NCJ Number
51697
Date Published
1978
Length
240 pages
Annotation
AN OVERVIEW OF THE INVESTIGATION OF VIOLENT CRIME COVERS TYPICAL INJURIES, INTERPRETING BLOODSTAINS, AND INVESTIGATIVE CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE VARIOUS TYPES OF VIOLENCE, WITH REFERENCE TO FORENSIC MEDICINE.
Abstract
THE BOOK DISCUSSES THE IMPORTANCE OF CAREFUL OBSERVATION, PROCEDURES AT THE SCENE, THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION, THE INVESTIGATING TEAM, THE BODY, TIMING DEATH, AND THE POST MORTEM. A CHAPTER IS DEVOTED TO THE TYPES OF INJURIES AND THE IDENTIFICATION OF INSTRUMENTS USED TO INFLICT INJURY. THE INTERPRETATION OF EVIDENCE IS DESCRIBED, INCLUDING BLOODSTAIN SHAPES OF WEAPONS, BLOODSTAINED PRINTS, AND TESTS FOR BLOOD. THE USE OF X-RAYS IN VARIOUS TYPES OF INVESTIGATIONS IS TREATED, WITH ATTENTION TO INTERPRETING FRACTURES, SEARCHING FOR FOREIGN BODIES, IDENTITY PROBLEMS, TERRORISM, AND CUSTOMS EVASION. A CHAPTER IS DEVOTED TO THE ROLE OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER, INCLUDING EQUIPMENT, PERSPECTIVE AND VIEWPOINT, THE SCENE OF THE CRIME, THE POST MORTEM ROOM, AND PHOTOGRAPHY AS EVIDENCE. SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE CONSIDERATIONS FOR EACH OF THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES OF VIOLENCE ARE DISCUSSED: VEHICULAR STREET ACCIDENTS; ABORTION, INFANT DEATH, AND THE BATTERED WIFE; SEX VIOLENCE; ASPHYXIAL VIOLENCE; DROWNING; FIREARMS INJURIES; ARSON; AND SUSPECTED POISONING. THE APPENDIXES DETAIL PREFERRED PACKING FOR BIOLOGICAL SPECIMENS AND RECOMMENDED STORAGE CONDITIONS FOR BIOLOGICAL SPECIMENS. THE BOOK IS ILLUSTRATED EXTENSIVELY BY PHOTOGRAPHS. AN INDEX IS INCLUDED. (RCB)