Firearms and Fingerprints

by Hueske, Edward E.

• ISBN13: 9780816055128
• ISBN10: 0816055122
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-11-30
• Publisher: Facts on File

Summary

Essentials of Forensic Science is a seven-volume set that explores a number of significant aspects of the field, from its inception to its application in the modern laboratory and courtroom. From its roots in the Middle Ages and further back to ancient Greece, forensic science past, present, and future is provided an intriguing overview in this informative set.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xi
Acknowledgments	p. xv
Introduction	p. xvii
Overview	p. 1
Firearms and Fingerprints in the Crime Lab	p. 1
Firearms and Fingerprints at the Crime Scene	p. 11
The Beltway Sniper Case	p. 12
The Reconstruction of Crimes Using Firearms and Fingerprint Evidence	p. 13
Conspicuous Absence	p. 16
Putting It All Together for the Jury	p. 17
How to Become a Firearms or Fingerprint Examiner	p. 20
Conclusion	p. 22
A Brief History of Firearms and Fingerprints and the Scientists Involved	p. 24
Firearms and the Evidence They Provide	p. 24
Firearms Examination Emerges As a Discipline	p. 28
Food for Thought: Individualization	p. 29
Early Firearms Examinations in the United States	p. 30
Professor Alexandre Lacassagne: A Pioneer in Bloodstain Analysis	p. 31
The Brownsville Riot and Cartridge Case Comparisons	p. 32
Professor Victor Balthazard and Bullet Comparison in France	p. 32
Calvin Goddard and the Beginnings of Modern Firearms Examination in the United States	p. 33
Fingerprints: What They Are and How They Are Produced	p. 34
Ridge Characteristics	p. 38
Johannes Purkinje and the First Attempt at Fingerprint Classification	p. 40
Henry Faulds and William Herschel and the "Who Was First?" Controversy	p. 40
Alphonse Bertillon and the Transition to Dactylography	p. 43
Sir Francis Galton's Fingerprint System	p. 45
Juan Vucetich's Fingerprint System	p. 47
Sir Edward Henry's System: The Dawn of Modern Fingerprint Identification	p. 48
Scientific Principles, Instrumentation, and Equipment	p. 51
The Theory of Individual Identification and the Scientific Method	p. 51
Firearms Identification	p. 52
Applying the Scientific Method	p. 53
Firearms Examination Equipment	p. 56
Specialized Equipment for Shooting Reconstruction	p. 61
Laboratory Methods for Firearms Evidence	p. 67
Firearms Testing: Sympathetic Firing	p. 68
Identifying the Use of a Sound Suppressor	p. 70
Ball Powder Goes the Distance	p. 78
Automated Comparison of Firearms Evidence	p. 80
The Community Gun	p. 81
Latent Print Examination and Comparison	p. 82
The Low-Tech Approach to Fingerprints	p. 85
Absence of Evidence Is Not Evidence of Absence	p. 88
Chemistry and Fingerprints	p. 90
Fingerprints and Modern Technology	p. 97
The Fingerprint Examiner at the Crime Scene	p. 98
The Automated Fingerprint Identification System	p. 99
To Err Is Human	p. 103
Forensic Applications	p. 106
Reconstructing Shootings Using Firearms-Related Evidence at the Scene	p. 106
The Crime Lab's Role in Shooting Reconstruction	p. 107
Ignorance Is Not Bliss	p. 109
The Crime Lab's Role in Criminal Investigation	p. 113
Ironclad Alibi	p. 113
The Role of Fingerprints in Crime Scene Reconstruction	p. 117
A Double Homicide in Arizona	p. 120
Shots Fired at a Moving Vehicle Kill the Young Driver	p. 127
A Staged Crime Scene Is Uncovered by Investigators	p. 132
Homicide or Suicide? An Unusual Case That Leaves Investigators Puzzled	p. 136
The Future	p. 141
Fingerprints and DNA	p. 141
Firearms, Fingerprints, and DNA	p. 142
The Eyes May Have It	p. 143
Firearms That Can "Talk"	p. 145
Phantom Firearms	p. 145
What's Next?	p. 146
Breakthrough: Reading Fingerprints Even after They Are Gone	p. 147
A New Application of Old Techniques	p. 148
Arising Legal Challenges	p. 149
Glossary	p. 153
Further Reading	p. 159
Index	p. 163
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

Firearms evidence examination and fingerprint comparison have had a long and interesting history. The role of fingerprints in human identification can actually be traced back several thousand years. The development of the science of fingerprint comparison and the scientific examination of firearms, however, began in the early 19th century. The goal of the preservation of physical evidence is to associate each piece of evidence with its responsible source, allowing forensic scientists to answer questions regarding the who, what, when, where, how, and why of a crime.
Firearms and Fingerprints traces these early beginnings and the icons that laid the groundwork for the current science. Coverage includes the highly specialized education, training, and experience required for current practitioners in the modern forensic laboratory. Providing a thorough examination of the capabilities and limitations of firearms and latent print evidence, this book also looks at future possibilities as these fields continue to evolve and looks at the recent legal challenges that have arisen. Author Edward Hueske uses his extensive experience as a forensic scientist, professor, and consultant to paint a detailed picture of this fascinating science, which is sure to engage students.
Chapters include:
Overview
A Brief History of Firearms and Fingerprints and the Scientists Involved
Scientific Principles, Instrumentation, and Equipment
Forensic Applications
The Future.