Prepared as a quick reference for use at a crime scene, the Evidence Collection Field Guide reviews the procedures for collecting and preserving 25 alphabetized categories of evidence in a concise, easy to locate manner. This handy reference will provide field personnel a method of verifying techniques and processes to ensure consistency and accuracy in collecting evidence for later use during forensic examination, and in prosecution.
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
Master the tools and techniques of mobile forensic investigationsConduct mobile forensic investigations that are legal, ethical, and highly effective using the detailed information contained in this practical guide. Mobile Forensic Investigations: A Guide to Evidence Collection, Analysis, and Presentation, Second Edition fully explains the latest tools and methods along with features, examples, and real-world case studies. Find out how to assemble a mobile forensics lab, collect prosecutable evidence, uncover hidden files, and lock down the chain of custody. This comprehensive resource shows not only how to collect and analyze mobile device data but also how to accurately document your investigations to deliver court-ready documents.•Legally seize mobile devices, USB drives, SD cards, and SIM cards•Uncover sensitive data through both physical and logical techniques•Properly package, document, transport, and store evidence•Work with free, open source, and commercial forensic software•Perform a deep dive analysis of iOS, Android, and Windows Phone file systems•Extract evidence from application, cache, and user storage files•Extract and analyze data from IoT devices, drones, wearables, and infotainment systems•Build SQLite queries and Python scripts for mobile device file interrogation•Prepare reports that will hold up to judicial and defense scrutiny
Veterinary Forensics: Investigation, Evidence Collection, and Expert Testimony will provide anyone involved in an investigation of an animal involved crime or civil action with the knowledge and tools that can give guidance for their actions in completing a forensic investigation. All 50 U.S. states, and numerous countries around the world, have laws against animal abuse and cruelty. Law enforcement agents, veterinarians, the judiciary, attorneys and forensic scientists may be involved in cases of animal cruelty, neglect or human crimes that may have an animal element. Additionally, the animal can be the victim, suspect or in some instances the witness of a crime. Given that acquittal or conviction is dependent upon the nature and veracity of the evidence, the quality of the evidence in an animal-related crime investigation must be beyond reproach. The book begins with a discussion of animal abuse and crimes against animals, crime scene investigation, and, from there, discusses various types of forensic examinations of the animal, culminating in a review of the judicial system and testimony in a court of law. All contributing authors are practicing professionals in law, veterinary medicine, and the private sector who provide current, best-practice evidence collection and forensic techniques. Chapters provide in-depth detail about the forensic clinical examination and forensic necropsy of small and large animal species, forensic radiology, forensic toxicology, bitemark analysis and animal behavior. Various, relevant forensic disciplines such as bloodstain pattern analysis, DNA analysis, animal sexual abuse, agroterrorism, animal hoarding, ritual crimes against animals, and animal fighting are discussed. Key Features: Presents established and accepted police techniques in animal crime scene investigation including identification, documentation and packaging of physical evidence and scene photography and videography Includes essential techniques to collect and preserve biological and DNA evidence for animal DNA testing Review of the forensic clinical examination and forensic necropsy of small and large animals Provides methods of evidence presentation in the courtroom, the nature of court room testimony, and the development of an expert report Veterinary Forensics: Investigation, Evidence Collection, and Expert Testimony fills the void of applied, real-world investigative techniques for the collection and presentation of veterinary forensic medical and scientific information. It will be a welcome reference to both the student and professional in the understanding all relevant evidentiary, investigative, and legal elements of the discipline.
This volume shows law enforcement, system administrators, information technology security professionals, legal professionals, and computer forensics students how to identify, collect, and maintain digital artifacts to preserve their reliability as evidence. It focuses on the first two phases of computer forensics--collection and preservation--and uses evidence dynamics as its main approach. This edition has been updated to take into account changes in federal rules of evidence and case law, as well as changes in the industry and technology. The CD-ROM contains sample batch files, forms, and demo and freeware software applications discussed in the book. Brown (network security and computer forensics, U. of California at San Diego) retired from the US Navy in the area of information warfare and network security operations.
The Evidence Collection handbook was developed with the special needs of both law enforcement officers and criminal justice students in mind.The beginning of any successful investigation hinges on the proper collection of evidence. In many areas of the country, responding officers may have to wait hours for laboratory resources to arrive at a crime scene--or they may never have the benefit of expert assistance at all. In addition, even major metropolitan departments have limited laboratory personnel that can be sent to crime scenes. Therefore, it is essential that field personnel be prepared to competently identify and collect evidence for submission to a crime laboratory. The handbook is designed to serve as a quick reference on effective procedures for the collection, preservation, and transmittal of evidence for examination, analysis, and presentation at the time of prosecution.Divided into five sections, Evidence Collection covers:1. Crime Scene Incident Evidence Collection: Discusses various types of crime incidents and the typical evidence found at the scene.2. Collection and Preservation of Evidence: Describes procedures for collecting and preserving 16 categories of evidence.3. Transmittal of Evidence to a Laboratory: Describes procedures for forwarding evidence to a forensic laboratory.4. Laboratory Analysis and Examination Time: Discusses techniques available at forensic laboratories for evaluating and analyzing evidence.5. Glossary: Explains technical terms often used in forensic science.
"Physical evidence cannot be wrong; it cannot perjure itself; it cannot be wholly absent. Only its interpretation can err. Only human failure to find it, study and understand it, can diminish its value." -Presiding Judge, Harris v U.S., 331 U.S. 145 (1947) HOW TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THE CRIME SCENE WHILE CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION First Unit Responder: A Guide to Physical Evidence Collection for Patrol Officers is a training guide and reference for patrol officers and criminal investigators, who conduct preliminary investigations of crime scenes, to aid in identification, collection, and booking of physical evidence. Written by a veteran of 24 years of law enforcement, the book stresses the importance of understanding the critical nature of physical evidence and preservation of the crime scene as part of the case against a criminal defendant. This book is an important tool for police academies that train recruits and veteran patrol officers, as well as for students of criminal justice who seek guidelines for proper collection and handling of physical evidence.
The book outlines the general principles of forensic science including an overview of the history of forensic science, an introduction to ballistics, crime scene investigation techniques as well as evidence gathering, processing and documentation procedures. It presents valuable information on advanced forensic topics as well. These areas include criminal profiling, fingerprints and DNA as identification, the forensic autopsy, pharmacology, toxicology, and biohazard risks for the forensic investigator. The handbook also provides the reader with information on the American criminal justice system and how it relates to forensic science. It also features one of the most detailed and extensive forensic glossaries ever assembled. Included are more than 600 pertinent forensic terms with definitions that will serve as an invaluable desk reference for forensic novices and seasoned veterans alike.
With the popularity of crime dramas like CSI focusing on forensic science, and increasing numbers of police and prosecutors making wide-spread use of DNA, high-tech science seems to have become the handmaiden of law enforcement. But this is a myth,asserts law professor and nationally known expert on police profiling David A. Harris. In fact, most of law enforcement does not embrace science—it rejects it instead, resisting it vigorously. The question at the heart of this book is why. »» Eyewitness identifications procedures using simultaneous lineups—showing the witness six persons together,as police have traditionally done—produces a significant number of incorrect identifications. »» Interrogations that include threats of harsh penalties and untruths about the existence of evidence proving the suspect’s guilt significantly increase the prospect of an innocent person confessing falsely. »» Fingerprint matching does not use probability calculations based on collected and standardized data to generate conclusions, but rather human interpretation and judgment.Examiners generally claim a zero rate of error – an untenable claim in the face of publicly known errors by the best examiners in the U.S. Failed Evidence explores the real reasons that police and prosecutors resist scientific change, and it lays out a concrete plan to bring law enforcement into the scientific present. Written in a crisp and engaging style, free of legal and scientific jargon, Failed Evidence will explain to police and prosecutors, political leaders and policy makers, as well as other experts and anyone else who cares about how law enforcement does its job, where we should go from here. Because only if we understand why law enforcement resists science will we be able to break through this resistance and convince police and prosecutors to rely on the best that science has to offer.Justice demands no less.
Qualitative Research Methods is a comprehensive, all-inclusive resource for the theory and practice of qualitative/ethnographic research methodology. Serves as a “how-to” guide for qualitative/ethnographic research, detailing how to design a project, conduct interviews and focus groups, interpret and analyze data, and represent it in a compelling manner Demonstrates how qualitative data can be systematically utilized to address pressing personal, organizational, and social problems Written in an engaging style, with in-depth examples from the author’s own practice Comprehensive companion website includes sample syllabi, lesson plans, a list of helpful website links, test bank and exam review materials, and exercises and worksheets, available upon publication at www.wiley.com/go/tracy
