Principles and Practice of Criminalistics: The Profession of Forensic Science

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Hardback
$139.95
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ISBN 9780849381270
Cat# 8127
eBook
ISBN 9781420036930
Cat# E8127
 

Features

  • Provides an organized paradigm of the principles and practices of forensic science
  • Presents a timeline of the history and evolution of forensic science
  • Presents the ethics of the practice of criminalistics
  • Proposes a useful new principle to the practice of criminalistics
  • Discusses current issues of immediate interest to practicing forensic scientists
  • Summary

    Expanding on ideas proposed by leading thinkers throughout the history of forensic science, Principles and Practice of Criminalistics: The Profession of Forensic Science outlines a logical framework for the examination of physical evidence in a criminalistics laboratory. The book reexamines prevailing criminalistics concepts in light of both technical and intellectual advances and provides a way of conceptualizing physical evidence from its origin through its interpretation. Conceptually, the book explains what forensic scientists do and discusses the philosophical and practical considerations that affect the conduct of their work. To be sure, some of the ideas challenge conventional wisdom on the subject, and as such, are bound to provoke discussion among members of the forensic community. Against this background, Principles and Practice of Criminalistics: The Profession of Forensic Science is a tremendously valuable reference for professionals involved in forensic science and other related fields.

    Table of Contents

    Introduction
    The Evolution of Forensic Evidence
    Overview-A Unifying Paradigm of Forensic Science
    The Origin of Evidence-Divisible Matter and Transfer
    The Recognition of Physical Evidence
    Classification, Identification, and Individualization-Inference of Source
    Association and Reconstruction-Inference of Contact
    Good Field Practice-Processing a Crime Scene
    Good Laboratory Practice-Establishing Validity and Reliability
    Good Forensic Practice-Obligations of the Analyst
    Communicating Results-Where Science Meets the Law
    Ethics and Accountability-The Profession of Forensic Science.

    Editorial Reviews

    "Any forensic laboratory undergoing accreditation would benefit from reading …the book. …quite readable because it is interspersed with interesting examples of actual cases. Its use of a vast array of references and historical quotes, throughout the book, speaks admirably of the depth and breadth of knowledge of the authors."
    - William Westenbrink, M.Sc., RCMP Forensic Laboratory, Halifax, in Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal