James Stuart H., Nordby Jon J., Bell S. (eds.) Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques

4th edition. — CRC Press, 2014. — 602 p. — ISBN: 978-1439853832Covering a range of fundamental topics essential to modern forensic investigation, the fourth edition of the landmark text Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques presents contributions from experts in the field who discuss case studies from their own personal files. This edition has been thoroughly updated to reflect the cutting edge of forensic science across many different areas.Designed for a single-term course at the lower undergraduate level, the book begins by discussing the intersection of law and forensic science, how things become evidence, and how courts decide if an item or testimony should be admissible. It takes the evidence from crime scene investigation into laboratory analysis and even onto the autopsy table for the fullest breadth of subject matter of any forensic text available. Going beyond theory to application, this text incorporates the wisdom of forensic practitioners who discuss the real cases they have investigated. Color-coded sidebars in each chapter provide historical notes, case studies, and current events as well as advice for career advancement. Each section and each chapter begins with an overview and ends with a summary, and key terms, review questions, and up-to-date references are provided. Appropriate for any sensibility, more than 300 photos from real cases give students a true-to-life learning experience.Setting the Stage
The Crime Scene
Forensic Death Investigation
Forensic Biology
Forensic Chemistry
Pattern and Impression Evidence
Cross-Cutting Forensic Disciplines
Engineering and Computing
The Human Element and the Future of Forensic Science