NCJ Number
95534
Date Published
1982
Length
191 pages
Annotation
Compiled for students of police science at the University of South Africa, this text explains the scientific help available to police officers, investigatory possibilities of clues, and cautionary measures taken to maximize the use of such evidence.
Abstract
The text first reviews the history of criminalistics and the concepts of identification and individualization. Techniques used to identify living persons are detailed, including personal descriptions, identification parades, photographs, composites, and voice and ear identification. Also described are factors to consider in identifying corpses. The chapter on examining the body of a victim, suspect, or corpse addresses types of wounds, post mortems, skeletons, and taking samples. Classification of poisons and their clinical symptoms, types of laboratory samples that can prove poisoning, and medical interpretation of chemical findings are considered in the toxicology section. The text then turns to identification of disputed documents, exploring paper, writing instruments, ink, and general appearance. Analyses of handwriting and typewriting are examined in a separate chapter. Ways to determine the origins of biological materials such as hair, blood, and semen are outlined, as are methods of determining the origins of organic and inorganic substances like fiber, soil, glass, dust, metal, and plastics. The final chapter covers dactyloscopic and ballistic prints, tool marks, and tracks. Photographs, diagrams, approximately 140 references, and an index are supplied.