Forensic Evidence Field Guide: A Collection of Best Practices highlights the essentials needed to collect evidence at a crime scene. The unique spiral bound design is perfect for use in the day-to-day tasks involved in collecting evidence in the field. The book covers a wide range of evidence collection and management, including characteristics of different types of crime scenes (arson, burglary, homicide, hit-and-run, forensic IT, sexual assault), how to recover the relevant evidence at the scene, and best practices for the search, gathering, and storing of evidence. It examines in detail the properties of biological/DNA evidence, bullet casings and gunshot residue, explosive and fire debris, fibers and hair, fingerprint, footprint, and tire impression evidence, and much more. This guide is a vital companion for forensic science technicians, crime scene investigators, evidence response teams, and police officers. - Unique Pocket Guide design for field work - Best practice for first evidence responders - Highlights the essentials needed to collect evidence at a crime scene - Focus on evidence handling from documentation to packaging

Forensic science has been under scrutiny for some time, since the release of the NAS report in 2009. The report cited the need for standardized practices and the accreditation of crime labs. No longer can the forensic community take the position that cross-examination in a courtroom will expose weaknesses in methodology and execution. Quality Management in Forensic Science covers a wide spectrum of forensic disciplines, relevant ISO and non-ISO standards, accreditation and quality management systems necessary in any forensic science laboratory. Written by a globally well-respected forensic scientist with decades of experience in the forensic science laboratory and on the stand, as an expert witness who is also a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences. This book will be a must-have resource for all forensic science stakeholders, particularly law enforcement agents and lawyers less familiar with the impact of quality management on the reliability of scientific evidence. - A comprehensive, multidisciplinary reference of scientific practices for use in the forensic laboratory - Coverage from DNA to toxicology, from trace evidence to crime scene and beyond - Extensive review of ISO and non-ISO standards, accreditation, QMS and much more - Written by a foremost forensic scientist with decades of experience in the laboratory and as an expert witness

Crime Scene Management is an accessible introduction to the common forms of evidence that may be encountered at a scene of crime and the techniques used for recovery of that evidence. The book is clearly focused on the techniques for handling crime scenes from the role of the first officer attending through to the specialist personnel who may be called to deal with specific evidence types. Clearly structured to enhance student understanding, methods covered include, DNA-rich samples, fingerprints, toolmarks and footwear impressions. Later chapters move on to consider examples of specialised scenes such as arson and vehicle crime. The content of each chapter can be tested with self-assessment questions to reinforce student understanding. Written for undergraduate students studying forensic science courses, Crime Scene Management will also be of interest to scene of crime officers, police officers and legal professionals as well as students taking courses in criminalistics and law. Focuses on the crime scene and on the science underpinning the gathering of evidence at the scene Written in conjunction with experienced practitioners Supplementary website to include figures from the book and further references Suitable for delivery in a modular course. Chapters written by a team consisting of experts and academics to ensure an accessible and well-informed text.

Uniting forensics, law, and social science in meaningful and relevant ways, Forensic Science and the Administration of Justice, by Kevin J. Strom and Matthew J. Hickman, is structured around current research on how forensic evidence is being used and how it is impacting the justice system. This unique book—written by nationally known scholars in the field—includes five sections that explore the demand for forensic services, the quality of forensic services, the utility of forensic services, post-conviction forensic issues, and the future role of forensic science in the administration of justice. The authors offer policy-relevant directions for both the criminal justice and forensic fields and demonstrate how the role of the crime laboratory in the American justice system is evolving in concert with technological advances as well as changing demands and competing pressures for laboratory resources.

The Practice Of Crime Scene Investigation covers numerous aspects of crime scenes investigation, including the latest in education and training, quality systems accreditation, quality assurance, and the application of specialist scientific disciplines to crime. Written by authors specifically chosen for their expertise in this specialized field, the book includes discussion on fingerprinting, dealing with trauma victims, photofit technology, the role of the pathologist and ballistic expert, clandestine laboratories, and explosives. This comprehensive book is a valuable reference for everyone interested in forensic science and the broader application of the justice system.

This is the first digital forensics book that covers the complete lifecycle of digital evidence and the chain of custody. This comprehensive handbook includes international procedures, best practices, compliance, and a companion web site with downloadable forms. Written by world-renowned digital forensics experts, this book is a must for any digital forensics lab. It provides anyone who handles digital evidence with a guide to proper procedure throughout the chain of custody--from incident response through analysis in the lab. - A step-by-step guide to designing, building and using a digital forensics lab - A comprehensive guide for all roles in a digital forensics laboratory - Based on international standards and certifications

"Evidence management has become a crucial component for the law enforcement community. I truly believe this book is essential in assisting criminal investigators and a valuable resource for managing evidence."—Jeremiah Sullivan, Chairman, Board of Directors, Texas Division of the International Association for Identification; Senior Crime Scene Specialist (Retired). Austin Police Department As technology and technical applications continue to advance in the forensic sciences, the undertakings at crime scenes have become even more critical. Crime scene investigators must ensure that evidence is properly collected, document, packaged, and stored in a manner that maximizes the ability of laboratories to derive meaning and results from the evidence provided them. Forensic Evidence Management: From the Crime Scene to the Courtroom provides best practices policies for forensic science entities and their employees to maintain chain of custody and evidence integrity throughout the course of evidence collection, storage, preservation, and processing. The focus of the book will be to address the issues related with evidence handling and analysis inside the forensic laboratory, in particular, and to offer best practices and guidelines from leading forensic experts in the field. Forms of evidence covered include biological, chemical, trace, firearm, toolmark, fingerprint, and a host of others types recovered at crime scenes. The book concludes with a chapter on ethics, bias, and ethical practices in evidence handling in the field and laboratory analysis. Test Bank and PowerPointTM slides are available for download from the Taylor & Francis ancillary Web site for qualifying course adopters.

This is a guide to recommended practices for crime scene investigation. The guide is presented in five major sections, with sub-sections as noted: (1) Arriving at the Scene: Initial Response/Prioritization of Efforts (receipt of information, safety procedures, emergency care, secure and control persons at the scene, boundaries, turn over control of the scene and brief investigator/s in charge, document actions and observations); (2) Preliminary Documentation and Evaluation of the Scene (scene assessment, "walk-through" and initial documentation); (3) Processing the Scene (team composition, contamination control, documentation and prioritize, collect, preserve, inventory, package, transport, and submit evidence); (4) Completing and Recording the Crime Scene Investigation (establish debriefing team, perform final survey, document the scene); and (5) Crime Scene Equipment (initial responding officers, investigator/evidence technician, evidence collection kits).

This book provides deep insight into the significance of various forensic techniques underlying the methodical approaches in criminal investigations. The book comprises numerous case studies, examples, and reference materials. It emphasizes on the better practices for criminal investigations including contemporary examinations. The book also describes various methods for investigation of crime scene and evidence collection including biological evidences to the resources of law enforcement agencies. This book encompasses the procedure for crime scene-documentation through photography, video, and diagrams and highlights the best practices of packaging the biological evidences at a crime scene. Further, it summarizes the role of forensic autopsy to the criminal investigation system. As such, the book is helpful for forensic scientists, medical practitioners, educators and law enforcement personnel.

Implementing Digital Forensic Readiness: From Reactive to Proactive Process, Second Edition presents the optimal way for digital forensic and IT security professionals to implement a proactive approach to digital forensics. The book details how digital forensic processes can align strategically with business operations and an already existing information and data security program. Detailing proper collection, preservation, storage, and presentation of digital evidence, the procedures outlined illustrate how digital evidence can be an essential tool in mitigating risk and redusing the impact of both internal and external, digital incidents, disputes, and crimes. By utilizing a digital forensic readiness approach and stances, a company’s preparedness and ability to take action quickly and respond as needed. In addition, this approach enhances the ability to gather evidence, as well as the relevance, reliability, and credibility of any such evidence. New chapters to this edition include Chapter 4 on Code of Ethics and Standards, Chapter 5 on Digital Forensics as a Business, and Chapter 10 on Establishing Legal Admissibility. This book offers best practices to professionals on enhancing their digital forensic program, or how to start and develop one the right way for effective forensic readiness in any corporate or enterprise setting.