2nd Edition

Field Guide to Clandestine Laboratory Identification and Investigation

By Donnell R. Christian, Jr. Copyright 2023
124 Pages 53 Color & 45 B/W Illustrations
by CRC Press

124 Pages 53 Color & 45 B/W Illustrations
by CRC Press

124 Pages 53 Color & 45 B/W Illustrations
by CRC Press

Clandestine labs that manufacture drugs or explosives may be encountered virtually anywhere. They can range from complex operations employing scientific equipment and exotic chemicals or simply kitchen utensils and chemicals purchased at a local grocery or hardware store. Regardless of their form, the key to detecting clandestine labs is the ability to recognize the combinations of equipment and... Read more

Chapter 1: Definitions

Chapter 2: Equipment

Chapter 3: Chemical Tables

Chapter 4: Hazard Identification

Chapter 5: Site Control

Chapter 6: Scene Processing

Chapter 7: Worksheet Guides

Appendix A: Emergency Hotlines

Biography

Donnell R. Christian, Jr. has over 30 years of forensic experience, split between two areas of expertise.  He spent 15 years with the Arizona DPS specializing in the clandestine manufacture of drugs and explosives.  He is currently an explosives chemist for the Forensic Exploitation Directorate of the Defense Forensic Science Center.  In between these engagements he assisted in establishing forensic science programs in the developing democracies as the Director of International Training for Professional Business Solutions (PBSI) and as the Forensic Science Development Coordinator for the U.S. DOJ’s International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP).  With ICITAP, he has assisted in establishing forensic science programs in the developing democracies of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Senegal, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as well as the post conflict countries of Bosnia, Haiti, Kosovo and Iraq. During his tenure with PBSI he provided the technical assistance to the forensic programs in Armenia, Georgia and Moldova which lead to their acquisition of ISO 17025 accreditation through their national accreditation body. Mr. Christian has utilized his experience with the as the basis for three books and numerous articles to include: Forensic Investigation of Clandestine Laboratories (CRC Press 2003), Field Guide to Clandestine Laboratory Identification and Investigation (CRC Press 2004) and Clandestine Lab Investigation Pocket Guide (PBSI 2006) as well as chapters in Forensic Science, An Introduction to Forensic Investigative Techniques (CRC Press 2003, 2005, 2009, 2014) and The Forensic Science Handbook (2006, 2011). Donnell has a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Police Administration from Northern Arizona University and a Masters’ Degree in Criminal Justice from AMU.