"Criminalistics Laboratory Manual" provides students who have little to no prior knowledge of forensic science with a practical crime scene processing experience. The manual starts with an original crime scene narrative, setting up the crime students are to solve. This narrative is picked up in each of the 17 forensic science lab activities, tying all forensic disciplines together to show the integrated workings of a real crime lab. The lab activities cover fingerprints, blood typing and spatter analysis, hair and fiber, digital forensics and more.

After completing all of the exercises, the student will be able to solve the homicide based on forensic evidence. Each chapter also includes an introduction to the type of forensic evidence covered, and practice exercises and key definitions prepare students for the laboratory exercise. While fitting in with the larger crime scene narrative, the individual chapters are written so that they can be used separately, giving instructors flexibility.
Original crime scene scenario engages students, drawing them into the forensic scientific process Practical, hands-on crime scene processing activities with clear, detailed instructions for how to perform each laboratory exercise Laboratory objectives, key terms, review questions, and glossary of terms keep the student focused on what s important No forensic science lab required alternative materials and equipment are suggested if a science lab is not available "

Medical Response to Child Sexual Abuse, Second Edition is specifically developed to equip physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals with the necessary tools to identify cases of child sexual abuse. This new edition is revised and updated to reflect contemporary best practices for the pediatric approach to childhood sexual abuse and effectively treat and examine sexually abused patients. Professionals who work with sexually abused children face a great challenge in not only treating the immediate outcomes of sexual abuse but also safeguarding their patients' long-term recovery. To meet their needs and the needs of those in their care, Medical Response to Child Sexual Abuse, Second Edition offers a wealth of evidence-based research and practical guidelines to the evaluation of childhood sexual abuse.

Researching Forensic Linguistics is an informative, hands-on guide to conducting research in forensic linguistics that can underpin legal and justice practices and address social justice problems involving language. Georgina Heydon takes readers step by step through the research process using case studies that draw on different types of forensic and legal language data such as police interviews, anonymous reports of sexual assault, threatening letters and justice stakeholder interviews. Each chapter is framed by a language problem arising from either forensic linguistic case work or a key issue in language and the law. Up-to-date research methods in forensic linguistics are presented, including authorship attribution using online corpora, practice-based linguistic analysis and experimental techniques. This is an ideal companion for linguists who want to apply their skills to a forensic setting, practitioners in the legal and justice fields seeking to understand how linguistic analysis can support their work, and any student undertaking research in forensic linguistics within English language, linguistics, applied linguistics and legal studies.

It was September 18, 2001, just seven days after al-Qaeda hijackers destroyed the Twin Towers. In the early morning darkness, a lone figure dropped several letters into a mailbox. Seventeen days later a Florida journalist died of inhalational anthrax. The death from the rare disease made world news. These anthrax attacks marked the first time a sophisticated biological weapon was released in the United States. It killed five people, disfigured at least 18 more, and launched the largest investigation in the FBI's history. Recounting the Anthrax Attacks explores the origins of the innovative forensics used in this case, while also explaining their historical context. R. Scott Decker's team pursued its first suspect with dogged determination before realizing that the evidence did not add up. With renewed energy, they turned to non-traditional forensics-scientific initiatives never before applied to an investigation-as they continued to hunt for clues. These advances formed the new science of microbial forensics, a novel discipline that produced critical leads when traditional methods failed. The new technologies helped identify a second suspect-one who possessed the knowledge and skills to unleash a living weapon of mass destruction. Decker provides the first inside look at how the investigation was conducted, highlighting dramatic turning points as the case progressed until its final solution. Join FBI agents as they race against terror and the ultimate insider threat-a decorated government scientist releasing powders of deadly anthrax. Walk in the steps of these dedicated officers while they pursue numerous forensic leads before more letters can be sent until finally they confront a psychotic killer.

A laboratory companion to Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques and other undergraduate texts, Forensic Science Laboratory Manual and Workbook, Third Edition provides a plethora of basic, hands-on experiments that can be completed with inexpensive and accessible instrumentation, making this an ideal workbook for non-science majors and an excellent choice for use at both the high school and college level. This revised edition of a bestselling lab manual provides numerous experiments in odontology, anthropology, archeology, chemistry, and trace evidence. The experiments cover tests involving body fluid, soil, glass, fiber, ink, and hair. The book also presents experiments in impression evidence, such as fingerprints, bite marks, footwear, and firearms, and it features digital and traditional photography and basic microscopy. All of the experiments incorporate practical elements to facilitate the learning process. Students must apply the scientific method of reasoning, deduction, and problem-solving in order to complete the experiments successfully and attain a solid understanding of fundamental forensic science. Each of the 39 chapters features a separate experiment and includes teaching goals, offers the requisite background knowledge needed to conduct the experiments, and lists the required equipment and supplies. The book is designed for a cooperative learning setting in which three to five students comprise a group. Using the hands-on learning techniques provided in this manual, students will master the practical application of their theoretical knowledge of forensics.

A thumb print left at the scene of a grisly murder. Fingerprints taken from a getaway car used in a bank robbery. A palm print recovered from the shattered glass door of a burglarized home. Indeed, where crimes are committed, careless perpetrators will invariably leave behind the critical pieces of evidence-most likely in the form of fingerprints-needed to catch and convict them. But the science of fingerprint identification isn't always as cut and dry as detective novels and movies make it out to be.
Quantitative-Qualitative Friction Ridge Analysis, a new book in the ongoing Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigations series, examines the latest methods and techniques in the science of friction ridge identification, or ridgeology. David R. Ashbaugh examines every facet of the discipline, from the history of friction ridge identification and its earliest pioneers and researchers, to the scientific basis and the various steps of the identification process.
The structure and growth of friction skin and how it can leave latent or visible prints are examined, as well as advanced identification methods in ridgeology, including Poroscopy, Edgeoscopy, Pressure Distortion and Complex or Problem Print Analysis. The book, which features several detailed illustrations and photographs, also includes a new method for Palmar Flexion Crease Identification (palm lines) designed by the author and which has helped solve several criminal cases where fingerprints were not available. For crime scene technicians, forensic identification specialists, or anyone else pursuing a career in forensic science, this book is arguably the definitive source in the science of friction ridge identification.

Digital Forensic Art Techniques: A Professional's Guide to Corel PainterTM illustrates hands-on techniques to digitally create forensic art for police and investigative purposes. Coverage focuses specifically on how to utilize the software to create realistic human likenesses, including composites of suspects and drawings of persons in unidentified remains cases. Drawing digitally is like using any tool in art: a pencil, a charcoal stick, a conte' crayon. A stylus is just another tool to master. Digital work is easier for artists to send to the case detective, and the work always reproduces exactly as it was completed. Another benefit to working digitally is that one can use video conferencing with a witness online to provide services remotely world-wide. This enables police departments who have never had access to a forensic artist to have a sketch done within hours of the crime. Chapters address the more basic functions to serve as a primer for those transitioning to working digitally. There is also instruction on light and shadow, and bones and muscles of the skull. All of the discussion is intended to make the reader see things as an artist to improve drawing skills and overall digital techniques. In short, Digital Forensic Art Techniques is a practical, easy-to-follow manual for working forensic artists that will give readers a solid base from which to start. It serves as an essential resource to greater skill and comfort with the hardware and software, thus furthering current best practices and technological advances in the field.

This book addresses the role of statistics and probability in the evaluation of forensic evidence, including both theoretical issues and applications in legal contexts. It discusses what evidence is and how it can be quantified, how it should be understood, and how it is applied (and, sometimes, misapplied). After laying out their philosophical position, the authors begin with a detailed study of the likelihood ratio. Following this grounding, they discuss applications of the likelihood ratio to forensic questions, in the abstract and in concrete cases. The analysis of DNA evidence in particular is treated in great detail. Later chapters concern Bayesian networks, frequentist approaches to evidence, the use of belief functions, and the thorny subject of database searches and familial searching. Finally, the authors provide commentary on various recommendation reports for forensic science. Written to be accessible to a wide audience of applied mathematicians, forensic scientists, and scientifically-oriented legal scholars, this book is a must-read for all those interested in the mathematical and philosophical foundations of evidence and belief.

Gripping forensic tales explain how and why trains crash. Trains are massive-with some weighing 15,000 tons or more. When these metal monsters collide or go off the rails, their destructive power becomes clear. In this book, George Bibel presents riveting tales of trains gone wrong, the detective work of finding out why, and the safety improvements that were born of tragedy. Train Wreck details numerous crashes, including 17 in which more than 200 people were killed. Readers follow investigators as they sift through the rubble and work with computerized event recorders to figure out what happened. Using a mix of eyewitness accounts and scientific explanations, Bibel draws us into a world of forensics and human drama. Train Wreck is a fascinating exploration of * runaway trains * bearing failures * metal fatigue * crash testing * collision dynamics * bad rails

Covering a range of fundamental topics essential to modern forensic investigation, the fifth edition of the landmark text Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques presents contributions and case studies from the personal files of experts in the field. In the fully updated 5th edition, Bell combines these testimonies into an accurate and engrossing account of cutting edge of forensic science across many different areas. Designed for a single-term course at the 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 is admissible. The text invites students to follow evidence all the way from the crime scene into laboratory analysis and even onto the autopsy table. Forensic Science offers the fullest breadth of subject matter of any forensic text available, including forensic anthropology, death investigation (including entomology), bloodstain pattern analysis, firearms, tool marks, and forensic analysis of questioned documents. Going beyond theory to application, this text incorporates the wisdom of forensic practitioners who discuss the real cases they have investigated. Textboxes in each chapter provide case studies, current events, and advice for career advancement. A brand-new feature, Myths in Forensic Science, highlights the differences between true forensics and popular media fictions. Each chapter begins with an overview and ends with a summary, and key terms, review questions, and up-to-date references. Appropriate for any sensibility, more than 350 full-color photos from real cases give students a true-to-life learning experience. *Access to identical eBook version included Features Showcases contributions from high-profile experts in the field Highlights real-life case studies from experts' personal files, along with stunning full-color photographs Organizes chapters into topics most popular for coursework Covers of all forms of evidence, from bloodstain patterns to questioned documents Includes textboxes with historical notes, myths in forensic science, and advice for career advancement Provides chapter summaries, key terms, review questions, and further reading Includes access to an identical eBook version Ancillaries for Instructors: PowerPoint (R) lecture slides for every chapter A full Instructor's Manual with hundreds of questions and answers-including multiple choice Additional chapters from previous editions Two extra in-depth case studies on firearms and arson (photos included) Further readings on entomological evidence and animal scavenging (photos included)

This book is an invaluable tool for studying and reviewing key concepts in forensic pathology. Written in a question-and-answer format, this accessible guide tests readers' knowledge of manner of death, patterns of injury, lab data interpretation, postmortem radiography and imaging, and much more. Over 300 questions, more than half with visual examples, cover both common and more unusual examples of forensic pathology seen in practice. A great resource for preparing for examinations including the American Board of Pathology examination. It provides answers with explanatory rationales for both correct and incorrect answers.

This book is an invaluable tool for studying and reviewing key concepts in forensic pathology. Written in a question-and-answer format, this accessible guide tests readers' knowledge of manner of death, patterns of injury, lab data interpretation, postmortem radiography and imaging, and much more. Over 300 questions, more than half with visual examples, cover both common and more unusual examples of forensic pathology seen in practice. A great resource for preparing for examinations including the American Board of Pathology examination. It provides answers with explanatory rationales for both correct and incorrect answers.

This book examines the legal and policy aspects of cyber-security. It takes a much needed look at cyber-security from a geopolitical perspective. Through this lens, it seeks to broaden the reader's understanding of the legal and political considerations of individuals, corporations, law enforcement and regulatory bodies and management of the complex relationships between them. In drawing on interviews conducted with experts from a wide range of fields, the book presents the reader with dilemmas and paradigms that confront law makers, corporate leaders, law enforcement, and national leaders. The book is structured in a novel format by employing a series of vignettes which have been created as exercises intended to confront the reader with the dilemmas involved in cyber-security. Through the use of vignettes, the work seeks to highlight the constant threat of cyber-security against various audiences, with the overall aim of facilitating discussion and reaction to actual probable events. In this sense, the book seeks to provide recommendations for best practices in response to the complex and numerous threats related to cyber-security. This book will be of interest to students of cyber-security, terrorism, international law, security studies and IR in general, as well as policy makers, professionals and law-enforcement officials.

This book provides police investigators and homicide detectives with a practical method of analyzing 911 homicide calls to uncover the truth. A structured analysis of 911 homicide calls can directly aid in developing investigative leads, planning interviews and solving cases. Case examples present proven, reliable methods as to when a caller is telling the truth or not. This book lays out a framework to analyze the call to determine truth from fiction. Every member of the investigative team, from call-taker to first responder, investigator, coroner's investigators, and prosecutor, can contribute to the success of investigations through their knowledge of 911 call analysis.

Research on cybercrime has been largely bifurcated, with social science and computer science researchers working with different research agendas. These fields have produced parallel scholarship to understand cybercrime offending and victimization, as well as techniques to harden systems from compromise and understand the tools used by cybercriminals. The literature developed from these two fields is diverse and informative, but until now there has been minimal interdisciplinary scholarship combining their insights in order to create a more informed and robust body of knowledge. This book offers an interdisciplinary approach to research on cybercrime and lays out frameworks for collaboration between the fields. Bringing together international experts, this book explores a range of issues from malicious software and hacking to victimization and fraud. This work also provides direction for policy changes to both cybersecurity and criminal justice practice based on the enhanced understanding of cybercrime that can be derived from integrated research from both the technical and social sciences. The authors demonstrate the breadth of contemporary scholarship as well as identifying key questions that could be addressed in the future or unique methods that could benefit the wider research community. This edited collection will be key reading for academics, researchers, and practitioners in both computer security and law enforcement. This book is also a comprehensive resource for postgraduate and advanced undergraduate students undertaking courses in social and technical studies.

PCR's simplicity as a molecular technique is, in some ways, responsible for the huge amount of innovation that surrounds it, as researchers continually think of new ways to tweak, adapt, and re-formulate concepts and applications. PCR Technology: Current Innovations, Third Edition is a collection of novel methods, insights, and points of view that provides a critical and timely reference point for anyone wishing to use this technology. Topics in this forward-thinking volume include: The purification and handling of PCR templates The effect of the manufacture and purification of the oligonucleotide on PCR behavior Optimum buffer composition Probe options The design and optimization of qPCR assays Issues surrounding the development and refinement of instrumentation Effective controls to protect against uncertainties due to reaction variability Covering all aspects of PCR and real-time PCR, the book contains detailed protocols that make it suitable as both a reference and an instruction manual. Each chapter presents detailed guidelines as well as helpful hints and tips supplied by authors who are recognized experts in their fields. In addition to descriptions of current technology and best practices, the book also provides information about new developments in the PCR arena.

Introducing the basic concepts of clinical forensic medicine and death investigation, this book covers the main areas of forensic investigation . It provides an introduction to forensic science and coverage of injury patterns, natural disease, accidental trauma, child injury and fatalities, and domestic violence. Anyone who has direct contact with death, crime, and the medicolegal system, including nurses, physicians, attorneys, death investigators, forensic pathologists, and police detectives, will find this an invaluable reference.

The examination of handwriting and signatures has a long and established history as a forensic discipline. With the advancement of technology in the use of digital tablets for signature capture, changes in handwriting examination are necessary. Other changes in handwriting, such as in increase in printed writing styles and the decrease in handwriting training in schools necessitates a re-examination of forensic handwriting identification problems. This text takes a fresh and modern look at handwriting examination as it pertains to forensic, legal, and criminal justice applications.

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 enforcementDelves into the latest research on the impact of computer use on handwritingFocuses on fraud cases and related elder abuse"

Nuclear forensics is the science of determining the history of a sample of radioactive material through the study of the material's characteristics. While nuclear forensic analysis has normally been associated with investigations and prosecutions in the context of trafficking of nuclear materials or nuclear terrorism, it has wider applications in various national security contexts, such as nuclear non-proliferation, disarmament, and arms control. The New Nuclear Forensics provides a survey and an analysis of the scientific discipline of nuclear forensic analysis, and the way it is applied to specific issues of international peace and security, from the 1940s to the present day. This book describes the various methods used in nuclear forensics, giving first a general introduction to the process followed by details of relevant measurement techniques and procedures. In each case, the advantages and limitations are outlined. It uses a language and methodology that opens the issue of nuclear forensics and its potential applications to a non-specialist readership.

Crime Scene Unit Management: A Path Forward is a must-have resource for anyone involved with forensic investigations and the search for evidence at the crime scene. The book provides standards for how to manage a crime scene so that evidence is collected and preserved without errors and includes guidelines for how to implement the standards and set up regional training programs for smaller jurisdictions with tighter budgets. Key features include examples, checklists, and flow charts for evidence handling and routing. CSIs, fire investigators, homicide investigators, accident investigators, police executives, and students of forensic science will benefit from this thorough approach to how the crime scene-and the personnel charged with tending to the evidence-should be managed.

Recent years have witnessed a surge of interest in the application of archaeological knowledge and methodology to medico-legal issues. Forensic Archaeology has rapidly emerged as a vital speciality. This new four-volume collection from Routledge, assembled and introduced by a transatlantic editorial team, brings together foundational and cutting-edge major works to enable users to make sense of a vast-and rapidly growing-corpus of scholarship. The gathered materials have been carefully selected to highlight the key issues and debates in the development and contemporary practice of Forensic Archaeology. It is certain to be welcomed as a vital one-stop research tool.

Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy: Mechanisms and New Methods for Analyzing Risks builds on earlier works focusing on the clinical problem of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). This book presents a methodology for identifying and classifying clusters of risks that lead to SUDEP. Developed over the last two years, the SUDEP Classification System and Risk Factor Cluster ID method will help to address gaps in our knowledge about the causes and possible prevention of this tragic complication. Exploring the interactions among the central and peripheral autonomic nervous systems and the cardiopulmonary systems, the book includes case studies of SUDEP, definite or probable, as well as near miss cases. It discusses how neurologists, emergency room physicians, and attending physicians can identify individuals at possible risk for SUDEP and lessen the chance of occurrence. Top medical professionals in the field detail the development of an international database of human cases and animal models of SUDEP and suggest how medical examiner and coroner offices can strengthen the database by providing information about incidences of SUDEP. In addition, the book describes related clinical and animal studies needed to classify risk factors for SUDEP victims. Understanding the risk factors and mechanisms underlying SUDEP will facilitate collaborative research in the laboratory, hospital, and clinic and lead to improved effectiveness of SUDEP prevention strategies.

"Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation is a staple for any forensic science library and is routinely referenced by professional organizations as a study guide for certifications. It is professionally written and provides updated theoretical and practical applications using real casework. This text is a must-have for any CSI Unit or course teaching Crime Scene Investigation." - Kevin Parmelee, PhD, Detective (ret.), Somerset County, NJ Prosecutor's Office Since the first English-language edition of Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation was published in 1964, the book has continued to be a seminal work in the field of forensic science, serving as a foundational textbook and reference title for professionals. This Ninth Edition includes several new chapters and has been fully updated and organized to present the effective use of science and technology in support of justice. New coverage to this edition addresses the debunking of a few forensic science disciplines, long thought to have been based on sound science. The book provides students, crime scene investigators, forensic scientists, and attorneys the proper ways to examine crime scenes and collect a wide variety of physical evidence that may be encountered. While it is not possible to cover every imaginable situation, this book is a comprehensive guide that details and promotes best practices and recommendations. In today's challenging environment, it is essential that law enforcement personnel thoroughly understand and meticulously comply with the forensic evidence procedures that apply to their function in the investigation process. Criminal investigations remain as complex as ever and require professionals from many disciplines to work cooperatively toward the fair and impartial delivery of justice. Practitioners and students alike need to be aware of the increased scrutiny that they will face in the judicial system. Judges are taking a more involved role than ever before as far as the evidence and testimony that they allow into their courtrooms. No longer will substandard forensic science or crime scene investigation be acceptable. Key features: Newly reorganized contents-including 4 brand new chapters-reflects a more logical flow of crime scene processes and procedures Provides an overview of the crime scene investigation process and procedures, from the first officer on the scene through the adjudication of the case Includes several new cases, photos, and updates in technological advances in both digital evidence and DNA in particular Science and technology applied to CSI solves crimes and saves lives. Investigators, prosecutors, and defense attorneys must be able to use forensic tools and resources to their fullest potential and Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation serves as an invaluable resource to further this cause.

"Introduction to Statistics for Forensic Scientists" is an essential introduction to the subject, gently guiding the reader through the key statistical techniques used to evaluate various types of forensic evidence. Assuming only a modest mathematical background, the book uses real-life examples from the forensic science literature and forensic case-work to illustrate relevant statistical concepts and methods. Opening with a brief overview of the history and use of statistics within forensic science, the text then goes on to introduce statistical techniques commonly used to examine data obtained during laboratory experiments. There is a strong emphasis on the evaluation of scientific observation as evidence and modern Bayesian approaches to interpreting forensic data for the courts. The analysis of key forms of evidence are discussed throughout with a particular focus on DNA, fibres and glass.An invaluable introduction to the statistical interpretation of forensic evidence, this book will be invaluable for all undergraduates taking courses in forensic science. It includes an introduction to the key statistical techniques used in the evaluation of forensic evidence. It also includes end of chapter exercises to enhance student understanding. Numerous examples are taken from forensic science to put the subject into context.

Forensic Gait Analysis examines the inter-section of podiatric medicine with forensic investigation-that which links or dissociates a suspect to a crime through analysis of their gait, that is their movement-how an individual walks, runs, and bends. This book provides a concise explanation of how an individual's gait and biomechanics are forensically analysed and compared, using video imagery in the process of human identification and investigations. Along with the presentation and delivery of material with case law references illustrating the use of expert evidence. Gait analysis is a long-standing component of the diagnostic and therapeutic tool set of medical disciplines, although the knowledge goes back much further. The area has also captured the interest of technology engineers and others, as the development and use of forensic gait analysis as an investigative and evidential device continues to widen. Features: * Presents succinct knowledge on forensic gait analysis. * 100+ illustrations with photographs and diagrams; over 850 references. * Considers the technical and scientific basis of the field including, the history of gait, musculoskeletal, neurology, emotions and gait, forensic statistics, photogrammetry, and recognises the trajectory of development into IT and software solutions. * Coverage on CCTV imagery and other video footage for use in the process of identification and investigations. * Details are provided on report writing and giving expert evidence in the legal systems. * Contributors across all subject areas. This definitive fully referenced text on Forensic Gait Analysis is a welcome publication for healthcare professionals, lawyers, counsel, investigators, forensic practitioners, and students wishing to know more on the subject and this growing domain.