Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science, Global Edition, 11th edition

For introductory courses in Forensic Science and Crime Scene Investigation

This best-selling text, written for the non-scientist, is appropriate for a wide variety of students, including criminal justice, law enforcement, law, and more!

Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science, strives to make the technology of the modern crime laboratory clear and comprehensible to the non-scientist. The nature of physical evidence is defined, and the limitations that technology and current knowledge impose on its individualisation and characterisation are examined. By combining case stories with applicable technology, Criminalistics endeavours to capture the pulse and fervor of forensic science investigations. A major portion of the text centres 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.

Key features

• Respected author has vast experience as both an active forensic scientist and college level instructor of forensic science - served as Chief Forensic Scientist of the NJ State Police Laboratory, taught forensic science courses at the College of New Jersey and Ocean County College, and authored or co-authored more than forty-five technical papers on forensics
• Assumes no prior knowledge of scientific principles or techniques when discussing criminalistics - includes descriptions of forensics analysis as well as techniques for the proper identification, collection and preservation of evidence at crime scenes
• Strives to make the technology of the modern crime laboratory clear and understandable to all students - the nature of physical evidence is defined, and the limitations that technology and current knowledge impose on its individualisation and characterisation are examined
• Discussions of the scientific topics focus on state-of-the-art technology without delving into extraneous theories that may bore or overwhelm the non-science student - only the most relevant scientific and technological concepts are presented
• Discussion of the relationship between forensics and the criminal investigation - illustrates the role of forensic science in criminal investigations and examines the role of the forensic scientist in the criminal justice system
• Inside the Science feature offers students the option of delving into the more difficult technical aspects of the subject - this option can be bypassed without detracting from a basic comprehension of the subject of forensic science
• A major portion of the text centers on the role of the crime scene investigator - including preserving, recording, and collecting physical evidence at the crime scene
• Descriptions and pertinent forensic facts about cases of notoriety are provided - demonstrates for the reader actual applications of forensic science to real-life case investigations

New to this edition

• Chapters have been arranged to integrate scientific methodology with actual forensic applications
• Chapters have been redesigned to include 'Inside the Science' breakouts to allow the reader to focus on technological and scientific aspects of chapter contents
• Chapter 2, Collection of Crime-Scene Evidence - expanded coverage of the collection and preservation of DNA evidence, as well as safety protocols required to ensure the well-being of CSI personnel at crime scenes
• Chapter 5, Death Investigation, emphasises the role of the forensic pathologist in death investigation - paying particular attention to autopsy procedures and time-of-death determinations
• Chapter 18, Computer Forensics - also expanded to include mobile devices
• Chapter 19, Mobile Forensics - examines various types of mobile devices and their various generations emphasising associated strengths and weakness for applying them to a criminal investigation
• Critical Thinking questions - added to select chapters.