When I worked as a forensic scientist in the crime laboratory, a crime would occur and the lead investigator and crime scene technician would work directly with the various forensic scientists to discuss the case and determine the relevant evidence. The first responding officer would arrive at the scene, causing a chain reaction of personnel and steps that needed to be completed before a case could be presented at trial successfully. There are many people involved in the process, and each contributing party plays an important part from the crime scene to the court trial. This laboratory manual was created to demonstrate the steps from the initial crime scene call to final testimony presented to the jury at a criminal court case. In higher education, forensic science is a popular course of study, and the majority of forensic science classes are delivered in a laboratory setting using the principles derived from science disciplines, such as chemistry and biology. Forensic science courses have been offered as electives in recent years and are presented in non-laboratory-based settings or instructed fully online. A main component of a forensic science course is the hands-on examination and processing of evidence, but in a non-laboratory or online setting this can be difficult to accomplish. The Criminalistics Laboratory Manual: The Basics of Forensic Investigation was developed to offer forensic science activities that can be completed in a traditional lecture-based classroom or at home for online courses. Each activity requires a limited amount of resources that can be made from household products or office supplies. No chemicals or laboratory equipment is needed to successfully complete each of the 17 labs.