Crime Laboratory Management

by St. Clair; St. Clair; Given

• ISBN13: 9780126640519
• ISBN10: 0126640513
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-11-26
• Publisher: Elsevier Science

Summary

Crime Laboratory Management is the first book to address the unique operational, administrative, and political issues involved in managing a forensic laboratory. It guides managers and supervisors through essential tasks ranging from hiring and training of staff to quality control, facilities management, and public relations. Author Jami St. Clair has more than 20 years experience in forensic science and served as President of the American Society of Crime Lab Directors in 1998-1999. She and her colleagues have designed this book to be useful for supervisors at every level. With its combination of classic management theories and practical information, this unique resource will help managers ensure that their laboratories operate efficiently and survive the intense scrutiny of today's criminal justice system. It will also help students and professional with an interest in forensic science and crime laboratory operation to better understand the functions of labs and the critical role they play in handling and analyzing evidence. * Shows how to handle a wide variety of administrative and operational issues in forensic laboratories * Provides new and experienced managers with practical information from qualified experts * Outlines standards and procedures to help ensure quality results from laboratory analyses

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
About the Authors	xiii
The Role of the Crime Laboratory
The ``Glamorous'' Crime Laboratory	1	(1)
Role of the Crime Laboratory in Society	2	(3)
Laboratory Operations	5	(5)
Crime Laboratory Organizational Structure	10	(11)
Summary	21	(2)
Human Resource Management
Introduction	23	(1)
Personal Leadership	24	(13)
Hiring	37	(11)
Training	48	(3)
Developing People	51	(2)
Evaluations	53	(4)
Trouble-Shooting Performance Problems	57	(3)
Resolving Conflict	60	(5)
Bringing All Together with Team Building	65	(2)
Summary	67	(4)
Ethics
Introduction	71	(1)
Why Unethical Acts Occur	72	(5)
Ethical Decision-Making	77	(2)
Teaching Ethics to Forensic Scientists	79	(2)
Ethical Dilemmas	81	(5)
Ethical Dilemmas Facing Crime Laboratory Directors	86	(2)
Prevention	88	(1)
Summary	89	(4)
Quality in Crime Laboratories (Jo Ann Given)
Introduction	93	(2)
Accreditation	95	(7)
Europe	102	(1)
International Programs	102	(2)
Certification	104	(5)
Personal Competence	109	(1)
Proficiency Tests	110	(2)
Standards	112	(4)
The Future	116	(3)
Strategic Management
Introduction	119	(1)
Importance of Strategic Planning	120	(4)
Mission Statements	124	(1)
Developing A Strategic Plan	124	(3)
Obstacles to Achieving Consensus	127	(1)
A Scenario	128	(2)
Organizational Management Programs	130	(3)
Organizational Excellence	133	(2)
Summary	135	(2)
Project Management
Introduction	137	(1)
Establishing Project Need	138	(2)
Project Initiation	140	(7)
Project Delegation	147	(3)
Evaluation of Programs	150	(6)
A Project Management Scenario	156	(2)
Summary	158	(1)
Resource Management
Introduction	159	(1)
Public Budgeting	159	(2)
Managing a Budget	161	(9)
Grants	170	(11)
Partnerships	181	(1)
Summary	182	(3)
Effective Communications
Introduction	185	(1)
Public Communications	186	(4)
Written Communications	190	(2)
Presentations	192	(9)
Media Relations	201	(7)
When Things Go Wrong -- Issue Management	208	(2)
Government Relations	210	(14)
Summary	224	(5)
Safety in the Forensic Laboratory (Michael W. St Clair)
Introduction	229	(1)
Safety Culture	229	(2)
Physical Hazards	231	(1)
Electrical Hazards	232	(1)
Compressed Gases and Compressed Gas Cylinders	233	(4)
Chemical Hazards	237	(6)
Chemical Management	243	(6)
Biological Hazards	249	(1)
Facility Safety Equipment	250	(7)
Personal Protective Equipment	257	(7)
Summary	264	(1)
Appendix A American Academy of Forensic Sciences Code of Ethics and Conduct	265	(3)
Appendix B American Society of Public Administrators Code of Ethics	268	(2)
Appendix C American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Code of Ethics	270	(1)
Appendix D American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Guidelines for Forensic Laboratory Management Practices	271	(5)
Appendix E Sample Grant Proposal	276	(3)
Index	279