What is Crime Busters?
Crime Busters is a Division B event where middle school teams analyze evidence from a crime scenario — often powders, plastics, fibers, hair, chromatography, fingerprints, and other materials listed in the rules. The goal is to identify unknowns carefully and use those results to figure out what happened. It’s a great intro to lab procedure and logical case-building.
What’s usually included
Evidence types
- Unknown powders and qualitative tests
- Plastics, fibers, and chromatography
- Fingerprints and matching basics
- Other evidence listed for the season
How to prepare
- Make a one-page methods sheet for each analysis
- Practice identifying unknowns with a partner
- Write short conclusions that cite your evidence
- Read the current Div B rules before every invitational
Don’t rush the first powder test of the day. Clean technique early prevents cascading mistakes later in the packet.
Practice tests
Crime Busters practice pack
Practice tests + answer keys (PDF) in one Google Drive folder — scenarios, lab IDs, image-based hair/fiber/print questions, and analysis sections.
Open Drive folder →Rules, wiki & more practice
Official rules
Current Crime Busters event page from SOINC.
SOINC Crime Busters →Rules manuals
Full Division B manual for your season.
SOINC →Scioly wiki
Study lists, techniques, and event notes.
Wiki: Crime Busters →Test exchange
Past tests for practice under time.
Scioly tests →SciOly Tutor videos
Investigation skills and study strategy.
YouTube →