Practical Homicide Investigation: Tactics, Procedures, and Forensic Techniques, Third Edition (Hardcover)

by Vernon J. Geberth (Editor) "The homicide crime scene is, without a doubt, the most important crime scene a police officer or investigator will be called upon to respond to..." (more)
Key Phrases: homicide crime scene search, professional homicide investigation, investigatively speaking, New York, Final Exit, Nassau County (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
As a Deputy Chief with forty years' experience, I am convinced that this book is an absolute must-read for all homicide investigators. It should also be studied by all law enforcement professionals who want a clear, concise, detailed guide to the investigation of homicides.
Lt. Colonel James J. Hackett, Deputy Chief of Police, City of St. Louis, Missouri

As a practitioner myself, I highly recommend the book to all law enforcement personnel who are involved in the investigation of homicides.
-Edward J. McNelley, Captain Detective, Boston Police Department

Geberth has succeeded in accomplishing the gargantuan task of revising this book, which is extensive in its scope and breadth, covering practically every circumstance and providing valuable pearls throughout.
-Frederick T. Zugibe, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Examiner, Rockland County, New York

I believe that the extent of Geberth's knowledge of all aspects of homicide investigations is unmatched anywhere in the world, and this third edition is testimony to this knowledge.
-Captain Thomas J. Cronin, Chicago Police Department

Quotes to use as needed:
Using his personal experience and a network of professionals, Geberth has compiled, in one resource, a book that covers every imaginable aspect of homicide investigation, offering guidance for most circumstances encountered during investigations. ... This is an excellent and relevant text that far surpasses anything available to the profession today.
-Robert C. Shaler, Ph.D., Department of Health, Office of Chief Medical Examiner, City of New York

The combination of [Practical Homicide Investigation, Third Edition] and the new Practical Homicide Investigation Checklist and Field Guide makes this the most complete manual on homicide investigations in the country. It should not only be mandatory reading for new investigators, but it is a great reference manual for even the most seasoned homicide investigator. This is a must for every investigator and belongs in every homicide office.
-Jerry Keller, Sheriff, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

The most comprehensive publication ever written on homicide investigation.
-Captain Thomas Nye, Warwick Police Department, Rhode Island, and Executive Director, Northeast Law Enforcement Officers Association

This is an incredible piece of work written in practical terms.... This truly is the ultimate resource for death scene investigation!
-Richard Holden, Training Officer, Brooklyn Park Police

This third edition... is the classic from which all other books on this topic will be rated. Simply put, this book provides the information today's investigators need. No other book comes close.
-Bruce Cameron, Editorial Director, Law and Order

Vern Geberth doesn't tell you about a homicide scene. He puts you in the middle of it. You see it. You feel it. You smell it. You hear it. You live it. His third edition is the best yet.
-Larry Welch, Director, Kansas Bureau of Investigation

[A] must-have if you frequently deal with criminal defense work, … an excellent primer on homicide investigation … . … Geberth, a retired Lt. Commander of the New York City Police Department, has produced what may be the finest, most detailed guide for homicide investigators ever written, and almost every chapter has been updated for this new edition to reflect the ever-changing technology … .
- PI Magazine, Sept./Oct. 2004

[T]he result of [the author's] endeavors is a book which is in the first place, so easy to read, but secondly so cleverly constructed as to both inform the reader but also to be so available as a reference manual. … I found it extremely readable … [T]he information conveyed is very explicit. The themes are well illustrated either by case reports or by photographic images and these aides are clearly presented without distracting from the impact of the text. … I feel that it is a very valuable addition to any library interested in assisting in Forensic Medicine, no matter in which discipline. I would commend it as a very readable, well set out volume which I am sure would prove its use in many instances.
- Dr. William P. Ryan, O.A.M.

Product Description
Learn the techniques and procedures to catch killers in Practical Homicide Investigation, the trusted "bible" used by thousands of law enforcement professionals across the country and around the world. Now the new Third Edition includes even more information - more photographs, more illustrations, more checklists, more case studies, and more protocols - than ever before. 75% OF THE MATERIAL IS REVISED AND EXPANDED!Virtually all of the chapters from the second edition have been updated in the new Third Edition. The chapters on sex-related homicide investigation and criminal profiling have been greatly expanded, enabling the investigator to recognize the different classifications of sex-related death to make an early assessment of possible suspects. New chapters deal with sensitive psychological issues such as death notification of the surviving families of homicide victims and the dynamics of suicide. Scientific advances in areas such as DNA technology are addressed. For the benefit of police administrators, the chapter on management has been restructured to provide guidance on the makeup and mission of the homicide investigative unit. This chapter also includes a section on putting together an Apprehension Team for arresting homicide fugitives. 480 PHOTOGRAPHS AND ILLUSTRATIONS, 24 FULL-COLOR INSERTS, AND 90 CASE STUDIES!The book includes numerous photographs, illustrations, and case studies depicting exactly what to look for and how to interpret a crime scene. New photographs of wound structure and injury aid the investigator in properly assessing the mode of death. The 24 color photographs graphically illustrate morphologic changes in the decomposing human body, and include examples of defense wounds, insect infestation, lividity, and wound structure. "Before and after" photographs of crime scenes treated with Luminol and victims treated with Toluidine blue illustrate the use of these chemicals in making invisible evidence visible to the naked eye.INCLUDES ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH HOMICIDE INVESTIGATIONIn the tradition of the best-selling previous editions, the Third Edition continues to be the encyclopedic source book on homicide investigation. It combines a straightforward presentation of detailed techniques with factual, instructive case studies. It stresses the basics, indicates the practicalities of certain investigative techniques, and provides patterns upon which to build a solid foundation for a prosecutable case. Practical Homicide Investigation, Third Edition is the indispensable guide for students of criminalistics, as well as for professionals involved in homicide investigation. No investigator should be without this veritable encyclopedia of homicide investigation.NEW TO THE THIRD EDITION:·174 new photographs and line drawings·Four completely new chapters: death notification, suicide investigation, homosexual homicide investigation, and narcotics-related homicide investigation·Updated section on DNA technology·50 new case studies

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 901 pages
• Publisher: CRC-Press; 3rd edition (August 11, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849381568
• ISBN-13: 978-0849381560
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #402,802 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's the Bible of Homicide Investigation, November 23, 1999

By	Terry L. Davis (United States) - See all my reviews

I have worked as a crime scene investigator for some 15 years and am now a police academy director. This text is the "Bible" for those of us who investigate murder--there is no better collection of information available. I also recommend Lt. Cmndr. Geberth's course offered throughout the United States under the same title. Get this, but don't leave it laying around--some cop will steal it!

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must book for homicide detectives, May 10, 1999

By A Customer

I have been a homicide investigator for 18 years. This book is a must for any homicide investigator as well as coroners. Included in the book are check off lists, for crime scenes and well defined steps to take during the course of your investigation. The author explains the need and reason for the neighborhood canvas. This book exposes you to various types of death and it truly is the Homicide Bible

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent; thorough, in-depth, and professional, April 6, 1999

By A Customer

I am a writer of police thrillers and had this book recommended to me by a homicide detective. It certainly filled in all kinds of holes in my research, though it is not for the faint of heart. An excellent overview of how a homicide investigation should be conducted.