Introduction to forensic science and criminalistics / R.E. Gaensslen, Howard A. Harris, and Henry Lee

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Part 1. Introduction -- Introduction to Forensic Science -- Physical evidence and the legal system -- Part 2. Crime Scene Procedures, Techniques, and Analysis -- Crime scene processing and analysis -- Examination and interpretation of patterns for reconstruction -- Part 3. Physical pattern evidence and technological examinations -- Examination of physical pattern evidence -- Fingerprints and other personal identification patterns -- Questioned documents examination -- Toolmarks and firearms -- Part 4. Biological evidence -- Blood and physiological fluid evidence : evaluation and initial examination -- DNA analysis and typing -- Part 5. Chemical and materials evidence -- Arson and explosives -- Drugs and drug analysis -- Materials evidence.

"This introductory text in Forensic Science features comprehensive coverage of the types of forensic work done in crime laboratories in criminal cases and by private examiners for civil cases. The book's unifying vision of the role of forensic science in the justice system and of the role of the professional forensic scientist in that system is clearly introduced in the first two chapters and re-enforced through out the text. The text's premise is that being a scientist is not required for understanding and using forensic science, but that the greater the understanding of science the better the use of the techniques of forensic science. The chapters each have a discussion of a key case and references to many other "real world" applications of the techniques described. The authors have close to a combined one hundred years of forensic experience."--Publisher's description.