fingerprint scanning lasers, cameras that spot body fluid evidence, and 3D imaging tools, are among what the criminal justice department at the school works with.
The school’s 445 5-watt laser is one of the main pieces of equipment that Scott uses to teach his students.
Scott says having more advanced tools gives his students a leg up, along with a better understanding of the forensics field.
“This is probably, like I said, the only lab that I know of that has this type of equipment,” he said.
Although they cannot specify which cases they have assisted with, HGTC is using the tools to help local law enforcement solve crimes.
The 5-watt laser can identify and scan fingerprints, gunshot residue, and body fluids.
“In certain applications, the 520, that intensification, that high intensity, is needed to really bring out some of these things that we can’t see,” said Scott.
Scott says the FBI has six of the type of Ruvias camera that HGTC has in their forensics lab. He says he believes SLED hasn’t invested in one yet.
Local law enforcement can come to the tech school and try out new tools to decide whether or not they want to invest in them.
Much of the equipment has been shipped in from other countries, including the 5-watt laser, which recently arrived from England.