Remote Sensing Technology in Forensic Investigations provides a basic understanding of concepts involved in the use of basic geophysical surveying, metal detectors, magnetics, electromagnetics and ground penetrating radar in police and forensic investigations. Such technology can be vital in locating clandestine, buried evidence which is often concealed in the subsurface underground. Crime scene investigation and evidence collection entails locating, identifying, collecting, and cataloging. Such physical evidence searches are time consuming and can often lead to searches that require excavations, which in itself that can destroy evidence. The noninvasive, nondestructive methods outlined in this book can both reduce the time spent on searches and excavations, thereby increasing the probability of locating vital physical evidence. As such, the application of remote sensing methods has gained increased acceptance, and seen increased usage, by investigators. Remote sensing methods are based on making indirect measurements of the surface of and within the earth. The resulting measurement information can be presented in either an imaging format- such as in aerial photography-or a non-imaging format, such as in a profile or contour map. These measurements can be interpreted to identify and characterize contrasts due to differences in physical and natural properties of the materials being studied. This can include physical evidence, remains, and clandestine graves. This book will serve as a handy introductory primer to the technology, techniques, and application of such techniques. Throughout, numerous references and additional resources are provided for those investigators, forensic anthropology, and police professionals who want further information on the technology's usage for investigative purposes.

Part autobiography, part thought piece, part references, the book takes an insightful look at the experience and cases of renowned paediatrician and forensic expert witness Dr. Charles Ferguson. The book presents the interaction of science and law as it applies, specifically, the Canadian courts, but the justice process as a whole. Dr. Ferguson's experience-from a scientist and medical professional's perspective-in dealing with lawyers, judges, and the process of testifying in numerous court-offers a unique glimpse into how the two worlds of science and law don't always mesh. In some cases the evidence is compelling and definitive. In others, far from it. Ultimately, the book presents the important role of the forensic expert and expert witness as a vital and deciding factor as the courtroom proceedings play out. The cases presented in the book-cases Dr. Ferguson was personally involved with-are interesting, the conclusions and results arrived at by Dr. Ferguson are well thought out and backed by his scientific expertise. The results and conclusions arrived at by the courts is often expected, sometimes surprising-in specific cases even controversial. Throughout all, Dr. Ferguson casts an independent, and sometimes critical, eye on the process presenting a compelling argument and heartfelt recommendation for science, objectivity, and justice to be served based on truth-truth insofar as the "facts" of the cases presented through evidence and the testimony provided within the judicial process. A fascinating read for university students, experts and witnesses, lawyers and judges, and anyone involved in the forensic process in the trying of criminal and civil cases.

An Updated Edition Of The Definitive Computer Forensics Text Updated To Include The Most Current Events And Information On Cyberterrorism, The Second Edition Of Computer Forensics: Cybercriminals, Laws, And Evidence Continues To Balance Technicality And Legal Analysis As It Enters Into The World Of Cybercrime By Exploring What It Is, How It Is Investigated, And The Regulatory Laws Around The Collection And Use Of Electronic Evidence. Students Are Introduced To The Technology Involved In Computer Forensic Investigations And The Technical And Legal Difficulties Involved In Searching, Extracting, Maintaining, And Storing Electronic Evidence, While Simultaneously Looking At The Legal Implications Of Such Investigations And The Rules Of Legal Procedure Relevant To Electronic Evidence. Significant And Current Computer Forensic Developments Are Examined, As Well As The Implications For A Variety Of Fields Including Computer Science, Security, Criminology, Law, Public Policy, And Administration.

Winner of the Gold Dagger Award
A fascinating true crime story that details the rise of modern forensics and the development of modern criminal investigation.
At the end of the nineteenth century, serial murderer Joseph Vacher terrorized the French countryside, eluding authorities for years, and murdering twice as many victims as Jack The Ripper. Here, Douglas Starr revisits Vacher's infamous crime wave, interweaving the story of the two men who eventually stopped him--prosecutor Emile Fourquet and Dr. Alexandre Lacassagne, the era's most renowned criminologist. In dramatic detail, Starr shows how Lacassagne and his colleagues were developing forensic science as we know it. Building to a gripping courtroom denouement, "The Killer of Little Shepherds "is a riveting contribution to the history of criminal justice.

Forensic Science in Court explores the legal implications of forensic science an increasingly important and complex part of the justice system. Judge Donald Shelton provides an accessible overview of the legal aissues, from the history of evidence in court, to "gatekeeper" judges determining what evidence can be allowed, to the "CSI effect" in juries. The book describes and evaluates various kinds of evidence, including DNA, fingerprints, handwriting, hair, bite marks, tool marks, firearms and bullets, fire and arson investigation, and bloodstain evidence. Assessing the strengths and limitations of each kind of evidence, the author also discusses how they can contribute to identifying the "who," "how," and "whether" questions that arise in criminal prosecutions. Author Donald Shelton draws on the depth of his experiences as courtroom prosecutor, professor, and judge, to provide a well-rounded look at these increasingly critical issues. Case studies throughout help bring the issues to life and show how forensic science has been used, both successfully and not, in real-world situations.

Gathering the core topics of forensic science into one comprehensive volume and providing an overview of each, ""Encyclopedia of Forensic Science, Revised Edition"" is a revised and expanded version of the award-winning original with approximately 650 entries, more than 80 new to this edition. More than 12 essays are interspersed throughout this reliable A-to-Z reference, describing how forensic science relates to areas such as drug testing in sports, privacy concerns, misconceptions about forensic science, and the interface of forensic engineering and forensic science. The encyclopedia is richly illustrated with more than 200 black-and-white photographs and illustrations, plus a full-color insert containing photographs with depictions of firearms, tool marks, and DNA analysis. Most of the photographs were supplied by working forensic scientists in many different organizations.With updated appendixes aiding further research, this essential revised edition will remain the ultimate primer in the subject of forensic science for high school and college students alike. New and revised entries include: Accidental characteristics; Airplane crashes; Alchemy; Anthropology, forensic; Birch Method; Bloodstain patterns; Robert Boyle; Color and colorants; Crime labs (forensic labs); CSI and CSI effect; DNA wars; Dust analysis; Environmental forensics; Explosive power; Glove prints; Jack the Ripper; Lindbergh kidnapping; Madrid bombings; Albertus Magnus; Oaths and ordeals; Sir William Brooke O'Shaughnessy; Paracelsus; Rigor mortis; Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP); Skeletal identification; Sir Bernard Spilsbury; Vinland Map; and, Zwikker test.

From TV's "CSI "to bestsellers by Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs, interest in forensics is at an all-time high. Now one of our most respected forensic pathologists gives a behind-the-scenes look at eleven of his most notorious cases, cracked by scientific analysis and Sherlock Holmesian deduction.
As chief medical examiner of Rockland County, New York, for almost thirty-five years, Dr. Frederick Zugibe literally wrote the book on the subject--his widely used textbook is considered the definitive text. Over the years he has pioneered countless innovations, including the invention of a formula to soften mummified fingers--enabling fingerprinting, and thus identification, of a long-deceased victim. He has appeared as an expert hundreds of times in the media and in the courtroom--and not once has a jury failed to accept his testimony over opposing expert witnesses. And now, in "Dissecting Death," he has opened the door to the world of forensic pathology in all its gruesome and fascinating mystery.
Dr. Zugibe takes us through the process all good pathologists follow, using eleven of his most challenging cases. With him, we visit the often grisly--though sometimes shockingly banal--crime scene. We inspect the body, palpate the wounds, search for clues in the hair and skin. We employ ultraviolet light, strange measuring devices, optical instruments. We see how a forensic pathologist determines the hour of death, the type of weapon used, the killer's escape route. And then we enter the lab, the world of high-tech criminal detection: DNA testing, fingerprinting, gunshot patterns, dental patterns, X-rays.
But not every case ends in a conviction, and in a closing chapter Dr. Zugibe examines some recent high-profile cases in which blunders led to killers going free, either because the wrong party was brought to trial or because the evidence presented didn't do the trick--including Jon-Benet Ramsey's murder and, of course, the O.J. Simpson trial.

In missing and unidentified investigations, an abyss of dissonance seems to exist between law enforcement and the community they serve that all too often creates grating wounds that may never heal. Utilizing Forensic Technologies for Unidentified Human Remains: Death Investigation Resources, Strategies, and Disconnects bridges this abyss. This is the first book that provides comprehensive coverage of the tools for forensic, law enforcement, and investigative professionals to explain how to utilize the vast repositories of online databases of evidence that can help investigators solve cold cases. Bringing together crucial information in a single, non-technical resource, the book reviews the use of the NCIC, CODIS, NamUs, IDENT, IAFIS, and NDIR databases. It employs a cross-disciplinary approach to forensic evidence and includes dozens of examples where these techniques have concluded in positive results. The book presents the material in a blended medium of both conceptual and nonfiction environments so that students, educators, investigators, families, and the public at large can easily understand. It includes dozens of examples that illustrate cases where current databases and investigative tools have yielded positive identification results. Helping to unite families and law enforcement, this book will assuage future dissonance through understanding and transparency. After reading this book, you will gain the understanding required to develop effective strategies for the investigation of unresolved cases with a deep sense of purpose for both family and law enforcement.

An accessible guide for students across a variety of disciplines who are studying forensic evidence throughout the criminal justice system. Containing up to date and classic case studies, photos and examples, it assumes no prior scientific knowledge to ensure the discussion is clear but comprehensive.

Forensic Analysis of Tattoos and Tattoo Inks is the single most comprehensive resource on the analysis of tattoo inks and use of tattoos as a tool in forensic investigations and criminalistics. The book begins with a history of tattoos and tattoo inks, and covers the use of tattoos throughout time as aids in the identification of individuals. It presents identification methods of identification through tattoos on charred, decomposed, mummified, or otherwise unidentifiable remains in both criminal investigations and mass disasters. This book provides an understanding of the process of tattooing and the roles of tattoos in criminological inquiry and legal matters. It scientifically evaluates tattoo inks, documenting the physical properties of the inks both macroscopically and microscopically as well as spectroscopically-identifying the optical and chemical properties of the various pigments found in these inks. A thorough analytical method is developed to conform to current laboratory accreditation standards and the satisfaction of legal standards such as Frye, Daubert and the Federal Rules of Evidence. Forensic Analysis of Tattoos and Inks shows how routine scientific inquiry can be applied to tattoo evidence by adding an objective component to interpretation, identification, and individualization of tattoos and tattoo inks in investigations. It presents the science and chemistry of tattoos and tattoo inks as a reliable tool in forensic casework and other related criminal and legal matters.

Designed as an introduction and overview to the field, Cyber Forensics: A Field Manual for Collecting, Examining, and Preserving Evidence of Computer Crimes, Second Edition integrates theory and practice to present the policies, procedures, methodologies, and legal ramifications and implications of a cyber forensic investigation. The authors guide you step-by-step through the basics of investigation and introduce the tools and procedures required to legally seize and forensically evaluate a suspect machine. Updating and expanding information on concealment techniques, new technologies, hardware, software, and relevant new legislation, this second edition delineates the scope and goals of cyber forensics to reveal and track legal and illegal activity. Beginning with an introduction and definition of cyber forensics, chapters explain the rules of evidence and chain of custody in maintaining legally valid electronic evidence. They describe how to begin an investigation and employ investigative methodology, as well as establish standard operating procedures for the field and cyber forensic laboratory. The authors provide an in depth examination of the manipulation of technology to conceal illegal activities and the use of cyber forensics to uncover them. They discuss topics and issues such as conducting a cyber forensic investigation within both the local and federal legal framework, and evaluating the current data security and integrity exposure of multifunctional devices. Cyber Forensics includes details and tips on taking control of a suspect computer or PDA and its "operating" environment, mitigating potential exposures and risks to chain of custody, and establishing and following a flowchart for the seizure of electronic evidence. An extensive list of appendices include websites, organizations, pertinent legislation, further readings, best practice recommendations, more information on hardware and software, and a recap of the federal rules of civil procedure.

Automated Ballistic Identification Systems provides a comprehensive reference to automated ballistics identification, detailing for forensic specialists what automated systems and instruments are available, how they work and what they are best used for. As the primary duties of a Firearm and Tool Mark Examiner are to identify, collect, preserve, examine and interpret the ballistic evidence associated with criminal acts, this is an ideal reference that not only includes tactics on how to properly use optical, electronic, measurement and analytical instruments to process and analyze evidence, but also discusses the limitations of said instruments.

FORENSIC SCIENCE: ADVANCED INVESTIGATIONS, COPYRIGHT UPDATE, 1E is part of a comprehensive course offering as a second-level high school course in forensic science, a course area in which students have the opportunity to expand their knowledge of chemistry, biology, physics, earth science, math, and psychology, as well as associate this knowledge with real-life applications. This text builds on concepts introduced in FORENSIC SCIENCE: FUNDAMENTALS & INVESTIGATIONS, as well as introduces additional topics, such as arson and explosions. Following the same solid instructional design as the FUNDAMENTALS & INVESTIGATIONS text, the book balances extensive scientific concepts with hands-on classroom and lab activities, readings, intriguing case studies, and chapter-opening scenarios. The book's exclusive Gale Forensic Science eCollection (TM) database provides instant access to hundreds of articles and Internet resources that spark student interest and extend learning beyond the book. Comprehensive, time-saving teacher support and lab activities deliver exactly what you need to ensure that students receive a solid, complete science education that keeps readers at all learning levels enthused about science. This two-book series provides a solution that is engaging, contemporary, and specifically designed for high school students. Instructors can be confident that the program has been written by high school forensic science instructors with their unique needs in mind, including content tied to the national and state science standards they are accountable to teaching. The update has a new chapter on Digital Responsibility and Social Networking. FORENSIC SCIENCE: ADVANCED INVESTIGATIONS, COPYRIGHT UPDATE, 1E sets the standard in high school forensic science . . . case closed.