Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques (4th Edition)

Description

Covering a range of fundamental topics essential to modern forensic investigation, the fourth edition of the landmark text Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques presents contributions from experts in the field who discuss case studies from their own personal files. Designed for a single-term course at the lower undergraduate level, the book begins by discussing the intersection of law and forensic science, how things become evidence, and how courts decide if an item or testimony should be admissible. It takes the evidence from crime scene investigation into laboratory analysis and even onto the autopsy table for the fullest breadth of subject matter of any forensic text available. Topics include · Forensic anthropology and the role of entomology in a death investigation · Death investigation, including identifying the cause, manner, mechanism, and time of death · Bloodstain pattern analysis, the identification of blood and body fluids, the work of forensic toxicologists, and seized drug analysis · The history and development of DNA typing and the many ways it can be used · Fingerprint, firearm and ballistic, tool mark, tread impression, and trace evidence · The forensic analysis of questioned documents and computers · Arson, fire, explosives, and the work of forensic engineers in vehicular accidents and structural collapses · Forensic psychology and psychiatry, including criminal profiling · The future of forensic science Going beyond theory to application, this text incorporates the wisdom of forensic practitioners who discuss the real cases they have investigated. Color-coded sidebars in each chapter provide historical notes, case studies, and current events as well as advice for career advancement. Each section and each chapter begins with an overview and ends with a summary, and key terms, review questions, and up-to-date references are provided. Appropriate for any sensibility, more than 300 photos from real cases give students a true-to-life learning experience. Cover Back Cover Title Contents Foreword to the Fourth Edition Editors Contributors I: Setting the Stage 1. Justice and Science 1.1 A Brief History of Forensic Science 1.2 Science and the Law Today 1.3 Modern Practice of Forensic Science 1.4 Types of Legal Proceedings 1.5 Ethics and Forensic Science 1.6 Review Material 1.7 References and Further Reading 2. Evidence: Origins, Types, and Admissibility 2.1 Rules of Evidence 2.2 Admissibility of Evidence 2.3 Categories of Evidence 2.4 Review Material 2.5 References and Further Reading Section I Summary II: The Crime Scene 3. Crime Scene Investigation 3.1 Defining the Crime Scene 3.2 Uses for and Information from Physical Evidence in Criminal Investigations 3.3 General Crime Scene Procedures 3.4 Crime Scene Documentation and Forensic Photography 3.5 Collection and Preservation of Physical Evidence 3.6 Crime Scene Reconstruction 3.7 Review Material 3.8 References and Further Reading 4. Bloodstain Patterns 4.1 Bloodstain Pattern Evidence 4.2 History of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis 4.3 Properties of Human Blood 4.4 Formation of Bloodstains and Bloodstain Patterns 4.5 Altered Bloodstains 4.6 Analysis of Bloodstains on Clothing and Footwear 4.7 Documentation of Bloodstain Evidence 4.8 Absence of Evidence is Not Evidence of Absence 4.9 Scientific Working Group on Bloodstain Pattern Analysis: Recommended Terminology 4.10 Review Material 4.11 References and Further Reading Section II Summary III: Forensic Death Investigation 5. Death Investigation 5.1 Systems of Death Investigation 5.2 Investigation of Death 5.3 Tools of Death Investigation 5.4 Autopsy 5.5 Investigation of Traumatic Death 5.6 Review Material: Key Concepts and Questions 5.7 References and Further Reading 6. Forensic Anthropology 6.1 Defining Forensic Anthropology 6.2 Forensic Anthropology as a Profession 6.3 Locating Human Remains 6.4 Recovering Remains 6.5 Are They Human? 6.6 Are They of Forensic Importance? 6.7 Taphonomic Assessment of the Body in its Environment 6.8 Soft Tissue Examination and Processing 6.9 Developing a Biological Profile 6.10 Identification 6.11 Trauma 6.12 Documentation and Testimony 6.13 Review Material 6.14 References and Further Reading 7. Forensic Entomology 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Estimating Minimum Elapsed Time Since Death 7.3 Other Uses for Insects in Death Investigations 7.4 The Use of Insects in Investigating Wildlife or Pet Animal Crimes 7.5 Challenges to Forensic Entomology 7.6 Review Material: Key Concepts and Questions 7.7 References and Further Reading Section III Summary IV: Forensic Biology 8. Identification of Blood and Body Fluids 8.1 Forensic Serology 8.2 Blood 8.3 Seminal Fluid 8.4 Saliva 8.5 Other Body Fluids 8.6 Review Material: Key Concepts and Questions 8.7 References and Further Reading 9. DNA Typing 9.1 Inheritance of DNA Characteristics 9.2 How DNA Made it into the Courts 9.3 DNA Typing 9.4 Short Tandem Repeats 9.5 Mitochondrial DNA 9.6 Y-Chromosome Short Tandem Repeats 9.7 Review Material: Key Concepts and Questions 9.8 References and Further Reading Section IV Summary V: Forensic Chemistry 10. Forensic Toxicology 10.1 Drugs and Poisons as Biological Evidence 10.2 Applications of Forensic Toxicology 10.3 Drugs in the Body 10.4 Drug and Poison Classes 10. 5 Nonmedicinal Agents 10.6 Analytical Methods in Forensic Toxicology 10.7 Metal Analyses 10.8 Interpreting Drug Findings 10.9 Review Material 10.10 References and Further Reading 11. Seized Drug Analysis 11.1 Drugs and the Controlled Substances Act 11.2 Scope of Seized Drug Analysis 11.3 Analytical Methods and Standards of Analysis 11.4 Analysis of Plant Matter 11.5 Chemical Examinations 11.6 Instrumental Examinations and IR Spectroscopy 11.7 Clandestine Drug Laboratories 11.8 Review Material 11.9 References and Further Reading 12. Arson, Fire, and Explosives 12.1 Chemistry of Fire or Explosion 12.2 Behavior of Fire 12.3 Origin and Cause Analysis 12.4 Accelerants 12.5 Fatal Fire Investigation 12.6 Collection of Fire Debris Evidence 12.7 Analysis of Fire Debris Evidence 12.8 Explosives 12.9 Review Material: Key Concepts and Questions 12.10 References and Further Reading Section V Summary VI: Pattern and Impression Evidence 13. Fingerprints 13.1 Fingerprints as a Means of Identification 13.2 What Fingerprints Are 13.3 Fingerprint Patterns 13.4 History of Fingerprints 13.5 Fingerprint Classification 13.6 Computer-Based Fingerprint Files 13.7 Types of Evidentiary Fingerprints 13.8 Development of Latent Fingerprints 13.9 Recognition, Collection, and Preservation of Fingerprint Evidence 13.10 Fingerprint Identification: The Heart of the Matter 13.11 Review Material: Key Concepts and Questions 13.12 References and Further Reading 14. Firearms and Tool Marks 14.1 Firearms 14.2 Manufacture of Firearms 14.3 Firearm Ammunition 14.4 Firearm Propellants and Powders 14.5 Collection of Firearms-Related Evidence 14.6 Laboratory and Forensic Examinations of Firearms Evidence 14.7 Tool Marks 14.8 Challenges to Firearm and Tool Mark Examinations 14.9 Review Material: Key Concepts and Questions 14.10 References and Further Reading 15. Tread Impressions 15.1 Forensic Footwear Evidence 15.2 Tire Impression Evidence 15.3 Review Material: Key Concepts and Questions 15.4 References and Further Reading Section VI Summary VII: Cross- Cutting Forensic Disciplines 16. Trace Evidence 16.1 Instruments of Microanalysis and Sample Types 16.2 Microspectrophotometry: Microscopes Combined with Spectroscopic Instruments 16.3 Scanning Electron Microscopy 16.4 Microscopic Evidence and its Analysis 16.5 Review Material: Key Concepts and Questions 16.6 References and Further Reading 17. Questioned Documents 17.1 Functions of a Forensic Document Examiner 17.2 Handwriting Comparison 17.3 Alteration, Obliteration, and Ink Differentiation 17.4 Indented Writing 17.5 Photocopy and Photocopier Examination 17.6 Paper and Watermark Examination 17.7 Review Material: Key Concepts and Questions 17.8 References and Further Reading Section VII Summary VIII: Engineering and Computing 18. Forensic Engineering 18.1 Forensic Physics 18.2 Vehicular Accidents 18.3 Solution Strategies 18.4 Structural Collapses 18.5 Building Collapse Due to Impact 18.6 Review Material: Key Concepts and Questions 18.7 References and Further Reading 19. Forensic Computing 19.1 Crime Scenes with Digital and Electronic Evidence 19.2 Computers, Electronic Equipment, Devices, and Information Repositories 19.3 Initiating the Forensic Computer Investigation 19.4 Other Applications of Computers and Related Technology to Forensic Science 19.5 Review Material: Key Concepts and Questions 19.6 References and Further Reading Section VIII Summary IX: The Human Element and the Future of Forensic Science 20. Behavioral Science and Forensic Science 20.1 History and Development 20.2 Testing Tools 20.3 Forensic Applications of the Behavioral Sciences 20.4 Behavioral Science at the Crime Scene 20.5 Review Material 20.6 References and Further Reading 21. The Future of Forensic Science 21.1 Overview 21.2 Twgs and Swgs 21.3 Crime Scene Investigation 21.4 Death Investigation and Virtual Autopsy 21.5 Forensic Science Education 21.6 Review Material 21.7 References and Further Reading Section IX Summary Appendix A Appendix B