Description
Taylor & Francis Ltd The Basics of Investigating Forensic Science A Laboratory Manual 2021 Edition by Kathy Mirakovits, Gina Londino-Smolar
The Basics of Investigating Forensic Science: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition presents foundational concepts in forensic science through hands-on laboratory techniques and engaging exercises. The text offers numerous lab projects on a range of subjects including fingerprinting, shoeprint analysis, firearms, pathology, anthropology, forensic biology and DNA, drugs, trace evidence analysis, and more. This Second Edition is fully updated to include extensive full-color photos and diagrams to reflect current best-practices focussing on laboratory procedure, techniques, and interpretation of results. Each laboratory illustrates processes and concepts, and how the equipment should be set up for a given exercise. Many of the exercises can be done with minimal laboratory equipment and material while certain exercises also have additional options and advanced lab exercises-for those education institutions with access to more specialized or advance laboratory equipment. While the sequencing of laboratory exercises in the book is designed to follow The Basics textbook, the lab exercises are intentionally modular can be performed in any sequence desired by an instructor. The Basics of Investigating Forensic Science, Second Edition is an excellent resource for introduction to forensic sciences courses, including the companion textbook it was designed to accompany, Forensic Science: The Basics, Fourth Edition (ISBN: 9780367251499). The book can be used alongside any textbook, and even serve as a stand-alone text for two- and four-year college programs, as well as course at the high school level. Table of contents : ContentsPreface.............................................................................................................................xvAuthors.......................................................................................................................... xviiUNIT 1 Forensic Science and Crime Scene InvestigationLab 1. Introduction to Crime Scene Investigation: Solving the Puzzle.............................. 3Lab 2. Locard's Exchange Principle: Transfer of Evidence............................................... 7Lab 3. Physical Matches................................................................................................11Lab 4. Evidence Collection: Making an Evidence (Druggist) Fold...................................15Lab 5. The 3Ls: Locating, Lifting, and Logging Evidence...............................................19Lab 6. Classifying Evidence: Is This Class or Individual Evidence?................................ 25Lab 7. Basic Crime Scene Sketch................................................................................. 29Lab 8. Crime Scene Investigation................................................................................. 37UNIT 2 Patterns and ImpressionsLab 9. Fingerprints....................................................................................................... 43Lab 10. Questioned Documents..................................................................................... 49Lab 11. Firearms Identification Web Quest..................................................................... 55Lab 12. Basic Firearms Identification: Examining Bullets and Cartridge Casings............. 59Lab 13. Basic Toolmark Identification............................................................................. 69Lab 14. Shoeprints......................................................................................................... 75UNIT 3 Forensic BiologyLab 15. Serology............................................................................................................81Lab 16. Basic Bloodstain Pattern Analysis...................................................................... 89Lab 17. DNA Analysis.................................................................................................... 99Lab 18. Pathology: The Autopsy...................................................................................105Lab 19. Forensic Anthropology: Determination of Stature............................................. 111Lab 20. Hairs................................................................................................................ 115Lab 21. Measuring the Diameter of a Human Hair.........................................................121UNIT 4 Forensic ChemistryLab 22. Inks..................................................................................................................127Lab 23. Illicit Drugs.......................................................................................................131Lab 24. White Powder Testing.......................................................................................137Lab 25. Calculating Blood Alcohol Concentration: The Widmark Formula.....................141Lab 26. Fibers...............................................................................................................145Lab 27. Polymers..........................................................................................................149Lab 28. Fire Debris.......................................................................................................153Lab 29. Explosives........................................................................................................165UNIT 5 Forensic PhysicsLab 30. Accident Investigation: Skid to Stop Mathematics.............................................171Lab 31. Glass................................................................................................................177Lab 32. Forensic Analysis of Glass: Identifying the Type of Glass..................................183Bibliography.....................................................................................................................193Index................................................................................................................................195