Books in Forensic science general

Microbial Forensics

2nd Edition
September 16, 2010
Bruce Budowle + 4 more
English
Hardback
9 7 8 0 1 2 3 8 2 0 0 6 8
eBook
9 7 8 0 1 2 3 8 2 0 0 7 5

Microbial Forensics is a rapidly evolving scientific discipline. In the last decade, and particularly due to the anthrax letter attacks in the United States, microbial forensics has become more formalized and has played an increasingly greater role in crime investigations. This has brought renewed interest, development and application of new technologies, and new rules of forensic and policy engagement. It has many applications ranging from biodefense, criminal investigations, providing intelligence information, making society more secure, and helping protect precious resources, particularly human life. A combination of diverse areas is investigated, including the major disciplines of biology, microbiology, medicine, chemistry, physics, statistics, population genetics, and computer science. Microbial Forensics, Second Edition is fully revised and updated and serves as a complete reference of the discipline. It describes the advances, as well as the challenges and opportunities ahead, and will be integral in applying science to help solve future biocrimes.

Forensic Dental Evidence

2nd Edition
August 27, 2010
C. Michael Bowers
English
Hardback
9 7 8 0 1 2 3 8 2 0 0 0 6
eBook
9 7 8 0 1 2 3 8 2 0 0 1 3

Forensic Dental Evidence: An Investigators Handbook highlights the discussion regarding unjust convictions caused by inaccurate bitemark opinions. The book focuses on cases that use forensic techniques, emphasizing modern methods and protocols. Through this book, the latest information available is offered to the forensic community. This book demonstrates expertise in forensic dentistry by presenting chapters on human identification in domestic and international situations; investigations on missing person and violent crimes against persons; mass-disaster planning and disaster response; and new threats from terrorist attacks on urban centers. Furthermore, it discusses topics regarding bitemark evidence, such as forensic photography, analysis and legal issues. The book also presents two chapters on new scientific topics: The Next Level in Victim Identification: Materials Properties as an Aid in Victim Identification; and DNA for First Responders: Recognizing, Collecting, and Analyzing Biological Evidence Related to Dentistry (chapters 3 and 8, respectively). This book is suited to anyone seeking knowledge on forensic dentistry; it will be of great value to investigators, lawyers, medical examiners, nurses, and dentists with an interest in forensic dental cases.

Crime Scene Photography

2nd Edition
December 8, 2009
Edward M. Robinson
English
eBook
9 7 8 0 1 2 3 8 6 5 3 0 4
eBook
9 7 8 0 1 2 3 7 5 7 2 9 6

Crime Scene Photography, Second Edition, offers an introduction to the basic concepts of forensic picture-taking. The forensic photographer, or more specifically the crime scene photographer, must know how to create an acceptable image that is capable of withstanding challenges in court. The photographic theory and principles have to be well grounded in the physics of optics, the how-to recommendations have to work, and the end result must be admissible in court. Based on the author's years of experience in the field at both the Arlington County and Baltimore County Police Departments, this book blends the practical functions of crime scene processing with theories of photography to guide the student in acquiring the skills, knowledge, and ability to render reliable evidence. This text has been carefully constructed for ease of use and effectiveness in training and was class-tested by the author at George Washington University. Beginning August 2008, this book will be required reading by the IAI Crime Scene Certification Board for all levels of certification (through August 2011).

Fundamentals of Forensic Science

2nd Edition
November 30, 2009
Max M. Houck + 1 more
English
eBook
9 7 8 0 0 8 0 9 6 1 6 5 1

Fundamentals of Forensic Science, Second Edition, provides an introduction to the basic principles of forensic science. The book begins at a crime scene and ends in the courtroom.The book is divided into six parts. Part 1 provides an overview of criminal justice and forensic science, covering the basics of crime scene investigation and the nature of evidence. Part 2 discusses analytical tools, including microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, atomic spectroscopy, and separation methods. Parts 3 to 5 discuss the various types of forensic evidence collected, categorized by the types of science employed in their analysis: physical science, chemical science, and biological science. These include pathology; anthropology and odontology; entomology; serology and bloodstain pattern analysis; DNA analysis; forensic hair examinations; forensic toxicology; fiber and paint analysis; friction ridge examination; and firearms and tool marks. Part 6 discusses the legal aspects of forensic science. The book is written for students with a background in basic science, and it is can be used in a one-semester or two-semester format.

Fundamentals of Forensic DNA Typing

1st Edition
August 20, 2009
John M. Butler
English
Paperback
9 7 8 0 1 2 3 7 4 9 9 9 4
eBook
9 7 8 0 0 8 0 9 6 1 7 6 7

Fundamentals of Forensic DNA Typing is written with a broad viewpoint. It examines the methods of current forensic DNA typing, focusing on short tandem repeats (STRs). It encompasses current forensic DNA analysis methods, as well as biology, technology and genetic interpretation. This book reviews the methods of forensic DNA testing used in the first two decades since early 1980’s, and it offers perspectives on future trends in this field, including new genetic markers and new technologies. Furthermore, it explains the process of DNA testing from collection of samples through DNA extraction, DNA quantitation, DNA amplification, and statistical interpretation. The book also discusses DNA databases, which play an important role in law enforcement investigations. In addition, there is a discussion about ethical concerns in retaining DNA profiles and the issues involved when people use a database to search for close relatives. Students of forensic DNA analysis, forensic scientists, and members of the law enforcement and legal professions who want to know more about STR typing will find this book invaluable.

Forensic Criminology

1st Edition
July 30, 2009
Wayne Petherick + 2 more
English
Hardback
9 7 8 0 1 2 3 7 5 0 7 1 6
eBook
9 7 8 0 1 2 3 7 8 5 7 3 2

Forensic Criminology gives students of criminology and criminal justice an introduction to the forensic realm and the applied forensic issues they will face when working cases within the justice system. It effectively bridges the theoretical world of social criminology with the applied world of the criminal justice system. While most of the competing textbooks on criminology adequately address the application and the social theory to the criminal justice system, the vast majority do not include casework or real-world issues that criminologists face. This book focuses on navigating casework in forensic contexts by case-working criminologists, rather than broad social theory. It also allows criminology/criminal justice instructors outside of the forensic sciences the ability to develop and instruct a core course that might otherwise be considered beyond their expertise, or in conflict with forensic courses taught in chemistry, biology, or medical programs at their institutions because of its focus on criminology and criminal justice careers. With its practical approach, this textbook is well-suited for forensic criminology subjects being taught and developed in law, criminology, and criminal justice programs around the world.

Forensic Comparative Science

1st Edition
July 20, 2009
John R. Vanderkolk
English
Hardback
9 7 8 0 1 2 3 7 3 5 8 2 9
eBook
9 7 8 0 0 8 0 9 2 0 0 1 6

While there is no such thing as a perfect match in the field of forensic comparative science, Forensic Comparative Science: Qualitative Quantitative Source Determination of Unique Impressions, Images, and Objects provides the experience, understanding, and judgment, necessary for concluding whether two unique images share common origin from a unique and persistent source.Knowing there will be ranges of different levels of details throughout images, the expert must be able to comprehend when a sufficient quality and quantity of details is reached to render a judgment. By utilizing a process of analyzing the first image, analyzing the second image, comparing them to each other, and evaluating the significance of the analyses and comparisons based on expertise, the comparative scientist will be able to recognize the belief and believe the recognition that occurs during comparative examinations.Forensi... Comparative Science presents a philosophical and theoretical approach to explaining the cognitive process of comparative measurements and source determination. Science is about understanding and generalizing nature. This book is about generalizing comparative science.

Serial Crime

2nd Edition
June 13, 2009
Wayne Petherick
Wayne Petherick
English
eBook
9 7 8 0 0 8 0 9 6 1 7 5 0

Serial Crime, Second Edition, examines serial predatory behavior and is divided into two main parts. Part one deals with behavioral profiling, and covers a variety of critical issues from the history of profiling and the theoretical schools of thought to its treatment in the mainstream media. This updated edition includes new sections on the problems of induction, metacognition in criminal profiling, and investigative relevance. Part two deals more specifically with a number of types of serial crime including stalking, rape, murder, and arson. Chapters on each of these crimes provide definitions and thresholds, and discussions of the offenders, the crime, and its dynamics. Considerations for behavioral profiling and investigations and the development of new paradigms in each area are interwoven throughout. Topics are conceptually and practically related since profiling has typically seen most application in serial crimes and similar investigations. The unique presentation of the book successfully connects the concepts and creates links to criminal behavior across crimes—murder, sexual assault, and arson—something no other title does. The connection of serial behavior to profiling, the most useful tool in discovering behavior patterns, is also new to the body of literature available and serves to examine the ideal manner in which profiling can be used in conjunction with behavioral science to positively affect criminal investigations.

Introduction to Criminalistics

1st Edition
January 23, 2009
Barry A.J. Fisher + 2 more
English
Hardback
9 7 8 0 1 2 0 8 8 5 9 1 6
eBook
9 7 8 0 0 8 0 9 1 6 7 5 0

Introduction to Criminalistics covers the basics of Criminalistics in a textbook for a one or two semester course, with the intention of preparing the student for a future in forensic science. The role of the Criminalist is to analyze, compare, identify, and interpret physical evidence in the crime lab. These crime labs, or forensic labs, have two primary functions: identifying evidence and linking the suspect, victim, and crime scene through physical evidence. This new primer introduces the learner to the structure and organization of the crime lab and to the role of the Criminalist. It features real cases – recent and historic – to illustrate concepts. Colorful pedagogy clearly defines chapter elements and sets this text apart from next best. Topics covered include how to process a crime scene and preserve evidence, the basic principles of firearm examination, latent fingerprints, and rudimentary toxicology, or how to determine the presence or absence of drugs and poisons. Well organized and methodical, this textbook has the potential to become the standard text for applying techniques of the physical and natural sciences to examining physical evidence.

Aspects of Explosives Detection

1st Edition
October 17, 2008
Maurice Marshall + 1 more
English
Hardback
9 7 8 0 1 2 3 7 4 5 3 3 0
eBook
9 7 8 0 0 8 0 9 2 3 1 4 7

Detection and quantification of trace chemicals is a major thrust of analytical chemistry. In recent years much effort has been spent developing detection systems for priority pollutants. Less mature are the detections of substances of interest to law enforcement and security personnel:in particular explosives. This volume will discuss the detection of these, not only setting out the theoretical fundamentals, but also emphasizing the remarkable developments in the last decade. Terrorist events—airplanes blown out of the sky (PanAm 103 over Lockerbie) and attacks on U.S. and European cities (Trade Center in New York and the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, railways in London and Madrid)--emphasize the danger of concealed explosives. However, since most explosives release little vapor, it was not possible to detect them by technology used on most organic substances. After PanAm 103 was downed over Scotland, the U.S. Congress requested automatic explosive detection equipment be placed in airports. This volume outlines the history of explosive detection research, the developments along the way, present day technologies, and what we think the future holds.

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