NCJ Number
11815
Date Published
1972
Length
156 pages
Annotation
THE COLLECTION, IDENTIFICATION, AND ANALYSIS OF CRIMINAL EVIDENCE USING MODERN SCIENTIFIC TECHNIQUES.
Abstract
THE AUTHORS TRACE THE EVOLUTION OF SCIENTIFIC DETECTION FROM MISGUIDED BEGINNINGS TO ITS EVENTUAL ESTABLISHMENT AS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. THE TWO BASIC KINDS OF EVIDENCE, PERSONAL AND PHYSICAL, ARE DISCUSSED, AND THE METHODS UTILIZED IN THE COLLECTION OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE ARE DESCRIBED. THE ANALYSIS OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE USING SOPHISTICATED LABORATORY TECHNIQUES IS EXPLAINED SIMPLY AND WITH THE USE OF MANY ILLUSTRATIONS. PROBLEMS THAT ARISE FROM PRESENTING THE EVIDENCE IN COURT ARE ILLUSTRATED BY SEVERAL ACTUAL CASES. NUMEROUS CASES ARE CITED TO DEMONSTRATE THE FLEXIBILITY WITH WHICH THE SCIENTIST MUST APPROACH EACH NEW CASE. THE FUTURE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE IS CONSIDERED, IMPORTANT RESEARCH NOW UNDER WAY IS DESCRIBED, AND THE ROLE OF THE COMPUTER AS A MAJOR WEAPON IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME IS DISCUSSED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)