Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science (College Version)

by Saferstein, Richard

• ISBN13: 9780131118522
• ISBN10: 0131118528
• Additional ISBN(s): 9780130138279, 9780132216555
• Edition: 8th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-01-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall
• More Book Details
• Purchase Benefits

Summary

For Introduction to Forensic Science courses offered by Forensic Science or Criminal Justice programs.Written by a renowned authority on forensic science, this text introduces the non-scientific student to the field of forensic science through an exploration of its applications to criminal investigations, and clear explanations of the techniques, abilities and limitations of the modern crime laboratory.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xiii
About the Author	p. xvii
Introduction	p. 1
Definition and Scope of Forensic Science	p. 1
History and Development of Forensic Science	p. 2
The Organization of a Crime Laboratory	p. 7
Services of the Crime Laboratory	p. 9
The Functions of the Forensic Scientist	p. 12
Other Forensic Science Services	p. 18
Review Questions	p. 23
Further References	p. 25
Case Reading	p. 26
The Crime Scene	p. 34
Processing the Crime Scene	p. 34
Legal Considerations at the Crime Scene	p. 50
Review Questions	p. 52
Further References	p. 53
Case Reading	p. 54
Physical Evidence	p. 62
Common Types of Physical Evidence	p. 62
The Significance of Physical Evidence	p. 63
Review Questions	p. 74
Further References	p. 75
Case Reading	p. 75
Physical Properties: Glass and Soil	p. 89
The Metric System	p. 90
Physical Properties	p. 92
Comparing Glass Fragments	p. 99
Glass Fractures	p. 106
Collection and Preservation of Glass Evidence	p. 109
Forensic Characteristics of Soil	p. 111
Collection and Preservation of Soil Evidence	p. 114
Review Questions	p. 116
Further References	p. 117
Organic Analysis	p. 119
Elements and Compounds	p. 119
Selecting an Analytical Technique	p. 123
Chromatography	p. 124
Spectrophotometry	p. 136
Mass Spectrometry	p. 143
Review Questions	p. 147
Further References	p. 148
Inorganic Analysis	p. 150
Evidence in the Assassination of President Kennedy	p. 152
The Emission Spectrum of Elements	p. 154
Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer	p. 158
The Origin of Emission and Absorption Spectra	p. 159
Neutron Activation Analysis	p. 162
X-Ray Diffraction	p. 165
Review Questions	p. 167
Further References	p. 168
The Microscope	p. 169
The Compound Microscope	p. 170
The Comparison Microscope	p. 174
The Stereoscopic Microscope	p. 175
The Polarizing Microscope	p. 176
The Microspectrophotometer	p. 178
The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)	p. 179
Review Questions	p. 184
Further References	p. 185
Case Reading	p. 186
Hairs, Fibers, and Paint	p. 194
Morphology of Hair	p. 194
Identification and Comparison of Hair	p. 198
Collection and Preservation of Hair Evidence	p. 204
Types of Fibers	p. 205
Identification and Comparison of Man-Made Fibers	p. 210
Collection and Preservation of Fiber Evidence	p. 216
Forensic Examination of Paint	p. 219
Collection and Preservation of Paint Evidence	p. 228
Review Questions	p. 230
Further References	p. 231
Drugs	p. 233
Drug Dependence	p. 234
Narcotic Drugs	p. 237
Hallucinogens	p. 240
Depressants	p. 245
Stimulants	p. 247
Club Drugs	p. 249
Anabolic Steroids	p. 250
Drug-Control Laws	p. 251
Drug Identification	p. 254
Collection and Preservation of Drug Evidence	p. 260
Review Questions	p. 261
Further References	p. 263
Forensic Toxicology	p. 264
Toxicology of Alcohol	p. 265
The Role of the Toxicologist	p. 283
Techniques Used in Toxicology	p. 284
The Significance of Toxicological Findings	p. 288
The Drug Recognition Expert	p. 289
Review Questions	p. 293
Further References	p. 295
Forensic Aspects of Arson and Explosion Investigations	p. 296
The Chemistry of Fire	p. 296
Searching the Fire Scene	p. 303
Collection and Preservation of Arson Evidence	p. 305
Analysis of Flammable Residues	p. 307
Types of Explosives	p. 311
Collection and Analysis of Explosives	p. 316
Review Questions	p. 324
Further References	p. 327
Forensic Serology	p. 328
The Nature of Blood	p. 329
Immunoassay Techniques	p. 333
Forensic Characterization of Bloodstains	p. 336
Stain Patterns of Blood	p. 342
Principles of Heredity	p. 346
Forensic Characterization of Semen	p. 348
Collection of Rape Evidence	p. 352
Review Questions	p. 358
Further References	p. 360
DNA: The Indispensable Forensic Science Tool	p. 361
What Is DNA?	p. 361
DNA at Work	p. 364
Replication of DNA	p. 366
Recombinant DNA: Cutting and Splicing DNA	p. 368
DNA Typing	p. 368
Mitochondrial DNA	p. 382
The Combined DNA Index System (CODIS)	p. 389
The Collection and Preservation of Biological Evidence for DNA Analysis	p. 390
Review Questions	p. 397
Further References	p. 399
Case Reading	p. 399
Fingerprints	p. 406
History of Fingerprinting	p. 406
Fundamental Principles of Fingerprints	p. 408
Classification of Fingerprints	p. 414
Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems	p. 415
Methods of Detecting Fingerprints	p. 417
Preservation of Developed Prints	p. 425
Digital Imaging for Fingerprint Enhancement	p. 426
Review Questions	p. 430
Further References	p. 431
Firearms, Tool Marks, and Other Impressions	p. 432
Bullet Comparisons	p. 432
Cartridge Cases	p. 439
Automated Firearm Search Systems	p. 440
Gunpowder Residues	p. 444
Primer Residues on the Hands	p. 448
Serial Number Restoration	p. 451
Collection and Preservation of Firearm Evidence	p. 452
Tool Marks	p. 454
Other Impressions	p. 457
Review Questions	p. 464
Further References	p. 465
Document and Voice Examination	p. 466
Handwriting Comparisons	p. 467
Collection of Handwriting Exemplars	p. 469
Typescript Comparisons	p. 471
Photocopier, Printer, and Fax Examination	p. 472
Alterations, Erasures, and Obliterations	p. 474
Other Document Problems	p. 478
Voice Examination	p. 480
Review Questions	p. 487
Further References	p. 488
Forensic Science on the Internet	p. 489
What Is the Internet?	p. 490
Where to Go on the Internet	p. 491
Exploring Forensic Science on the WWW	p. 496
Web Sites You May Wish to Explore	p. 497
Review Questions	p. 502
Further References	p. 503
The Future	p. 504
Further References	p. 510
Case Readings	p. 511
Appendices
Guides to the Collection of Physical Evidence--FBI	p. 543
Instructions for Collecting Gunshot Residue (GSR)	p. 558
FBI Policy for Submitting DNA Evidence	p. 560
Chromatographic and Spectrophotometric Parameters for Figures Contained within the Text	p. 562
Chemical Formulas for Latent Fingerprint Development	p. 564
Chemical Formulas for Development of Footwear Impressions in Blood	p. 569
Answers	p. 573
Index	p. 579
Table of Contents provided by Rittenhouse. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

Few could have envisioned just a few years ago how ingrained the subject of forensic science would become in our television culture. Perhaps we can attribute our obsession with forensic science to the yearnings of a society bent on apprehending criminals but desirous of a system of justice that ensures the correctness of its verdicts. The level of sophistication that forensic science has brought to criminal investigations is awesome. This eighth edition ofCriminalisticsand its predecessors have aimed to make the subject comprehensible to a wide variety of readers who are or plan to be aligned with the forensic science profession, as well as to those who have a curiosity about the subject's underpinnings. One of the constants of forensic science is how frequently its applications become front-page news. Whether the story is sniper shootings or the tragic consequences of the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01, forensic science is at the forefront of the public response. The horror of the terrorist attacks exemplified the critical role DNA has come to play in identifying victims of mass disaster. In this new century, the science of DNA profiling has altered the complexion of criminal investigation. DNA collected from saliva on a cup or from dandruff or sweat on a hat exemplifies the emergence of nontraditional forms of evidence collection at crime scenes. Currently the criminal justice system is creating vast DNA data banks designed to snare the criminal who is unaware of the consequence of leaving the minutest quantity of biological material behind at a crime scene. During the highly publicized O. J. Simpson criminal and civil trials, forensic scientists systematically placed Simpson at the crime scene through DNA analyses, hair and fiber comparisons, and footwear impressions. As millions of Americans watched the case unfold, they, in a sense, became students of forensic science. Intense media coverage of the crime-scene search and investigation, as well as the ramifications of findings of physical evidence at the crime scene, all became the subject of study, commentary, and conjecture. For those of us who have taught forensic science in the classroom, it comes as no surprise that forensic science can grab and hold the attention of those who otherwise would have no interest in any area of science. The 0. J. Simpson case amply demonstrates how intertwined criminal investigation has become with forensic science. Through eight editions,Criminalisticshas striven to depict the role of the forensic scientist in the criminal justice system. The current edition builds on the content of its predecessors and updates the reader on the latest technologies available to crime laboratory personnel. Like all facets of modern life, forensic science has been touched by the Internet. This new edition introduces the reader to basic concepts of Internet use and encourages exploration of Web sites particularly relevant to forensic science and criminal investigation. Making science relevant and pertinent to the interests and goals of the student is a desirable but often elusive goal of educators.Criminalisticsstrives to meet this goal by, first and foremost, explaining the techniques, skills, and limitations of the modern crime laboratory to a reader who has no background in the forensic sciences. The nature of physical evidence is defined, and the limitations that technology and current knowledge impose on its individualization and characterization are examined. A major portion of the text centers on discussions of the common items of physical evidence encountered at crime scenes. These chapters include descriptions of forensic analysis, as well as updated techniques for the proper collection and preservation of evidence at crime scenes. Particular attention is paid to the meaning and role of probability in interpreting the evidential significance of scientifically evaluated evidence. The implicat