3rd Edition

Forensic Science Laboratory Manual and Workbook

By Thomas Kubic, Nicholas Petraco Copyright 2009
    384 Pages 268 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    384 Pages
    by CRC Press

    A laboratory companion to Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques and other undergraduate texts, Forensic Science Laboratory Manual and Workbook, Third Edition provides a plethora of basic, hands-on experiments that can be completed with inexpensive and accessible instrumentation, making this an ideal workbook for non-science majors and an excellent choice for use at both the high school and college level.

    This revised edition of a bestselling lab manual provides numerous experiments in odontology, anthropology, archeology, chemistry, and trace evidence. The experiments cover tests involving body fluid, soil, glass, fiber, ink, and hair. The book also presents experiments in impression evidence, such as fingerprints, bite marks, footwear, and firearms, and it features digital and traditional photography and basic microscopy.

    All of the experiments incorporate practical elements to facilitate the learning process. Students must apply the scientific method of reasoning, deduction, and problem-solving in order to complete the experiments successfully and attain a solid understanding of fundamental forensic science. Each of the 39 chapters features a separate experiment and includes teaching goals, offers the requisite background knowledge needed to conduct the experiments, and lists the required equipment and supplies. The book is designed for a cooperative learning setting in which three to five students comprise a group. Using the hands-on learning techniques provided in this manual, students will master the practical application of their theoretical knowledge of forensics.

     

    Part I.

    Experiment 1. Introduction to Scientific Measurement and Experimental Error — Determining the Density of Glass

    Experiment 2. Understanding Elements of Identification and Individualization

    Experiment 3. Use of the Compound Microscope

    Experiment 4. Stereomicroscopes and Firing Pin Impressions (Tool Marks)

    Experiment 5. Acquiring and Classifying Inked and Latent Fingerprints

    Experiment 6. Identification and Matching of Fingerprints

    Experiment 7. Cyanoacrylate "Super Glue" Fuming Technique to Develop Latent Fingerprints

    Experiment 8. Crime Scene Investigation: Safeguarding, Searching, Recognition, Documentation, Collection, Packaging, and Preservation of Physical Evidence Found at the Crime Scene

    Experiment 9. Trace Evidence Collection and Sorting

    Experiment 10. Sample Preparation for Microscopic Examination

    Experiment 11. Examination of Human Hair

    Experiment 12. Examination of Mammalian Hair

    Experiment 13. Measurement with the Microscope

    Experiment 14. Examination of Trace Quantities of Synthetic Fibers

    Experiment 15. Basics of Photography

    Experiment 16. Black-and-White Film Development

    Experiment 17. Collection of Footwear Evidence

    Experiment 18. Identification and Comparison of Footwear Impressions

    Experiment 19. Tool Mark Examination

    Experiment 20. Glass Fractures and Direction of Force

    Experiment 21. Thin-Layer Chromatography: Separation of Dyes in Ballpoint Inks

    Experiment 22. Bloodstain Geometry (Part A)

    Experiment 23. Bloodstain Geometry (Part B)

    Experiment 24. Forgery Detection

    Experiment 25. Soil Examination

    Experiment 26. Forensic Odontology 1: Is it a Bite Mark?

    Experiment 27. Forensic Odontology 2: Who Made the Questioned Bite Mark?

    Experiment 28. Forensic Archeology: Search for Human Habitation and Remains

    Experiment 29. Forensic Anthropology 1: Basic Human Osteology

    Experiment 30. Forensic Anthropology 2: Examination of Grave Site Bones

    Experiment 31. Digital Photography Image Processing

    Part II.

    Experiment 32. Chromatography 2: Identification of a Single-Component Solvent by Gas Chromatography

    Experiment 33. Spectroscopy 1: Methods for the Identification of Materials Based

    on Their Absorption of Light of Various Wavelengths and Identification of Polymer Films by FTIR

    Experiment 34. Spectroscopy 2: Use of Visible Spectroscopy in Color Determination

    Experiment 35. Quantitative Ethyl Alcohol Determination by Gas Chromatography

    Experiment 36. Forensic Entomology

    Experiment 37. Basic Ballistics

    Experiment 38. Basic Ballistics 2

    Experiment 39. Crime Scene Drawing with Microsoft Word

    Appendix 1. Reference Data for Polymer Films

    Bibliography

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    Biography

    Thomas Kubric and Nicholas Petraco are professors at John Jay College in New York City.