Without being overly technical or treating scientific techniques superficially, this book introduces readers to the work of firearms experts, document examiners, fingerprint technicians, medical examiners, and forensic anthropologists. Each chapter closes with a study of a well-known case, revealing how the principles of forensic science work in practice. The authors are well-known investigators in the USA and they explain the science behind some of the more controversial criminal investigations that have captured the public attention. The OJ Simpson trial, the Lindbergh kidnapping, the death of Marilyn Monroe, the assassination of the Romanovs and the Atlanta child murders are all discussed in this book.

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In this new edition the noted forensic scientist, Richard Saferstein, brings the reader into the crime lab for a firsthand look at the role of science in the criminal justice system. Through actual case histories, the reader will explore how forensic science impacted on the "crimes of the century" - the Lindbergh kidnapping and the Simpson case - as well as other noted criminal cases.

The new edition emphasises the latest DNA profiling technologies, which include STR and mitochondrial DNA. As forensic science enters the millennium, the impact of the digital revolution has led to the development of data banks for fingerprints, fired bullets, hair, paint and shoeprints. This book also looks at the new high-tech advances being made in crime scene investigation, as well as in arson and explosion investigation. A major portion of the text is devoted to how common items of physical evidence are located at crime scenes, processed in the crime lab and preserved for presentation in the courtroom. This latest edition also explores the contribution of the Internet to forensic science.

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This glossary defines both common and unfamiliar forensic terms and should help forensic scientists communicate critical scientific terms to non-scientists. It includes chemistry and toxicology terms pertinent to forensic science, ballistics and DNA analysis. It is an excellent reference tool for individuals who deal in criminal law and the investigation of crime.

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This edition describes the theories and practices of forensic science to both practitioners and students of the subject, and updates the previous two volumes of this handbook. Three chapters are devoted to DNA, the first being an in-depth general treatment of its structure and chemistry, followed by chapters detailing two of the more widely used DNA typing techniques - RFLP and PCR. There is also a fourth on the legal issues surrounding the admissibility of evidence in USA courtrooms. A chapter on Fourier transform infrared analysis describes this technique as a "vibrant forensic science analytical tool" and is followed by one on infrared microspectrophotometry. The final chapter re-emphasises "the traditional and daily practices employed by crime laboratories for the characterisation of a wide variety of physical evidence". (OUT OF PRINT)

This book is an introduction to geographic profiling, which is a technique for analysing the locations of a connected series of crimes to determine the most likely area of offender residence. Rossmo explains the theories behind geographic profiling before placing within the framework of criminal profiling, behavioural science, environmental criminology and the geography of crime. This book is aimed at police officers and crime analysts as well as at academic researchers so the approach is straightforward and practical examples are given.

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This book is for students at all levels of education who are interested in forensic science. The new edition now includes the latest techniques in DNA typing and new information on clinical forensic medicine. Many of the chapters, significantly those on forensic science and the law, as well as that covering the historical background, have been completely rewritten. Subjects covered are forensic psychiatry, scientific evidence in court, legal medicine and jurisprudence, forensic pathology, toxicology, questioned documents, bloodstain pattern interpretation, DNA, odontology and forensic anthropology. Please note this is an American publication.

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Barry Fisher is a forensic scientist and the Director of Scientific Services for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept. He provides a wealth of personal experience and reference material to crime scene investigation. This latest edition covers the newer areas such as DNA typing, latent fingerprint developing and automated fingerprint identification classification systems his main aim is to introduce the reader to some of the concepts, procedures, and technical information concerning crime scene investigations. A must for Crime Scene Investigation Training.

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The purpose of this book is to raise awareness of knots as a useful source of forensic information and describe standards for their investigation. The first two chapters contain background information about knots and how to analyse them. Chapters three to five focus on the analysis of knots, covering the preservation of evidence, observation of details and forensic methods. Chapter six looks at court testimony while the final chapter discusses current research results and the future of the field. This book is richly illustrated with diagrams of knots, and the author uses examples from actual cases to demonstrate the value of knots to a forensic scientist. The book includes a glossary and an extensive bibliography, and is aimed at forensic investigators, whether experienced or in training.