Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques [Hardcover]

Stuart James (Editor), Jon J. Nordby (Editor), Suzanne Bell (Editor), Stuart H. James (Editor), Jon J. Nordby Ph.D. (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0849312469 | ISBN-13: 978-0849312465 | Publication Date: August 29, 2002 | Edition: 1st

Criminal profiling, cyberforensics, accident reconstruction. Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques is the first introductory text to present forensic science in its broadest sense, encompassing classic criminalistics and beyond.

Packed with over 350 full-color illustrations, the book offers a cutting-edge presentation of criminalistics and related laboratory subjects, covering:

Trace Evidence
Forensic Toxicology
DNA Analysis and its Legal Aspects
Questioned Documents
Drug Analysis
Crime Scene Investigation
Firearms and Tool marks
Biological Fluids
Fingerprints

In addition, you get full-chapter, state-of-the-art accounts of topics such as:

Forensic Pathology and Traumatic Death
Forensic Odontology
Forensic Anthropology
Forensic Taphonomy
Recognition of Bloodstain Patterns
Footwear Evidence
Tire Imprint Evidence
Forensic Engineering
Vehicular Accident Reconstruction
Computer Crime
Forensic Psychology, Psychiatry, and Profiling

Highly respected experts active in each discipline share their expertise, their cases, and up-to-date techniques, while careful editing has made that information accessible to non-scientists. Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques offers a clear, comprehensive overview that reveals the breadth and richness of the forensic sciences to students entering the field and practitioners who need to collaborate outside their disciplines.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James; Stuart James and Associates, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA,Nordby; Jon J. Final Analysis, Tacoma, Washington, USA,

Product Details

• Hardcover: 720 pages
• Publisher: CRC Press; 1st edition (August 29, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849312469
• ISBN-13: 978-0849312465
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #921,627 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Guide, June 7, 2004

By 

Elizabeth K. Reiter (Fountain City, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques (Hardcover)

This book is excellent for anyone interested in Forensic Science. Just as the synopsis says this brings to light the reality of forensics as a science rather than psychology. It is in depth but clear and easy to understand - it even has a huge glossary of terms at the rear with the words highlighted in the chapters for easy acess to their meanings. It will be an invaluable help to people with an interest in forensic science. As this book says, it's an introduction on "scientific and investigative techniques" but don't be fooled, the detail is immense and the book is superbly laid out. Clear diagrams, photos and graphs are well placed to help the reader further understand what they are taking in. The text it's self is easy to follow and friendly to read and the concepts are well explained. What I especially like about this book are the questions at the end of each section (nothing formidable) and the case studies and examples that further help to emphasize the points being put across.

11 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars not impressed, August 17, 2004

By 

science enthusiast - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques (Hardcover)

This is a superb book...for junior high or high school students. Yes, it is easy to read, but I found the highlighted words in the text (to indicate they are in the glossary) to be a nuisance. The authors over-simplify everything and attempt to encompass too many areas of the broad field, so it will only be of use to readers who have never seen CSI or know absolutely nothing about forensic science. Saferstein's introductory book on forensic science would be a better choice for your money.

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Stars Excellent, Purely Academic, Scientific, January 13, 2012

By 

Reader "PursueTheTruth" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques, (Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific & Investigative Techniques)3th (third) edition (Hardcover)

While I am using this book for a graduate level introductory course in forensic science, this book is simple and clear enough for undergraduate. In fact, I would venture to say it could also be used for high school level as the previous reviewer had mentioned.

This is not to say that this book is not good enough for a graduate level introductory course. Importantly, it is quite comprehensive (look at the table of contents) and covers a plethora of topics in forensic science that are all lucidly explained by the authors. If one is for instance writing a step-by-step guide to basic CSI, this book could be cited as a reference easily as it explains each step pretty thoroughly for the basics. My adviser won a very prestigious education award in this field, and if it is good enough for him, I believe it would be good enough for your program as well.

As a 10th year college student, I recommend it for not only the reasons I'd already mentioned, but also because it is one of the highest-quality textbooks I've studied for professionally accomplishing the purposes intended. (At this level, having experienced the worst of academic smugness and textbook fallacy that comes with it, I appreciate that this book is scientific, no-nonsense, no awful left-wing agenda, no errors). Again, students can easily use this as reference material in coursework.

So if you're a teacher, check this one out.

One side note: Do not read while eating unless you are on a diet and don't mind losing your appetite.