Customer Reviews (2)

Old But still a great source to forensic science
Definitely a must have for anyone serious about learning forensic scientists. Paul Kirk's books are still used today due to the accuracy of his work. Very smart man indeed!

My first introduction to forensic science literature
Little did I realize when I met Dr. Kirk as a new graduate student at UC Berkeley in 1970 that I was face to face with a legend.I was looking and interviewing for a PhD thesis advisor just having graduated from UC Berkeley's chemistry department with a BS and found in the short period I spent in his lab that his contributions to this extremely important discipline were already incalculable. I was given his first edition of "Crime Investigation" and a long reading list to pursue as a means of determining my exact interests for conducting new research in this environment.Many years later I found myself deeply involved in many other laboratory-related forensic science projects and casework and drew heavily on that early information I received through this book (I still have and have read the second edition).It is a useful and still important book and one that has been called by others "the Bible of Forensic Science".Though the field has advanced in so many ways since its writing, it should be in the library of every serious forensic science student and practitioner of criminalistics.If it is not, then you should consider yourself only standing on one professional leg.It is highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description

All organisations require effective, well-trained management in order to function effectively and successfully. Crime laboratories are no exception. However, crime lab managers have often been left to 'on the job' training - coming across issues such as budget planning and human resource management for which their scientific training did not prepare them.Now, formal training in lab management is seen as an increasingly desirable step, and professional certificate and diploma courses are being established throughout the world. This book has been born out of the Crime Laboratory Management Professional Certificate course developed by the authors at the University of South Florida. This course has been hugely successful in terms of both demand for places and as the model for similar courses around the world.Crime Laboratory Management covers issues such as ethics and public service, corporate culture, organisational change and strategic planning, human resources management, budget management, occupational health, program evaluation and public sector labour relations.Managers of crime labs will find this book a valuable reference point, whilst those entering the profession will find it gives them a solid foundation on which to begin their managerial careers.

Product Description
Foreword:While the police agency is a major pillar of the criminal justice system in any society, forensic science and its experts serve as the centerpieces in the crime fighting efforts of the police. Success in solving criminal cases requires more than just good examination work in the laboratory or thorough field investigation alone. It takes both. That is what Dr. Henry Lee has been striving for, and alos why he sis so honored.... ... Read more

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Provides an investigation laboratory manual containing exercises covering reasoning, jury selection, chain of custudy, search and seizure, and other areas of criminal investigation. Softcover. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

TOOLS OF THE TRADE
Crime is an ever present problem in our society. We read it in the newspapers, hear it over the radio and see it on the television. Have you ever wondered how a crime is solved? The yellow police tape and tv programs are cool but how is a crime solved besides the way we see it in the news?

Our answer has come in this text which unvails beore us the tools of the trade in unraveling the physical mystery of crime. Forensic Science in its clear and concise prose takes us step by step through the physical processes use to solve crime scenes.

I was fascinated by the technology and various disciplines used in obtaining and interpreting the physical evidence. Forensic science covers a multiplicity of discipline such as biology, medicine, etc. and applies them to the legal field. Forensic evidence can't be changed and in most cases can be the final nail in bringing a criminal to justice.

If you share a curiosity regarding how crimes are solved in a detailed manner, this book is the one for you. It gives a broad general view of the discipline and makes us appreciative of the wide ranging team of law enforcement professionals who work in concert to solve baffling crimes through the use of science. ... Read more

Product Description
Forensic science laboratories' reputations have increasingly come under fire. Incidents of tainted evidence, false reports, allegations of negligence, scientifically flawed testimony, or - worse yet -perjury in in-court testimony, have all served to cast a shadow over the forensic sciences.Instances of each are just a few of the quality-related charges made in the last few years.

Forensic Science Under Siege is the first book to integrate and explain these problematic trends in forensic science. The issues are timely, and are approached from an investigatory, yet scholarly and research-driven, perspective.Leading experts are consulted and interviewed, including directors of highly visible forensic laboratories, as well as medical examiners and coroners who are commandeering the discussions related to these issues. Interviewees include Henry Lee, Richard Saferstein, Cyril Wecht, and many others.

The ultimate consequences of all these pressures, as well as the future of forensic science, has yet to be determined. This book examines these challenges, while also exploring possible solutions (such as the formation of a forensic science consortium to address specific legislative issues). It is a must-read for all forensic scientists.

* Provides insight on the current state of forensic science, demands, and future direction as provided by leading experts in the field
* Consolidates the current state of standards and best-practices of labs across disciplines
* Discusses a controversial topic that must be addressed for political support and financial funding of forensic science to improve ... Read more

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Behind today’s most lurid headlines… A timely look at the fascinating realm of high-tech sleuthing Beyond the Crime Lab The New Science of Investigation Revised Edition The science of criminal investigation is evolving at an astonishing rate. Gone are the days of merely dusting for fingerprints and checking for lipstick traces. Today’s forensics experts use DNA typing, computer and physical anthropologic reconstructions, and other highly sophisticated techniques—techniques that some critics believe have dire implications for every citizen’s right to privacy and individual freedom. Completely updated to address the latest trends and developments in the field, this revised edition of Beyond the Crime Lab takes you on an entertaining and sometimes alarming journey through the incredible and perpetually advancing world of criminal investigation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Has Both Good and Bad Points!
I don't know much about forensics even though I read a lot about true crime. The author tries to break the information down like fingerprinting, DNA, etc. It's not an entirely bad book. At first, he begins explaining the crimes of murdered and disappeared women. Helle Crafts' murder by her own husband, Richard, was probably the most horrifying and the after descrecation of her body was ghastly to say the least. The author tries to bring the forensics in this book to possible students of forensics. Ever since CSI and forensics testimony in the O.J. Simpson trial, the audiences are fascinated by the whole science of forensics. Of course, Forensics is a science that needs to be studied closely. You're not going to get more than a crash course in this book which lays down the basics. Of course, the writings get more technical at times which might turn some people off. The science of forensics is very technical and there are no surprise that formulas are needed. If you want to be a forensics scientist, you have to know the basics and gain experience in the field. The field is gruesome because murder scenes are often gruesome and bloody. This book might disuade some students from going into the forensics field but it might get the hardcore forensics students interested in it even more.

"A Journalist's Overview/Commentary on Forensics"
"Beyond The Crime Lab:The New Science of Investigation" by Jon Zonderman, - Rev. ed. ISBN 0-471-25466-5 (Cloth) John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1999 is a 254 page publication by an aspiring journalist-turned-author who updated his 1990 book of the same title in an apparent treble sort of writing mode which suggests the old, the new and the somewhat alien.

He provides 10 chapters, the first 5 of which are devoted to the crime scene and trace evidence.In this they are adequate but be wont to dispute the book's title as misleading since this is straight-forward criminalistics or forensics - but the style is not particularly notable for exposition or grammatical clarity.Chapter 6, "The Mind and Brain of the Violent Criminal" is poorly documented, fragmented and leaves some posed construals unanswered.Chapters 7-10 appears to be more in focus with the writer's expertise but carry a cautionary askance if not candidly apprehensive warnings on criminology and the justice system whilst discussing data collection, electronic surveillance, controlling of criminals, computers, and "Liberty, Justice and Science" in Chapter 10.In many ways these personal trepidations of the author may be true.This reader, however, believes this is not the proper forum in which to express personal views and it detracts from its use as a viable reference textbook.Chapter 7, "Electronic Surveillance..." is well-written; well-encompasses the subject, and was especially informative.

The author is to be commended for his concluding "Author's Note" indicating his book has been used as "supplemental reading...(forensic science) mostly at the high school level," and this is in keeping with the forward by the well-known Henry C. Lee who wrote it "bridges a gap between the basic and the advanced...."It makes make for easy reading and for that reason alone can be recommended as an introduction to forensics with commentary.

A disappointment
I am a member of the forensics community, and thought this book might help me learn more about the other areas I am not familiar with, but it didn't.The material did not flow within the chapters, and I found severalmistakes/misinformations.Also, the chapter on DNA technology was mostlynegative.There are many positive aspects to DNA testing, but Mr.Zonderman didn't seem to want to address them.All in all, the book was adisappointment.

This was the most informative and interesting read.
This book filled me in on some of the aspects of forensic science that I was unaware of. It was just the information I was looking for. I am now considering going into the Forensic Science field. I am just trying to findout what I need to do next.

A hugely helpful addition to the forensic reference library
Zonderman cleverly weaves historical and technical facts into his discussion of several important and often recent case studies.His ten chapters deal with material that is easily understood by the lay person.Ifound his style and depth of research extremely helpful to me as I ampreparing to start a new course at the high school level called"Forensics Science" and will not be using a required textbook! ... Read more

Product Description

A laboratory companion to Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques and other undergraduate texts, Forensic Science Laboratory Manual and Workbook, Third Edition provides a plethora of basic, hands-on experiments that can be completed with inexpensive and accessible instrumentation, making this an ideal workbook for non-science majors and an excellent choice for use at both the high school and college level.

This revised edition of a bestselling lab manual provides numerous experiments in odontology, anthropology, archeology, chemistry, and trace evidence. The experiments cover tests involving body fluid, soil, glass, fiber, ink, and hair. The book also presents experiments in impression evidence, such as fingerprints, bite marks, footwear, and firearms, and it features digital and traditional photography and basic microscopy.

All of the experiments incorporate practical elements to facilitate the learning process. Students must apply the scientific method of reasoning, deduction, and problem-solving in order to complete the experiments successfully and attain a solid understanding of fundamental forensic science. Each of the 39 chapters features a separate experiment and includes teaching goals, offers the requisite background knowledge needed to conduct the experiments, and lists the required equipment and supplies. The book is designed for a cooperative learning setting in which three to five students comprise a group. Using the hands-on learning techniques provided in this manual, students will master the practical application of their theoretical knowledge of forensics.

Product Description
Jim Donovan, head of the Forensic Science Laboratory in Ireland, is a leading figure in the fight against crime. Beginning with a history of forensics, this true crime tale explores how the most minute details-a strand of hair, a speck of skin-have helped to crack the toughest crimes. From notorious Irish cases, such as the dreadful murder of Mary Duffy, to baffling international crimes, including the Lindbergh kidnapping and the Romanovs, Donovan offers an insider's view on how modern science has moved detective work from Sherlock Holmesian deduction to the hard facts of DNA fingerprinting. Also discussed is Donovan's nearly fatal encounter with Martin Cahill, Ireland's most infamous criminal and the subject of the recent film The General. ... Read more

Product Description
A laboratory companion to the Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques textbook, Forensic Science Laboratory Manual and Workbook, Revised Edition provides many basic, hands-on experiments that can be completed with inexpensive and accessible instrumentation, making this an ideal workbook for non-science majors.

The experiments cover all the typical trace evidence tests including body fluid, soil, glass, fiber, ink, and hair. This revised edition provides numerous new experiments in odontology, anthropology, archeology, chemistry, and trace evidence. It also includes several new chemistry experiments at a slightly higher level to appeal to classes emphasizing chemistry. Experiments involving impression evidence, such as fingerprints, bite marks, footwear, and firearms, as well as forensic archeology, forensic anthropology, the use of digital and traditional photography, and basic microscopy are also featured.

All of the experiments incorporate hands-on elements to facilitate the learning process. Students must apply the scientific method of reasoning, deduction, and problem solving in order to successfully complete the experiments covered and attain a solid understanding of fundamental forensic science. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great material for Forensic Science
I have been searching for a textbook to use for a future course on Forensic Science and this book fills the bill for a Laboratory Manual.

Lab Manual
I recently purchased the manual to see if it would be suitable for my high school class. I surely wasn't disappointed! I plan to order many more to have my students use. The material was written well, the diagrams and photographs made the material easy to digest and retain for the kids. The important thing, as a teacher, is that it left the kids yearning to go to the next experiment/lesson. Any time the kids want to know what they are doing next, shows me that the material keeps their interest and that's a good thing. I'd previously seen Petraco & Kubic's "Color Atlas & Manual of Microscopy for Criminalists, Chemists & Conservators" and that publication brought me to review this book.

Forensic Science
Thanks to books like this and Amazon, I am now a Criminalist without being broke. ... Read more

Product Description
Describes the importance of forensic science in solving crimes and illustrates through case histories the role of science in crime detection and investigation. ... Read more