Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science (College Edition) (9th Edition)

Written by a very well-known authority in forensic science, this book introduces the non-scientific reader to the field of forensic science. Through applications to criminal investigations, clear explanations of the techniques, and the abilities and limitations of modern crime labs, Criminalistics covers the comprehensive realm of forensics. The book strives to make the technology of the modern crime laboratory clear to the non-scientist. Combining case stories with applicable technology, Criminalistics captures the excitement of forensic science investigations. Familiarizes readers with the most current technologies in forensic analysis. KEY Aims at making the subject of forensic science comprehensible to a wide variety of readers who are planning on being aligned with the forensic science profession.

Students will receive hands-on experience and be trained in using sophisticated, industry standard instrumentation, such as the Scanning Electron Microscope. These are essential practical skills that will impress employers. Scanning electron microscopes (SEM) provide forensic investigators with critical imaging and analytical capabilities that are not available from other techniques. In particular, they can resolve features as small as a nanometer (a million times smaller in magnitude than a millimetre), allowing useful magnifications of 100,000 times or more. They are widely used for the analysis of gunshot residue, bullet fragments, paint chips, hair and fibres, and other trace evidence such as pollen. Analysis by SEM could be a crucial link in an investigation.

Dr Richard Paul is one of the Senior Lecturers you will meet on our forensic science courses. One of his areas of expertise is in evidence analysis using GC-MS. Here, he injects a sample of forensic interest into the instrument. The sample is revealed to be an illicit substance which can be identified by matching the GC-MS profile to a large database of samples. Students will learn about the scientific processes involved in techniques such as GC-MS through lectures and tutorials, and will also get hands-on experience in the laboratory.

Now revised and updated, this comprehensive work, long considered the top textbook in the forensics field, reaches far beyond the scope of those introductory texts that concentrate primarily on criminalistics. Covering a range of fundamental topics, it introduces newcomers to the field while providing the technical detail necessary to understand the field as a science. To this end the book is compatible with CRC lab manuals, including Forensic Science Laboratory Manual and Workbook, Third Edition (87193) and Crime Scene Processing and Laboratory Workbook (85425).
Praise for the Previous Edition:
"The first-hand experience of the authors and the use of real case studies, including photographs, captivate the reader. Even non-forensic science students and the general public would find this book interesting reading."
—Kieran F. Lim, Physical Sciences Educational Reviews, Vol. 7, No. 1
This updated third edition includes:
New material on forensic photography, crime scenes, and forensic pathology, including a chapter on Forensic Digital Photo Imaging
Simplified, easy-to-understand chapters on computer forensics and DNA analysis
Revised materials in each chapter to reflect advances in the field
New and More Extensive Teaching Materials:
An instructor’s guide with objectives, questions and answers, suggested activities, and material in electronic format is available upon qualifying course adoption.