Crime Scene Evidence: A Guide to the Recovery and Collection of Physical Evidence [Spiral-bound]

Mike Byrd (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2, 2001

"Crime Scene Evidence: A Guide to the Recovery and Collection of Physical Evidence" was written by veteran crime scene investigator Mike Byrd. The book is designed to be carried in the field and used as a reference in the recovery, collection, and packaging of crime scene evidence. Categories of evidence covered in this book include impression evidence, forensic biology evidence, trace evidence, firearms evidence and questioned documents. Topics cover most evidence located at crime scenes from fingerprints, including fingerprints on human skin, to recovering bullets from inside walls. The book includes an appendix listing likely evidence found at scenes by type of investigation.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

The purpose of this book is to give the investigator a quick and easy reference guide to the collection, handling, and packaging of crime scene evidence. It is meant to assist everyone working in the field of evidence collection--from the first responding officer, to the newly assigned investigator, to the savvy veteran with many crime scene responses under his/her belt. The first responding officer may find himself/herself involved in a situation where he/she will need to collect a particular piece of evidence for whatever reason. In the beginning the crime scene trainee, regardless of their previous experience, can often times find that the job appears to be overwhelming. This is usually due to the abundant task and knowledge required to fulfill the duties of a crime scene investigator or evidence recovery technician. On the same pretext, the crafty veteran may find himself/herself assigned to do a task that he/she hasn't performed in a long time. As in any occupation if something is not done on a continuous basis, the basic knowledge need for completing that task may be temporarily forgotten. Hopefully this text will assist everyone in carrying out the task of crime scene evidence recovery and collection with ease.

About the Author

Mike Byrd has been in law enforcement for eighteen years with the Metro Dade Police Department, including five years in uniformed patrol and thirteen years in the department's Major Cases Unit of the Crime Scene Investigation Bureau. He has handled many high profile crime scenes including the Valujet crash, Jimmy Ryce abduction and murder, and the Tamiami Strangler serial killer case.

Mike is a certified police standards instructor for the states of Florida and Arkansas and has developed and instructed many classes in crime scene identification. This includes the "Crime Scene Evaluation and Latent Fingerprint Recovery" class he developed and instructs that has been referred to as the "Field Training Officer's crime scene class." Mike received national recognition for this class when it was awarded the NACO outstanding achievement award.

Mike is a member of the South Florida Forensics Association, Florida Division of the International Association for Identification (having served on the Board of Directors and as Chairman of the Crime Scene Committee), and the Miami-Dade County Public School Board Criminal Justice Advisory Committee.

Mike has received many awards including the Metro Dade Police Department's Silver Medal of Valor for devotion to duty during the investigation of the Valujet 592 crash.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 102 pages
• Publisher: Staggs Pub (July 2, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966197054
• ISBN-13: 978-0966197051
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,529,553 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars now, a Fair review, July 17, 2003

By 

michael andree (Wauwatosa, Wi United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crime Scene Evidence: A Guide to the Recovery and Collection of Physical Evidence (Spiral-bound)

In direct contrast with the other reviewer, this manual is a must for every evidence collection kit in the country. It's size and information is one of the best guidelines in print and maneuvering about this book is fast and easy. At a time when those of us in the Forensic Evidence field are striving for uniformity in the collection, preservation and submission of evidence; this book hits it right on the head. It is written by one of the finest Crime Scene workers and educators in the country and, if the grammer is a little off; that only adds to character of the book.
If you want good grammer, shop in the English Textbook section.
If you want a great, easy to use reference manual on the proper collection of evidence, this book is well worth the nominal fee !!

4.0 out of 5 stars Good to have on hand for crime scene investigations..., June 7, 2009

By 

L. A. Vinsonhaler "Bishop's Mom" (Papillion, NE United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crime Scene Evidence: A Guide to the Recovery and Collection of Physical Evidence (Spiral-bound)

I didn't get a chance to use this book for class, but will be something that I definitely keep on hand when doing crime scene investigations. It's a good how-to manual, addressing various issues regarding protocol and handling evidence.

12 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Illustrated with MS Paint, October 7, 2002

By 

"croberts144" (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crime Scene Evidence: A Guide to the Recovery and Collection of Physical Evidence (Spiral-bound)

First, this book is not worth [the money]. The grammar was atrocious, and spelling in graphic illustrations was not checked. The book abounds with grammar errors, I'd estimate about 1 grammar error for every 3 paragraphs. It's clear the author did run a spell checker on the text, but didn't have access to a grammar checker. The pictures look like they were drawn in MS Paint. They are blocky and amateurish. With some concentration I was able to discern what the pictures were trying to convey. The black and white photographs were somewhat useful.

I recommend you avoid this book, and spend your money on something else.