Product Description
Improve your use of tire imprint evidence with the work of an expert. McDonald discusses methods for examining, capturing, and recording imprints, outlines standard procedures for identification, shows how to prepare expert testimony, and provides detailed technical information helpful in identifying imprints. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent!Comprehensive treatment made easy to understand.
The author is an expert who has produced a book of great value toinvestigators.This volume is easy to read without avoiding the technicalnature of the work.It has one of the best (though brief) treatments ofinvestigative photography (!!) that I seen in any forensic text to date -including photography texts - WOW. Book is of equal value to those who justwant to learn about the subject and the "expert witness."Everypolice department should have 5 copies of this book. ... Read more

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Linking the murders of an alleged serial killer to successfully present a case in court involves a specific methodology that has been scrutinized by the judicial system but is largely absent in the current literature. Serial Violence: Analysis of Modus Operandi and Signature Characteristics of Killers fully explains the process of finding the nexus between one violent crime and another for the purpose of pursuing the same offender at trial.

Examines real cases of some of the world’s most notorious serial killers

Written by renowned experts, this book focuses on analyzing crimes of violence to unveil common characteristics that might prove useful in the identification, apprehension, and conviction of murderers. It begins by detailing the historical origins of modus operandi as an investigative tool. It examines murderous ritualistic behavior in a variety of cases, including William Heirens, Harvey Glatman, Morris Frampton, and Jack the Ripper. Later chapters discuss serial murders accompanied by burglary, torture, picquerism, sexual violence, sexual degradation, and a host of other behaviors.

Includes color photographs of actual crime scenes

Containing 40 color photos, this volume includes useful information for expert witnesses and portions of transcripts of original testimony. The scintillating detail and rigorous analysis presented in this volume enables those charged with solving these violent crimes to discern the types of modus operandi and ritualistic behaviors that can be linked to the same offender, helping law enforcement bring these dangerous offenders to justice.

About the Authors

Bob Keppel served on the King County homicide task force that investigated the infamous Ted Bundy and has been an expert witness on scores of serial killer signature profile cases across the United States. Along with coauthor William Birnes, Dr. Keppel worked on a United States Department of Justice grant to evaluate how local police homicide units use computer database technology to track serial killer and sexual offender cases by cross-referencing offender psychological signatures.

Customer Reviews (1)

Great book
This book is an amazing reference for anyone who is studying psychology or criminal justice.It is also an interesting read for those who just want to know more about serial killers and how they operate. ... Read more

Product Description
Computerized crime mapping or GIS in law enforcement agencies has experienced rapid growth, particularly since the mid 1990s. There has also been increasing interests in GIS analysis of crime from various academic fields including criminology, geography, urban planning, information science and others. This book features a diverse array of GIS applications in crime analysis, from general issues such as GIS as a communication process and inter-jurisdictional data sharing to specific applications in tracking serial killers and predicting juvenile violence. The book showcases a broad range of methods and techniques from typical GIS tasks such as geocoding and hotspot analysis to advanced technologies such as geographic profiling, agent-based modeling and web GIS. Contributors range from university professors, criminologists in research institutes to police chiefs, GIS analysts in police departments and consultants in criminal justice. ... Read more

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Reviewed and recognized as the most authoritative sourcein the field, this book describes the methods used worldwide to recover and identify footwear impressions from the scene of a crime.In this new edition,everything, including the original twelve chapters,bibliography, appendix, etc., has been clarified, updated and expanded. This edition includes updated and new information on recovery procedures and materials such as lifting, photography and casting; chemical enhancement; updated information about footwear manufacturing; footwear sizing; and known impression techniques and materials. WHAT'S NEW IN THE SECOND EDITION: Besides updating and expanding the twelve original chapters, Footwear Impression Evidence: Detection, Recovery and Examination, Second Edition adds three new chapters: one chapter on barefoot evidence, which concerns impressions made by the naked or sock-clad foot or those which remain in abandoned or discarded footwear; another new chapter on several cases in which the footwear impression evidence was of primary importance in bringing about a conviction or confession; and finally, a new chapter on the footwear impression evidence in the O.J. Simpson criminal and civil cases. ... Read more

Product Description
Trace Evidence Analysis continues and builds upon the tradition of its successful companion title Mute Witnesses (2000). Written by some of the top practicing forensic scientists, each chapter explains in detail the detective and analytic work that goes into solving complex cases. The book contains nine entirely new cases, each self-contained in its own chapter, covering everything from homicides to accident reconstruction. Leading experts from around the world provide detailed accounts of the process of collection, classification, and analysis of microscopic evidence to draw definitive conclusions that solved actual cases.

The cases not only fascinate but provide students and expert forensic scientists alike with an invaluable tool to examine the roles of trace evidence and microscopy in forensic investigation.

· Contains contributions from some of the premier forensic scientists in the field
· Discusses the role of evidence in solving cases and explores the legal and ethical responsibility of the forensic scientist
· Explores real-world application of scientific methods and analytic principles including evidence gathering, instrumentation, sampling methods, analysis, and interpretation
· Includes over 160 full-color figures that illustrate the relevant case evidence ... Read more

Product Description
"Physical evidence cannot be wrong; it cannot perjure itself; it cannot be wholly absent. Only its interpretation can err. Only human failure to find it, study and understand it, can diminish its value."-Presiding Judge, Harris v U.S., 331 U.S. 145 (1947) HOW TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THE CRIME SCENE WHILE CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION First Unit Responder: A Guide to Physical Evidence Collection for Patrol Officers is a training guide and reference for patrol officers and criminal investigators, who conduct preliminary investigations of crime scenes, to aid in identification, collection, and booking of physical evidence. Written by a veteran of 24 years of law enforcement, the book stresses the importance of understanding the critical nature of physical evidence and preservation of the crime scene as part of the case against a criminal defendant. This book is an important tool for police academies that train recruits and veteran patrol officers, as well as for students of criminal justice who seek guidelines for proper collection and handling of physical evidence. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A good start.
Simple and basic, this book is a good platformfor learning about first responder duties. This book is an easy read and could be completed in less than two days.I would recommend this book for the small town officer,recent academy grad, or the experienced officer who may a little out of touch.

First Unit Responder
Very good and detailed.A good compilation and overview if you have read or use other crime scene guidelines.It hits the highlights and provides good review tests.

"Excellent start for novice or those interested in CSI"
Mark R. Hawthorne's "First Unit Responder," CRC Press 1999, ISBN 0-9493-002-1, is a 6 chapter 98-page guide book for uniformed officers working in the field who frequently are the first to arrive for a potential crime scene investigation(CSI).
Hawthorne gives us an easy-to-read introduction to basic CSI response that includes definition of various physical evidence characteristics (individual versus class), implementation of CSI response protocol (ARISN), identification & documentation of evidence, evidence collection (do's & don'ts), fingerprint/glove appreciation, case review with ADA and testimony tips for the non-specialist officer & a 12-page illustrated appendix showing evidentiary items.Each chapter didactic is followed with a (dozen or so) basic question & answer section with explanations.
The author's impressive credentials in both field and teaching experiences helped condense important basic CSI issues into a short and easily-read synopsis that includes 20 good bibliographic entries and a thorough 6-page index.A few trivial grammatical flaws are readily discharged, but difficult to justify given computers with spell-checkers, etc.

Rookies or veterans, Cops to firefighters to EMT's
As a law enforcement instructor at a police training facility, I found this book to be fantastic for the new recruits we train. As a retired police officer/Crime Scene Analyst, I also realized it would be great for some veteren officers and non-law enforcement personnel to review. Mark Hawthorne has kept the technical information on an easily understandable level. He has covered, in 90 pages, what would take hours of personal instruction. I found the test questions and answers extremely helpful in preparing reviews. This book can be picked up by the patrol officer, and if READ, could furnish much of the information to properly document most any crime scene. I would recommend this book to any basic law enforcement instructor or new police officer. ... Read more

Product Description
Trace evidence is small, even microscopic remnants of materials found at a crime scene or on a victim. The term "mute witnesses" is commonly used to refer to these small bits of evidence such as paint smears, fibers, hair strands, dirt particles, glass fragments, and other items.

Trace evidence can be used to tell the story of how a crime was committed and to identify and convict suspects. Recent improvements in the techniques used to collect and analyze trace evidence have played a key role in solving many cases that might have gone unsolved just a few years ago.

Mute Witnesses: Trace Evidence Analysis presents intriguing case studies from well-recognized experts and bright young stars in the field. Each chapter presents the facts of one or more prominent cases (particularly cases where DNA evidence was not available or was inconclusive), follows the progress of the investigation and how trace evidence assisted, and highlights important aspects for teaching. The cases cover carpet "nubs," hair and wig fibers, plastics in automobiles, glass, feathers, cross-transfer evidence, and more.

This unique book shows how the latest analysis techniques can provide new leads, detect evidence that has been transferred from one place to another, and closely link suspects, victims, and crime scenes. Numerous photographs and illustrations are included throughout the text. The material is written in a style that is accessible to trace analysts, crime scene specialists, police officers, lawyers, and students. This book is ideal for training, review, or general interest.

* Real case studies show how trace evidence was used to help solve difficult cases
* Written by top investigators from the FBI, crime labs, state police, etc.
* Outlines how the latest analysis techniques can provide new leads and closely link suspects, victims, and crime scenes
* Includes numerous color photographs and illustrations
* Designed for training, reference, or general interest ... Read more

Product Description
This volume represents an approach to the analysis of glass and paint as they occur as trace evidence in forensic cases. Each chapter is written by an expert in their particular area. The book is divided into two sections: one referring to paint and one referring to glass. Each section covers an introduction to the compositon of these materials and the analytical approach to obtaining information from these types of exhibits, together with an interpretation of that evidence in the context of the forensic cases. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is a journal article from Digital Investigation, published by Elsevier in 2006. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
The current research study replicated a study by Rogers et al. (Rogers M, Smoak ND, Liu J. Self-reported criminal computer behavior: a big-5, moral choice and manipulative exploitive behavior analysis. Deviant Behavior 2006;27:1-24) and examined the psychological characteristics, moral choice, and exploitive manipulative behaviors of self-reported computer criminals and non-computer criminals. Seventy-seven students enrolled in an information technology program participated in the web-based study. The results of the study indicated that the only significant variable for predicting criminal/deviant computer behavior was extraversion. Those individuals self-reporting criminal computer behavior were significantly more introverted than those reporting no criminal/deviant computer behavior. This finding is contrary to the findings of the previous study. The current study confirmed that the four psychometric instruments were reliable for conducting research in the field of criminal/deviant computer behavior. The impact of the findings on the field of digital forensic investigations is discussed as well as possible reasons for the apparent contradiction between the two studies. ... Read more

Product Description
One of the first books to bring crime analysis and crime mapping to an undergraduate audience and the only introductory core text available on the topic, this Second Edition of Crime Analysis with Crime Mapping provides an overview of the field, covers key analytical techniques, and discusses crime prevention and the role of crime analysis in effective policing. Enriched by author Rachel Boba’s unique perspective as an experienced academic and former crime analyst, the book offers a thorough introduction to the field as well as guidelines for practice.

New to the Second Edition

• Provides specific instances and applications of basic processes and techniques of crime analysis
• Offers expanded discussions of the problem-solving process used in policing and the various types of technology available for crime analysis, as well as a broader discussion of GIS, GPS, and crime mapping
• Links theory to the practice of crime prevention in policing and provides justification for the importance and role of crime analysis in policing in a new Chapter Three
• Explains how police identify and use patterns of criminal behaviors and activities in a new Chapter Nine
• Presents an overview of how crime analysis fits into policing and crime prevention, the strengths and weaknesses of crime analysis, and its future

Customer Reviews (2)

Hobbes
This is a great book providing the reader with a comprehensive perspective of the crime analysis process.

Seller has 100% earned A LIFETIME BUYER!
The book arrived in better condition than described and it arrived quick (which is a huge issue with me). I pay right then and this is why I prefer to have my shipments arrive quickly as well. A++++++++++ 5 Star Review! Hands down! ... Read more

Product Description
This title brings forensic scientists and chemists up-to-date on the latest instrumental methods for analysing trace evidence, including mass spectrometry, image analysis, DIOS-MS, ELISA characterization, statistical validation, and others.

• Illustrates comparative analysis of trace evidence by both old and new methods.
• Explains why some newer methods are superior to older, established methods.
• Includes chapters on analysis of DNA, ink, dyes, glitter, gun powder traces, condom trace evidence, footwear impressions, toolmark impressions, surveillance videos, glass particles, and dirt.
• Discusses applications such as mass spectrometry, image analysis, desorption-ionization on silicon mass spectrometry (DIOS-MS), ELISA characterization, and statistical validation.

Product Description
Evidence Management for Paralegals is a valuable resource and practical tool for instructors, and the beginning to mid-level student enrolled in a paralegal or legal studies course.Readers will learn from the in-depth coverage of topics including detailed descriptions of what constitutes evidence, gathering evidence from public, private, and governmental sources, and using the discovery process to obtain all forms of evidence.Students will find information more accessible by the use ofcase scenarios guiding them through ?real life? situations applying the skills taught.The information and instruction is provided through United States court rules, regulations and codes,as well as a wealth of practical information presentedthrough examples, explanations, samples of actual letters and documents. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent textbook and resource!
I am an experienced paralegal, and I purchased this book on my own to improve my knowledge and skills in the area of evidence management and investigation.It's so nice to see a reasonably priced textbook and legal resource for paralegals!

This book is well-written and presented in a logical, easy to read format, with wide margins for notes.It also contains one of the clearest treatments of the hearsay rule and its exceptions I've come across (a particularly hard topic for new paralegals to grasp).

Since this was for self-study, I did not make much use of the case scenarios or quiz questions in each chapter, but they would be excellent for group study or class discussions. I was hoping for a bit more treatment on taking photos for the law office, but otherwise the book is very comprehensive.We need more practical, topic-oriented practice guides for paralegals just like this!

Great Resource in a Small Package
The book offers good, practical, street-smart information in a small and concise package and should prove useful to any professional working in the litigation field. I was pleasantly surprised to find that although marketed as a textbook for formal paralegal education, it also serves as an easily accessible desk reference full of practical tips and reminders. We intend to use it on a trial basis in our in-house training for our litigation associates and paralegals and suspect that its case illustrations will serve to provoke discussion and participation by all members of the litigation team. Delmar/Thomsen deserves credit for publishing a book authored by two experienced, practicing paralegals: in grounding the book in the authors' real world experience instead of abstract theory they have created a valuable educational and practice resource. ... Read more

Product Description

Research has shown that the majority of crimes are committed by persistent or serial offenders, with as little as seven percent of offenders accounting for approximately 60 percent of all crimes. By focusing police efforts on these prolific offenders and learning to identify, analyze, and resolve the crimes they commit, the law enforcement community can protect and defend the public much more effectively. Tactical Crime Analysis: Research and Investigation provides a comprehensive discussion on both the theoretical and practical aspects of crime series analysis, making it a critical resource for those engaged in crime prevention and investigation.

Appropriate for all levels

Written by a distinctive team of authors, each of whom combine academic credibility, police experience, and years of analytical success, this manual is designed for the novice, the working professional, and the veteran crime analyst. It provides an introduction to the realities of tactical crime analysis, assists current analysts in further developing their professional skills, and offers advanced insight for experts.

Covering all aspects of serial crime investigation, the book explores:

• Major problems and issues within serial crime
• Offender spatial behavior
• Linkage analysis
• Investigative techniques
• Geographic profiling
• Next event forecasting

Supplemental materials to enhance the text

This multi-faceted resource includes an interview with a serial offender, case studies of solved serial crimes, and an accompanying website with supplemental material. An important addition to the reference shelf of analytical professionals, this resource provides a revealing glimpse into the machinations of the serial offender.

Product Description
Psychology

An essential resource for employing this widely used personality assessment test in correctional settings.

Originally developed in the 1970s and now revised for the MMPI-2, the Megargee System provides a method for classifying criminal offenders into groups based on their MMPI-2 profiles. This empirically derived system has been investigated in a wide variety of criminal justice settings including corrections, probation, and parole. It has been tested in minimum, medium, and maximum federal, state, and military correctional institutions, in local jails, in halfway houses, and in forensic mental health units. Its use has been extended to female offenders, older men, and juvenile delinquents. Integrating thirty years of research, this new resource fully evaluates the reliability, validity, sources, and uses of the Megargee system.

Classifying Criminal Offenders with the MMPI-2 describes how the system was originally derived and validated and gives instructions on how to classify the original MMPI and MMPI-2 profiles of male and female criminal offenders. It integrates the findings of more than one hundred independent studies with previously unpublished original research investigating the characteristics of each of the system's empirically derived male and female types. On the basis of these data, the authors recommend the optimal settings, change agents, and treatment programs for each type of offender.

As the basic reference work on the MMPI-2 Megargee system, this volume will be an essential resource for criminal justice practitioners, psychologists interested in the MMPI-2, and researchers in criminal classification and personality assessment.

Edwin I. Megargee is professor of psychology at Florida State University and recognized as the foremost expert on the use of the MMPI instruments in correctional settings. Joyce L. Carbonell is professor of psychology at Florida State University. Martin J. Bohn Jr. is chief psychologist at Florida State Hospital. Greta L. Sliger is a clinical psychologist in Tallahassee, Florida. ... Read more

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Product Description
Since 1955 when Dr. Paul Kirk first presented a bloodstain evidence affidavit in State of Ohio v. Samuel Sheppard, expert testimony on bloodstain interpretation has gained wide acceptance in U.S. courts. Scientific and Legal Applications of Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation brings together some of the most respected and noted experts in forensic science, the law, and bloodstain interpretation to provide a comprehensive overview of the discipline. It discusses research, applications, and the current view of bloodstain pattern interpretation within the legal system at the trial and appellate court levels, as well as scientific approaches and developments in the field.Scientific and Legal Applications of Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation will help attorneys who are questioning and cross-examining expert witnesses have a good working knowledge of bloodstain interpretation. Included is a full-color atlas of bloodstains, in conjunction with a glossary of terms and an outline of basic laboratory experiments that are commonly used in the discipline. Among the outstanding contributions in this volume you will find:oAn excellent chapter by Carol Henderson discusses the legal and ethical aspects of bloodstain pattern evidence in detail. oA post-conviction analysis by Marie Elena Saccoccio evaluates how bloodstain evidence can play a role in the appeal process. Misinterpretation and overinterpretation of bloodstain evidence can occur in our courts of law-be prepared to effectively analyze the evidence and the testimony with Scientific and Legal Applications of Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

ANOTHER AWSOME PROJECT BY STUART H. JAMES
Another great text.James involves numerous other experts to bring the whole project together.An especially fantastic chapter by Paul Erwin Kishon case evaluation and report writing.A great case law appendix for boththe state and federal levels. A very interesting appendix from Paul LelandKirk.I could comment positively on each and every chapter. Just fantasticall around !Another pleasure to read. KEEP THEM COMING !!! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Awesome
This book is very useful for all those studying or have an interest incriminal justice. An excellent source to have!

A refreshing and honest change!!!
After reading for several years the virtual propaganda that seems to have become the unfortunate norm in the field of criminal profiling a book has finally emerged which honestly and most importantly - objectively - canvasses all of the work in this area. Without a doubt this book is a significant triumph for anyone who seriously wants to 'learn' about criminal profiling as opposed to simply reading the usual aggrandizing rubbish so many authors in this field seem to produce. The book gives readers an excellent insight into the field and explains the strengths and weaknesses of the research - warts and all. For its objectivity alone I would give this book 10/10. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, published by Thomson Gale on October 1, 2006. The length of the article is 3851 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Criminal investigative failures: avoiding the pitfalls (Part two).
Author: D. Kim Rossmo
Publication: The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin (Magazine/Journal)
Date: October 1, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 75Issue: 10Page: 12(8)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Product Description
Written by the nation's foremost authority on gunshot wounds and forensic techniques as they relate to firearm injuries, Gunshot Wounds: Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and Forensic Techniques, Second Edition provides critical information on gunshot wounds and the weapons and ammunition used to inflict them. The book describes practical aspects of ballistics, wound ballistics, and the classification of various wounds caused by handguns, bang guns, rifles, and shotguns. The final chapters explain autopsy technique and procedure and laboratory analysis relating to weapons and gunshot evidence. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Useful Technical Information
This is the best technical read on ballistic events that I have ever seen.I work in law enforcement and I immediately noticed descriptions of gunshot related events that our local medical experts may have been insufficiently informed about.Dr. Dimaio's wealth of experience pours out of this book.Every police officer, prosecutor, forensic scientist and pathologist should have a copy of this book on the shelf.

Criminal Defense Attorneys...Read This!
With the increasing use of forensics in courtrooms these days, it's imperative that attorneys be able to understand their applications. I practice criminal defense in Chicago and handle a lot of gun cases. I am also a very small-time solo practitioner whose clients cannot afford expert witnesses. I must, therefore, be able to have a working knowledge of gun-related evidence.

This book provides more than an ample amount of information for all types of firearms: handguns, hunting rifles, shotguns, and assault weapons. It also discusses in great detail the different types of ammunition even to the level of different gun powders and primers. Do you know how to look at a gunshot wound and tell what caliber the bullet was? Or how far away the weapon was fired? Do you know how to visually analyze clothing that bullets have passed through to ascertain the same information? While this book may not be able to adequately train you to answer these questions within a reasonable degree of scientific certainty, it will get you close. You will know by looking at a wound if it was a contact or distant wound and if it was a small or large caliber weapon. More importantly you will know what tests to seek from the crime lab.

In other words, this book will show you what you don't know by explaining all there is to know. I currently have a murder case pending that I needed gunshot residue tests performed on the clothing the victims were wearing. I could have just put in my motion "gunshot residue test". After reading this book, however, I learned the names of the two commonly tests used by most crime labs, how they are done, what they can reveal, and how accurate the results can be. When the State's expert testifies at the trial, I will understand what he's talking about which only makes for a more effective cross.

If you have ever read a ballistics report and had no idea what "lands" and "grooves" were, this book will teach you what they are and how to apply them to a case. I have a military background and have been around a lot of firearms but never realized how much there is to know about them. This book will be an essential reference for years to come or until a new edition is published.

A difficult read
The title of this book, should be "Ballistics".There is little information on the actual wounds, but more on the grains and callibers of the bullets.The book has black and white photos, which makes it very difficult to see stippling, powder burns and soot.You will learn detailed information about bullets and the brands (if you can rememeber all that), unfortunately, not much more.

Shocking
Very informative about the destructive power a bullet can have.As wrong as this may sound, if you own guns and have children, this is a good book to buy.It is difficult to explain to a child what a bullet can do to a human being.With this, you can show them.

An excellent textbook on the subject of firearm injuries
This text should be in the library of any reader who has an interest in the topic of guns and the injuries they produce. While written with the practising forensic pathologist in mind, the book is appropriate forinvestigators, attorneys and other healthcare providers. The discussions offirearms and their features are very good and should help those withlimited knowledge about guns understand what they do, how they do it andthe terminology used in the field. ... Read more