NCJ Number
91467
Editor(s)
C H Wecht
Date Published
1981
Length
2053 pages
Annotation
This set of three volumes brings together up-to-date coverage of the major divisions of forensic science by recognized national experts and supplements the technical discussions with legal reviews by several outstanding trial attorneys.
Abstract
It is intended as a comprehensive reference, to be periodically updated and supplemented. The work should provide plaintiff and defense counsel in civil cases, and prosecution and defense attorneys in criminal cases, a basic working knowledge of legal medicine and the forensic sciences, at least to the extent that they can determine which areas of expertise are involved in a particular case. It points out how to assess what are the key issues to be evaluated; what technical information and records are to be obtained and reviewed; what standard references, textbooks, and other authoritative sources can be checked for additional corroboration of the experts' conclusions; what kinds of opinions should be elicited on direct examination: and what are the vulnerable or questionable areas that can be attacked on cross-examination. Volume one of the set deals with all aspects of expert opinion evidence in forensic medicine; volume two covers forensic pathology, anthropology, odontology, serology, and toxicology; volume three presents material on criminalistics as well as illustrative testimony, an index of experts, and an index to the whole work. Extensive footnotes are given. Bibliographies, illustrations, and tabulated material are given with individual chapters. For individual chapters in Volume One, see NCJ 91468.