Bayes Factors for Forensic Decision Analyses with R provides a self-contained introduction to computational Bayesian statistics using R. With its primary focus on Bayes factors supported by data sets, this book features an operational perspective, practical relevance, and applicability-keeping theoretical and philosophical justifications limited. It offers a balanced approach to three naturally interrelated topics: Probabilistic Inference - Relies on the core concept of Bayesian inferential statistics, to help practicing forensic scientists in the logical and balanced evaluation of the weight of evidence. Decision Making - Features how Bayes factors are interpreted in practical applications to help address questions of decision analysis involving the use of forensic science in the law. Operational Relevance - Combines inference and decision, backed up with practical examples and complete sample code in R, including sensitivity analyses and discussion on how to interpret results in context. Over the past decades, probabilistic methods have established a firm position as a reference approach for the management of uncertainty in virtually all areas of science, including forensic science, with Bayes' theorem providing the fundamental logical tenet for assessing how new information-scientific evidence-ought to be weighed. Central to this approach is the Bayes factor, which clarifies the evidential meaning of new information, by providing a measure of the change in the odds in favor of a proposition of interest, when going from the prior to the posterior distribution. Bayes factors should guide the scientist's thinking about the value of scientific evidence and form the basis of logical and balanced reporting practices, thus representing essential foundations for rational decision making under uncertainty. This book would be relevant to students, practitioners, and applied statisticians interested in inference and decision analyses in the critical field of forensic science. It could be used to support practical courses on Bayesian statistics and decision theory at both undergraduate and graduate levels, and will be of equal interest to forensic scientists and practitioners of Bayesian statistics for driving their evaluations and the use of R for their purposes. This book is Open Access.

Guns 360 takes a comprehensive and common-sense approach to some of the most difficult issues facing not only the criminal justice system but also society as a whole: firearm possession, regulation, and control. Issues related to firearms cut across all dimensions of society and are a concern to everyone from the members of the general public, law enforcement, academics, politicians, public health agencies, and the media. An interdisciplinary approach is needed to fully understand and appreciate the many facets related to firearms. Firearm related issues cover more than mere ownership and possession. School shootings and mass shootings dominate the headlines and cause fear for both parents and students. Firearm regulation and licensing divide politicians and create solid one issue voting blocks. Firearms used in domestic violence incidents and weapons owned and used by the mentally ill generate more victims than solutions. The marketing, messaging, and purchasing of firearms are all shaped by a variety of criminological, sociological, and psychological forces used to influence commercial behavior. This book combines academics in the fields of criminology, psychology, sociology, philosophy, economics, communications with practical experts with law enforcement, military, management, forensics, public health, medicine, and digital forensics backgrounds. This multidisciplinary approach has been brought together to further our understanding of firearms and their impacts on our society from every angle. Firearms will never disappear, nor will the controversy surrounding them suddenly turn into agreement. What can be accomplished however is an increased knowledge, understanding, and discussion of the complex topics involved within these dabates.

Practicing Forensic Criminology draws on examples from actual court cases and expert witness reports and testimony to demonstrate the merits and uses of substantive criminological knowledge in the applied setting of civil law and the courts. Throughout the book, the authors provide a highly readable, informative discussion of how forensic criminologists can apply their research and teaching skills to assist judges and juries in rendering legal decisions. Engaging and lively, the chapters include excerpts from forensic criminological investigations, in-depth discussions of the methodological and analytical bases of these investigations, and important lessons learned from real litigation cases. Case examples are drawn from the forensic realms of premises liability, administrative negligence, workplace violence, wrongful conviction litigation, and litigation involving police departments and corrections facilities. Well referenced and thoroughly researched, Practicing Forensic Criminology serves as an introduction to the vast and heterogeneous field of forensic social science that is rapidly changing and expanding. This unique and original book guides readers through the research work of expert witnesses working as consultants, researchers, and crime analysts and investigators. Offering expert criminological insights into litigation cases, the chapters reveal how forensic social science research can be an effective mechanism for reaching beyond the academy to influence public policy reform and legal proceedings. Practicing Forensic Criminology will appeal to a diverse audience, including social scientists, criminal justice students and researchers, expert witnesses, attorneys, judges, and students of judicial proceedings seeking to understand the value and impact of criminology in the civil court system.

THE THRILLING NEW KAY SCARPETTA MYSTERY FROM THE #1 GLOBAL BESTSELLER 'I'M STILL SEEING STARS . . . KAY SCARPETTA IS THE SAME GRUMPY, WONDERFUL, RIVETING PERSONALITY SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN AND SHE'S ONLY GETTING BETTER WITH TIME' JAMES PATTERSON Murder and mayhem. Scarpetta is back, and she's racing against the clock . . . Chief medical examiner Kay Scarpetta is the reluctant star witness in a sensational murder trial when she receives shocking news. The judge's sister has been found dead. At first glance, it appears to be a home invasion, but then why was nothing stolen, and why is the garden strewn with dead plants and insects? Although there is no apparent cause of death, Scarpetta recognizes tell-tale signs of the unthinkable, and she knows the worst is yet to come. The forensic pathologist finds herself pitted against a powerful force that returns her to the past, and her time to catch the killer is running out . . . 'RIVETING' THE TIMES 'CORNWELL'S ON BLISTERING FORM AND THIS ABSORBING THRILLER WILL KEEP YOU HOOKED' SUN 'CORNWELL KNOWS HOW TO CRAFT A MEAN PAGE-TURNER AND LIVID IS NO EXCEPTION' TELEGRAPH 'ONE OF THE BEST CRIME WRITERS WRITING TODAY' GUARDIAN 'GRIPPING . . . SOUND THE KLAXON, DR KAY SCARPETTA IS BACK' HEAT 'SCARPETTA'S 26TH OUTING AND THE PLOTTING REMAINS EVERY BIT AS FRESH AS WHEN WE WERE INTRODUCED TO HER' BELFAST TELEGRAPH 'ASTONISHING . . . THIRTY YEARS ON, THERE'S STILL NO OTHER CRIME WRITER LIKE HER' SUNDAY TIMES

This book explores how forensic psychology has come to inhabit a central unifying discursive presence in the life world of modern carceral institutions. Providing a sociological and qualitative account of forensic practitioner psychologists, the author looks both in, and alongside, the work of such practitioners to explore how they simultaneously occupy positions of power and vulnerability. Focusing not only on how practitioners themselves come to embody a pervasive system of disciplinary expertise, but also on how they experience other forms of penal control, the book offers a novel and complete exploration of forensic psychology, the modern prison, and power. This is an accessible text for prison practitioners, criminological and sociological researchers and forensic psychologists on the nature and reality of forensic psychological practice in the contemporary prisons of England and Wales.

This textbook provides an introduction to digital forensics, a rapidly evolving field for solving crimes. Beginning with the basic concepts of computer forensics, each of the book's 21 chapters focuses on a particular forensic topic composed of two parts: background knowledge and hands-on experience through practice exercises. Each theoretical or background section concludes with a series of review questions, which are prepared to test students' understanding of the materials, while the practice exercises are intended to afford students the opportunity to apply the concepts introduced in the section on background knowledge. This experience-oriented textbook is meant to assist students in gaining a better understanding of digital forensics through hands-on practice in collecting and preserving digital evidence by completing various exercises. With 20 student-directed, inquiry-based practice exercises, students will better understand digital forensic concepts and learn digital forensic investigation techniques. This textbook is intended for upper undergraduate and graduate-level students who are taking digital-forensic related courses or working in digital forensics research. It can also be used by digital forensics practitioners, IT security analysts, and security engineers working in the IT security industry, particular IT professionals responsible for digital investigation and incident handling or researchers working in these related fields as a reference book.

Updating and expanding the coverage of the first Edition, this book provides a chemical background to domestic and international controls on substances of misuse. In the United Kingdom, structure-specific (generic) controls have been further developed in the past 13 years and now cover 17 groups of compounds. The focus of those controls has been on new psychoactive substances (NPS). Since 1997, over 800 NPS have been reported to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drugs Addiction. International generic and analogue controls are described together with a critical review of their effectiveness. Other, established, drugs are described as well as a large group of psychoactive substances that are not scheduled by the International Conventions This book has general appeal to those needing information on illicit drugs including forensic scientists, lawyers, law enforcement agencies, drug regulatory authorities as well as graduate and postgraduate students of chemistry and the criminal law. The chapters are supported by chemical structures, numerous tables and charts, appendices, a glossary and a bibliography. This unique book is a valuable addition to the literature in this area and will be of great assistance to those studying this topic.

Quantitative Anthropology: A Workbook contributes an anthropological perspective to quantitative methods. The book's authors address characteristics of quantitative data, entering and manipulating data in SPSS, graphical displays, distributions and measures of central tendency and dispersion, and including hypothesis testing with both parametric and nonparametric statistical tests. Increasingly complex exercises build on cumulative learning from chapter to chapter and stress the application of methods beyond coursework. The focus of the manual is on univariate statistical analysis, and the book is written to be accessible to higher level undergraduate students and graduate students in all fields of anthropology.

3D Data Acquisition for Bioarchaeology, Forensic Anthropology, and Archaeology serves as a handbook for the collection and processing of 3-D scanned data and as a tool for scholars interested in pursuing research projects with 3-D models. The book's chapters enhance the reader's understanding of the technology by covering virtual model processing protocols, alignment methods, actual data acquisition techniques, basic technological protocols, and considerations of variation in research design associated with biological anthropology and archaeology.

Homicide examines the incidence and prevalence of homicide in major western nations, covering the biological, psychological and social roots of homicide from genetic and evolutionary perspectives, but also considering emotions and the influence of peers. Different types of homicide are discussed, with final chapters covering tactics for investigation and homicide prevention. Students and instructors in the areas of forensic science, sociology, criminology, psychology, psychiatry, justice and criminal justice at the university level will find this book to be a comprehensive resource, as will those researching homicide and related topics.

"Alternate Light Source Imaging" provides a brief guide to digital imaging using reflected infrared and ultraviolet radiation for crime scene photographers. Clear and concise instruction illustrates how toaccomplish good photographs in a variety of forensic situations. It demonstrates how tunable wavelength light sources and digital imaging techniques can be used to successfully locate and document physical evidence at the crime scene, in the morgue, or in the laboratory. The scientific principles that make this type of photography possible are described, followed by the basic steps that can be utilized to capture high quality evidentiary photographs.

About the Forensic Studies for Criminal Justice Series: The Forensic Studies for Criminal Justice series consists of short-format content on new developments, unique perspectives, or how-to information on areas in forensic science all specifically designed to meet the needs of the criminal justice community. Instructors wishing to provide their students with more in-depth coverage on certain forensic areas can add these digestible, inexpensive works to their syllabi without having to completely redesign their course, introduce overly complex material, or financially overburden their students. Law enforcement and other criminal justice professionals will find a wealth of valuable information to improve training sessions. Written by experts in the disciplines they are covering and edited by a senior scholar in criminal justice, Forensic Studies for Criminal Justice opens up the world of forensic science to the criminal justice community.
Part of a new Anderson series presenting brief works on forensic science, written especially for students and law enforcementClear, concise instruction on the fundamentals of alternate light source imagingCovers a variety of crime scene situationsFull-color images"

Forensic science has been under scrutiny for some time, since the release of the NAS report in 2009. The report cited the need for standardized practices and the accreditation of crime labs. No longer can the forensic community take the position that cross-examination in a courtroom will expose weaknesses in methodology and execution. Quality Management in Forensic Science covers a wide spectrum of forensic disciplines, relevant ISO and non-ISO standards, accreditation and quality management systems necessary in any forensic science laboratory. Written by a globally well-respected forensic scientist with decades of experience in the forensic science laboratory and on the stand, as an expert witness who is also a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences. This book will be a must-have resource for all forensic science stakeholders, particularly law enforcement agents and lawyers less familiar with the impact of quality management on the reliability of scientific evidence.

The book explores the fundamental principles, advances in forensic techniques, and its application on forensic DNA analysis. The book is divided into three modules; the first module provides the historical prospect of forensic DNA typing and introduces fundamentals of forensic DNA typing, methodology, and technical advancements, application of STRs, and DNA databases for forensic DNA profile analysis. Module 2 examines the problems and challenges encountered in extracting DNA and generating DNA profiles. It provides information on the methods and the best practices for DNA isolation from forensic biological samples and human remains like ancient DNA, DNA typing of skeletal remains and disaster victim identification, the importance of DNA typing in human trafficking, and various problems associated with capillary electrophoresis. Module 3 emphasizes various technologies that are based on SNPs, STRs namely Y-STR, X-STR, mitochondrial DNA profiling in forensic science. Module 4 explores the application of non-human forensic DNA typing of domestic animals, wildlife forensics, plant DNA fingerprinting, and microbial forensics. The last module discusses new areas and alternative methods in forensic DNA typing, including Next-Generation Sequencing, and its utility in forensic science, oral microbes, and forensic DNA phenotyping. Given its scope, the book is a useful resource in the field of DNA fingerprinting for scientists, forensic experts, and students at the postgraduate level.

Age Estimation: A Multidisciplinary Approach is the only reference in the field covering all techniques and methods involving age estimation from different perspectives in just one volume. The book provides comprehensive coverage of all aspects of age estimation: aging the living and the dead, human rights, and skeletal, dental, histological and biochemical techniques and methods available. Each chapter is written by internationally known expert contributors. Age Estimation: A Multidisciplinary Approach is a one of a kind resource for those involved in estimating the age of the living and the dead.

This book presents an approach to postmortem human identification using dental image processing based on dental features and characteristics, and provides information on various identification systems based on dental features using image processing operations. The book also provides information on a novel human identification approach that uses Infinite Symmetric Exponential Filter (ISEF) based edge detection and contouring algorithms. Provides complete details on dental imaging; Discusses the important features of a human identification approach and presents a brief review on DICOM standard for dental imaging; Presents human identification approach based on dental features.

Child Abuse and Neglect: Forensic Issues in Evidence, Impact and Management provides an overview of all aspects of child abuse and neglect, approaching the topic. from several viewpoints. First, child abuse is considered from both victimization and offending perspectives, and although empirical scholarship informs much of the content, there is applied material from international experts and practitioners in the field-from policing, to child safety and intelligence. The content is presented to align with university semester timetables in three parts, including 1) Typologies, methods and platforms for abuse, 2) Impacts and prevention, and (3) Issues surrounding recognition and management of child abuse. This book fills a void in the available university-level classroom-targeted literature, promoting the inclusion of child abuse as a standalone subject within university curricula. As such, readership includes undergraduate and postgraduate students, teachers and wider scholarship, as well as practitioners; including those from psychology, criminology, criminal justice and law enforcement.

• Covers all aspects of why CBRN studies should be integrated into police education. • Provides guidance on teaching aspects of police education and practical information on scene sampling and chain of custody principles. • The first book to focus on why police need CBRN training to act effectively as first responders to incidents in the community.

A Hands-On Introduction to Forensic Science, Second Edition continues in the tradition of the first edition taking a wholly unique approach to teaching forensic science. Each chapter begins with a brief, fictional narrative that runs through the entire book; it is a crime fiction narrative that describes the interaction of a veteran homicide detective teamed with a criminalist and the journey they take together to solve a missing persons case. Step-by-step the book progressive reveals pieces of information about the crime, followed by the more traditional presentation of scientific principles and concepts on a given forensic topics. Each chapter concludes with a series of user friendly, cost effective, hands-on lab activities that provide the students the skills necessary to analyze the evidence presented in each chapters. The new edition is completely updated with special focus on new DNA techniques in DNA sequencing, DNA phenotyping, and bioinformatics. Students will engage in solving a missing persons case by documenting the crime scene, analyzing physical evidence in the lab, and presenting findings in a mock trial setting. Within the chapters themselves, students learn about the technical, forensic concepts presented within each of the opening stories segments. The book culminates with having the students playing to role of the main characters in a trial-attorneys, scientific experts, suspect, judge, bailiff, and jury-to present and judge the evidence in a mock trial setting. The mock trial will mimic what takes place in a real courtroom, and the jury of swill be asked to deliberate on the evidence presented to determine the guilt or innocence of the suspect.

An essential foundation for the practice of forensic anthropology

This text is the first of its level written in more than twenty years. It serves as a summary and guide to the core material that needs to be mastered and evaluated for the practice of forensic anthropology.

The text is divided into three parts that collectively provide a solid base in theory and methodology: Part One, "Background Setting for Forensic Anthropology," introduces the field and discusses the role of forensic anthropology in historic context. Part Two, "Towards Personal Identification," discusses initial assessments of skeletal remains; determining sex, age, ancestral background, and stature; and skeletal markers of activity and life history. Part Three, "Principal Anthropological Roles in Medical-Legal Investigation," examines trauma; the postmortem period; professionalism, ethics, and the expert witness; and genetics and DNA.

The critical and evaluative approach to the primary literature stresses the inherent biological constraints on degrees of precision and certainty, and cautions about potential pitfalls. The practical focus, coupled with theoretical basics, make "Fundamentals of Forensic Anthropology" ideal for upper-level undergraduates and graduate students in biological anthropology as well as forensic scientists in allied fields of medical-legal investigation.

Defines the term "cognitive evidence" and describes the process for retrieving reliable evidence in a way that maintains integrity throughout the interviewing process Outlines guidance on developing a mindful—rather than prescriptive or rote—approaches to conducting eyewitness interviews Provides guidance for analyzing interviews and improving the interview process Presents specific procedures to interview an eyewitness for a criminal event for both victims and witnesses

Unlike other books, courses and training that expect an analyst to piece together individual instructions into a cohesive investigation, Investigating Windows Systems provides a walk-through of the analysis process, with descriptions of the thought process and analysis decisions along the way. Investigating Windows Systems will not address topics which have been covered in other books, but will expect the reader to have some ability to discover the detailed usage of tools and to perform their own research. The focus of this volume is to provide a walk-through of the analysis process, with descriptions of the thought process and the analysis decisions made along the way. A must-have guide for those in the field of digital forensic analysis and incident response.

Forensic Biomechanics and Human Injury: Criminal and Civil Applications - An Engineering Approach provides a concise, comprehensive overview of human anatomy and the biomechanical factors involved in human injury. It describes the methodologies used to compute the various forces, stresses, and energies required to injure the human body. The book covers the theoretical mathematics behind understanding how injuries occur, classifying certain types of injuries, age and biomechanical factors, impact loading, injury investigation, and the importance of expert witnesses and testimony in civil and criminal cases. It contains a significant number of sizes of all the pertinent materials in the human body, classified by age, sex, and in some instances by race, as well as stress-strain curves and tables of the strengths of these materials. Forensic Biomechanics and Human Injury provides a valuable source of information with tools to help the professional determine the nature of injuries, understand the implications of accidents, and the calculations that go into determining such things for both civil and criminal investigations.