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Develop Crime Laboratory Skills

Madonna University's Crime Laboratory Technician Certificate equips you with the foundational skills and practical knowledge to excel in a forensic science laboratory. Through a combination of engaging lectures and hands-on labs, you'll master the essential techniques for analyzing various types of evidence crucial to criminal investigations. 

Elevate Your Forensic Science Career

This certificate program compliments your bachelor's degree in criminal justice or forensic science, allowing you to deepen your expertise in a crucial and growing field. This program allows you to: 

  • Bridge the Gap to Practical Application: Enhance your theoretical knowledge with hands-on laboratory experience, preparing you for the realities of crime scene evidence processing. 
  • Become a More Valuable Asset: Develop specialized skills in evidence analysis, making you a highly sought-after candidate in forensic laboratories. 
  • Stay Ahead of the Curve: Gain a deeper understanding of the ever-evoling field of forensic science and its critical role in modern criminal investigations. 
 

Unlock Career Opportunities 

Crime lab technicians are in high demand across various forensic settings. Madonna 
University's Crime Lab Technician Certificate equips you with the skills to work in places like:

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OTHER PROGRAMS IN FORENSIC SCIENCE

DNA Analysis Certificate

Learn to recover DNA profiles from evidence items used in the biology division of crime laboratories.

Learn More

Crime Scene Practice Certificate

Gain additional knowledge in crime scene practice through Madonna’s Criminal Justice program.

Learn More
 

Faculty Bios

Jessica ZarateAssistant Professor, Forensic Science

M.S. National University

B.S. Madonna University

B.H.S. Ferris State University

jlzarate@16300a.com

734-432-5523

Jessica Zarate

Ms. Jessica Zarate, MS is currently an assistant professor in the FEPAC accredited undergraduate Forensic Science Program at Madonna University teaching forensic science coursework including impression and pattern evidence. She was a Michigan certified police officer for eight years and is the inventor of the Zar-Pro™ Fluorescent Blood Lifters (US Patent 8,025,852 B2).

She has worked in impression analysis, for over 9 years, including during her time as a Police Officer with the Northville City Police Department when she collaborated with Michigan State Police Northville Forensic Science Laboratory, Latent Print Unit with research and development in the area of impression enhancement.

Her research work is focused within the impression evidence discipline, publishing on a fluorogenic method for lifting, enhancing, and preserving bloody impression evidence, recovering bloody impressions from difficult substrates, including from human skin, and defining methods to create consistent and reproducible fingerprint impressions deposited in biological fluids on a variety of substrates.

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Damon Baker 

B.S. Madonna University

djbaker@16300a.com

Damon Baker

Damon Baker began working with the Detroit Police Department as a crime scene investigator in 2016, and spent three years processing crime scenes in the city of Detroit.  In August of 2017, he also took on the role of being a test-shot officer, testing firearms for submission into the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN).

In February of 2019, he transferred to the Criminal Intelligence Unit as a crime analyst working in the Real Time Crime Center (RTCC), providing intelligence to officers on scene through Detroit’s Project Green Light, as well as performing intelligence research on suspects and incidents at the request of investigators.  In September of 2020, he was transferred to back to the Detroit Police NIBIN Unit, this time as a crime analyst specializing in intelligence with firearms.  During his time as a NIBIN analyst, he worked closely with the ATF and other local partners to track and help build cases against offenders both in and out of Detroit.  In June of 2021, he took over as the Project Manager for the Detroit Police NIBIN Unit, and now runs the crime analyst team stationed there. 

He brings his crime scene and firearm experience to teach Firearms and Tool Marks during the winter semester.

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