Every law enforcement officer should be familiar with the basics of bloodstain-pattern analysis. Bloodstain patterns can reveal much about a crime, including the probable locations of the perpetrator and the victim at the moment of the crime and, possibly, the weapon used to attack the victim. Although bloodstain-pattern analysis can be complex, the basics that law enforcement officers need to learn can be mastered in an 8-hour course. There are many important reasons an officer should be familiar with bloodstain-pattern analysis. For example, knowledgeable officers would know when to call in an expert to analyze the bloodstains at the scene and would also know how to properly document the evidence for later analysis. Documenting the evidence properly, which involves taking photographs and measurements at the scene, is vitally important to the analysis phase; without proper documentation and photographs, experts cannot offer information about the crime. The author discusses photographic procedures for the documentation of bloodstain-patterns and underscores the importance of collecting suspects’ clothing for close analysis of hidden bloodstains. It is also important for officers to be familiar with court evidence rules so that the requirements of the court can be met in terms of bloodstain evidence and documentation. Contact information is provided for additional information. Exhibits