Crime Scene Investigation
- 2nd Edition - November 16, 2010
- Latest edition
- Authors: Jacqueline T. Fish, Larry S. Miller, Michael C. Braswell
- Language: English
Crime Scene Investigation provides an innovative approach to learning about crime scene investigation. The users will find a comprehensive introduction to the field of… Read more
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Crime Scene Investigation provides an innovative approach to learning about crime scene investigation. The users will find a comprehensive introduction to the field of investigation. The book walks the reader through steps of the crime scene investigation from the first response to the documentation. The text also emphasizes the importance of a careful scientific investigation by exploring the different components of a crime scene, such as location of fingerprints and palm prints, trace evidence, firearms, tool marks, and document evidence. The book has 15 chapters, which describe the scientific approach of crime scene investigation: first response, documenting the crime scene, fingerprints ad palm prints, evidence such as trace and impression, body fluid, blood spatter, firearms and toolmarks, and arson and explosives. The text also illustrates and discusses investigation of electronic and vehicular crime scenes, death, forensic anthropology, odontology and entomology, and the methods of documenting the actions of the CSI. The book also features photographs and graphics that complement the text material, as well as fictional narrative to provide a qualitative dimension of the crime scene experience to the readers. The book is written for students, beginners, non-experts, and professionals in the criminal justice field.
- Dozens of photographs and illustrations supplement the text
- Includes key terms, discussion questions and a glossary
- A chapter-by-chapter fictional narrative provides a colorful look at a crime scene investigation
Students and beginning professionals in the criminal justice field.
Foreword
Contributors to Crime Scene Investigation
1 Introduction
The Role of the Crime Scene Investigator in Forensic Science
Jobs and Descriptions
Certification and Professional Development
Expert Witnesses
Ethics and Professionalism
Challenges to Forensic Science
Physical Evidence and the Crime Scene
Associative Evidence
Class versus Individual Characteristics
Natural Variation
Legal Issues and the Crime Scene
Search Warrants
Admissibility of Evidence
Frye v. United States
Federal Rules of Evidence
Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Chain of Custody
Documentation
Scientific Issues in Crime Scene Investigation
Controls
Standards
Overlapping Roles
Discussion Questions
2 The First Response
The FBI’s 12-Step Process
Determining the Scope of the Crime Scene
Boundaries
Multiple Scenes
CSI Personal Safety Concerns
Restricting Access
Interacting with Detectives
Initial Walkthrough/Preliminary Assessment of the Crime Scene
Identifying Other Resources
What’s There and What’s Not There
Family Members
Witnesses
Suspects at the Scene
Final Steps
Discussion Questions
3 Documenting the Crime Scene
Photography
Cameras
Lenses and Filters
Postprocessing of Evidence Photographs
Sketches
Title Block and Legends
Measurements
Technological Advances in Measurement
Searching the Scene
Search Patterns
Vehicle Searches
Reconstruction
Discussion Questions
4 Fingerprints and Palmprints
Principles of Fingerprints and Palmprints
Fingerprints as Physical Evidence
Inked Impressions
Elimination Prints
Suspect Prints
Fingerprinting the Deceased
Establishing Identity
Latent Fingerprints
Locating and Documenting
Methods and Techniques of Developing and Collecting Latent Prints
IAFIS and Latent Print Examinations
Discussion Questions
5 Trace and Impression Evidence
Trace Evidence
Hairs and Fibers
Glass, Soil, Paint, and Other Materials
Gunshot Residue
Trace Evidence Summary
Impression Evidence
Footwear Impressions
Tire Impressions
Bitemark Impressions
Photographic Techniques
Inked Impressions
Casting and Lifting Techniques for Impression Evidence
Impressions in Snow
Discussion Questions
6 Body Fluid Evidence
DNA Techniques and the Impact of Technological Advances
Probative Value
Touch DNA
Blood
Seminal Fluid
Saliva
Other Body Fluids
Urine
Vaginal Secretions
Sexual Assault—Special Considerations
Locating, Collecting, and Preserving Body Fluid Evidence
At the Crime Scene
From a Victim or a Suspect
Condom Trace Evidence
Toxicology: Final Thoughts
Discussion Questions
7 Blood Spatter Evidence
The Nature of Blood Spatter Evidence
Documenting Bloodstain Pattern Evidence
Detecting Invisible Bloodstains
Photographing the Scene
Interpreting Evidence
Discussion Questions
8 Firearms and Toolmark Evidence
Bullets and Shell Casings
Class versus Individual Characteristics
Locating, Collecting, Packaging, and Submission of Evidence
Trajectories and Measurements
Laser Protractor Kit
Laser Trajectory Rod Kit
Distance Determination
National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN)
Gunshot Residue Testing
Serial Number Restoration
Toolmarks
Testing and Comparison Techniques
Discussion Questions
9 Arson and Explosives
Crime Scene Processing
Area of Origin
Burn Patterns
Impact of Fire Suppression on the Crime Scene
Why Investigate Fire Scenes?
Covering Up Another Crime
Product Reliability
Code Violations
Motor Vehicle Fire Investigation
Collection and Preservation of Arson Evidence
Accelerant-Detection K-9
Electronic Detectors and Instruments
Forensic Light Source/Alternate Light Source
Preservation of Evidence
Recovery of Burned Bodies
Identification Techniques
Bomb Scene Investigations
Locating and Collecting Evidence of Explosive Devices
Post-Blast Investigation Techniques
Discussion Questions
10 The Electronic Crime Scene
Cybercrime—The Internet Age
Identity Theft
Spyware
Internet Crimes against Children
Pornography
Predators
Cyberstalking, Cyberbullying, and Other Harassment
Social Networking Sites and “Sexting”
Computer Intrusions
Scams
Processing the Electronic Crime Scene
Computer Hardware
Individual Computers
Network Computers
Peripheral Equipment
Virtual Evidence
Cell Phones
Personal Digital Assistants
Electronic Pagers
Fax and Digital Answering Machines and Caller-ID Devices
Digital Crime Scene Analysis
Discussion Questions
11 Documentary Evidence
Procedures for Handling and Recording Evidentiary Documents
Investigative Techniques for Examination of Documents
Machine-Produced Documents
Handwriting Identification
Court Acceptance of Document Examination
Scientific Validity and Reliability
Handwriting and Forensic Psychology Applications
Physical Profiling
Age
Gender
Handedness
Literacy and Occupation
Physical and Mental Health
Behavioral Profiling
Forensic Linguistics, Statement Analysis, and Handwriting
Questioned Document Case Study
Discussion Questions
12 Motor Vehicles as Crime Scenes
Photography
Hit-and-Run Cases
Trace Evidence
Types of Physical Evidence
Collection Techniques
Stolen Vehicles
Chop Shops
VIN Locations
Odometer Tampering
Processing Exterior Surfaces of Vehicles
Latent Fingerprints
Trace Evidence
Stolen Property
Contraband Search
Motor Vehicles as Weapons
Documenting Injuries
Accidental Death—Suicide—Homicide
Discussion Questions
13 Death Investigation
Medicolegal Death Investigation
Structure and Bias
Authorization
The Death/Injury Scene
Preparation
The Autopsy
The Report
Death Certification
Cause of Death
Manner of Death
Postmortem Interval
Pattern Recognition
Natural Deaths
Trauma
Role of the CSI at Autopsy
Identifying Remains
Discussion Questions
14 Forensic Anthropology, Odontology, and Entomology
The Determination of a Skeleton’s Age at Death
Maturation
Degeneration
The Determination of a Skeleton’s Sex
The Pelvis
The Skull
The Rest of the Skeleton
The Determination of Race (Ancestry) and Stature from the Skeleton
Anthropometric Measurements
Stature: The Estimation of Stature from the Long Bones
Odontology
Human Dentition
The Anatomy of a Tooth
Entomology
NamUs
Discussion Questions
15 Documenting the Actions of the CSI
Case Files
Crime Scene Protocols
Releasing the Scene
Cross-Contamination
The FBI Crime Laboratory
Communicating with a Crime Lab
Evidence Submittal to a Crime Laboratory
Case File Preparation
Working with the Prosecutor’s Office
Court Appearance and Testimony
Pretrial Preparation
Demonstrative Exhibits
The Importance of Physical Evidence
Ethical Considerations
Emerging Trends
Discussion Questions
Glossary
References
Index
- Edition: 2
- Latest edition
- Published: November 16, 2010
- Language: English
JF
Jacqueline T. Fish
Jacqueline T. Fish is the Vice President for Academic Affairs at Charleston Southern University. A former crime scene investigator and Lieutenant in the Knox County, Tennessee, Sherriff’s Department, Dr. Fish was also project manager of the National Forensic Academy and worked with the Louisiana State University’s National Center for Biomedical Research and Training to develop Advanced Forensics Investigations for Hazardous Environments.
Affiliations and expertise
Charleston Southern UniversityLM
Larry S. Miller
Larry S. Miller is Distinguished Professor and Chair of Criminal Justice and Criminology at East Tennessee State University (ETSU). He received his Bachelor of Science from ETSU, a Master of Science from Eastern Kentucky University, and his Ph.D. in Health & Safety with collaterals in Forensic Anthropology and Criminology from The University of Tennessee. Miller, who has worked as a police officer, criminal investigator, and crime laboratory director, teaches in the area of law enforcement and is the author of several books on topics including criminal investigation, criminal justice report writing, police photography, and more.
Affiliations and expertise
East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, USAMB
Michael C. Braswell
Dr. Michael C. Braswell is Professor Emeritus of Criminal Justice and Criminology at East Tennessee State University (ETSU). Braswell received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Mercer University in 1969, a Master of Arts in Psychology from West Georgia College in 1970, his Ed.S. in Rehabilitation/Correctional Counseling from the University of Georgia in 1973, and his Doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi. A former prison psychologist, he taught ethics and human relations courses for more than 30 years at East Tennessee State University. He has published books on ethics, peacemaking, and correctional counseling as well as two novels and a short story collection.
Affiliations and expertise
East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, USARead Crime Scene Investigation on ScienceDirect