
The Basics of Investigating Forensic Science
A Laboratory Manual
- Available for pre-order. Item will ship after July 16, 2021
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Book Description
The Basics of Investigating Forensic Science: A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition presents foundational concepts in forensic science through hands-on laboratory techniques and engaging exercises. The text offers numerous lab projects on a range of subjects including fingerprinting, shoeprint analysis, firearms, pathology, anthropology, forensic biology and DNA, drugs, trace evidence analysis, and more.
This Second Edition is fully updated to include extensive full-color photos and diagrams to reflect current best-practices focussing on laboratory procedure, techniques, and interpretation of results. Each laboratory illustrates processes and concepts, and how the equipment should be set up for a given exercise. Many of the exercises can be done with minimal laboratory equipment and material while certain exercises also have additional options and advanced lab exercises—for those education institutions with access to more specialized or advance laboratory equipment. While the sequencing of laboratory exercises in the book is designed to follow The Basics textbook, the lab exercises are intentionally modular can be performed in any sequence desired by an instructor.
The Basics of Investigating Forensic Science, Second Edition is an excellent resource for introduction to forensic sciences courses, including the companion textbook it was designed to accompany, Forensic Science: The Basics, Fourth Edition (ISBN: 9780367251499). The book can be used alongside any textbook, and even serve as a stand-alone text for two- and four-year college programs, as well as course at the high school level.
Table of Contents
Preface
Authors
Unit 1: Forensic Science and Crime Scene Investigation
Lab 1. Introduction to Crime Scene Investigation: Solving the Puzzle
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
1.3 Scenario
1.4 Materials
1.5 Procedure
1.6 Follow-Up Questions
1.6.1 Venn Diagram
1.7 Worksheet – Discussion Points
Lab 2. Locard’s Exchange Principle: Transfer of Evidence
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
2.3 Scenario
2.4 Materials
2.5 Procedure
2.6 Follow-Up Questions
2.7 Locard’s Exchange Principle Worksheet
Lab 3. Physical Matches
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
3.3 Scenario
3.4 Materials
3.5 Procedure
3.6 Follow-Up Questions
3.7 Physical Matches Worksheet
Lab 4. Evidence Collection: Making an Evidence (Druggist) Fold
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
4.3 Materials
4.4 Procedure
Lab 5. The 3Ls: Locating, Lifting, and Logging Evidence
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
5.3 Scenario
5.4 Materials
5.5 Procedure
5.6 Follow-Up Questions
5.7 The 3Ls Worksheet
Lab 6. Classifying Evidence: Is This Class or Individual Evidence?
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Materials
6.3 Procedure
6.3.1 Flowchart
6.4 Follow-Up Questions
Lab 7. Basic Crime Scene Sketch
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
7.3 Scenario
7.4 Materials
7.5 Procedure
7.6 Follow-Up Questions
7.7 Basic Crime Scene Sketch Worksheet
Lab 8. Crime Scene Investigation
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
8.3 Scenario
8.4 Materials
8.5 Procedure
8.6 Follow-Up Questions
8.7 Worksheet: Chain of Custody Form
Unit 2 Patterns and Impressions
Lab 9. Fingerprints
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
9.3 Scenario
9.4 Materials
9.5 Procedure
9.6 Follow-Up Questions
9.7 Fingerprints Worksheet
Lab 10. Questioned Documents
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
10.3 Scenario
10.4 Materials
10.5 Laboratory Procedures
10.5.1 Basic Laboratory Procedure
10.5.2 Advanced Laboratory Procedure
10.6 Follow-Up Questions
10.7 Questioned Documents Worksheet
Lab 11. Firearms Identification Web Quest
11.1 Procedure
11.2 Questions to Answer
11.2.1 Introduction to Firearms ID
11.2.2 Fundamentals of Firearms ID
11.2.3 Bullet Identification
11.2.4 Cartridge Case Identification
11.3 Case File Exercise
Lab 12. Basic Firearms Identification: Examining Bullets and Cartridge Casings
12.1 Introduction
12.1.1 Bullet Identification
12.1.2 Cartridge Case Identification
12.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
12.3 Scenario
12.4 Materials
12.5 Procedure
12.5.1 Bullet Identification
12.5.2 Cartridge Case Identification
12.6 Follow-Up Questions
12.7 Basic Firearms Identification Worksheets
Lab 13. Basic Toolmark Identification
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
13.3 Scenario
13.4 Materials
13.5 Procedure
13.6 Post-Laboratory Questions
13.7 Toolmark Worksheet
Lab 14. Shoeprints
14.1 Introduction
14.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
14.3 Scenario
14.4 Materials
14.5 Procedure
14.6 Follow-Up Questions
14.7 Shoeprints Worksheet
Unit 3 Forensic Biology
Lab 15. Serology
15.1 Introduction
15.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
15.3 Scenario
15.4 Materials
15.5 Laboratory Procedures
15.5.1 Basic Laboratory Procedure
15.5.2 Advanced Laboratory Procedure
15.6 Follow-Up Questions
15.6.1 Basic Follow-Up Questions
15.6.2 Advanced Follow-Up Questions
15.7 Serology Worksheet
Lab 18. Pathology: The Autopsy
18.1 Introduction
18.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
18.3 Materials
18.4 Procedure
18.5 Follow-Up Questions
18.6 Pathology Worksheet
Lab 17. DNA Analysis
17.1 Introduction
17.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
17.3 Scenario
17.4 Materials
17.5 Laboratory Procedures
17.5.1 Basic Laboratory Procedure
17.5.2 Advanced Laboratory Procedure
17.6 Follow-Up Questions
17.6.1 Basic Follow-Up Questions
17.6.2 Advanced Follow-Up Questions
17.7 DNA Analysis Worksheet
Lab 20. Hairs
20.1 Introduction
20.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
20.3 Scenario
20.4 Materials
20.5 Procedure
20.6 Follow-Up Questions
20.7 Hairs Worksheet
Lab 19. Forensic Anthropology: Determination of Stature
19.1 Introduction
19.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
19.3 Scenario
19.4 Materials
19.5 Procedure
19.6 Follow-Up Questions
19.7 Forensic Anthropology Worksheet
Lab 16. Basic Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
16.1 Background
16.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
16.3 Scenario
16.4 Materials
16.5 Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Laboratory Exercises
16.5.1 Part One—Vertical Drip Pattern Recognition
16.5.1.1 Activity A: Single Blood Drop Patterns
16.5.1.2 Activity B: Multiple Blood Drop Patterns
16.5.2 Part Two—Angled Blood Drops
16.5.2.1 Activity A: Making the Angled Blood Drops
16.5.2.2 Activity B: Measuring and Calculating Impact Angles
16.6 Follow Up Questions
16.7 Basic Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Worksheets
Unit 4 Forensic Chemistry
Lab 22. Inks
22.1 Introduction
22.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
22.3 Scenario
22.4 Materials
22.5 Procedure
22.6 Follow-Up Questions
22.7 Inks Worksheet
Lab 23. Illicit Drugs
23.1 Introduction
23.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
23.3 Scenario
23.4 Materials
23.5 Laboratory Procedures
23.5.1 Basic Laboratory Procedure
23.5.2 Advanced Laboratory Procedure
23.6 Follow-Up Questions
23.6.1 Basic Follow-Up Questions
23.6.2 Advanced Follow-Up Questions
23.7 Illicit Drugs Worksheet
Lab 24. White Powder Testing
24.1 Introduction
24.2 Scenario
24.3 Materials
24.4 Procedure
24.5 Follow-Up Questions
24.6 White Powder Testing Worksheet
Lab 25. Calculating Blood Alcohol Concentration: The Widmark Formula
25.1 Introduction
25.1.1 Basic Widmark Formula
25.1.1.1 Time Factor
25.1.2 Widmark Formula with Time Consideration
25.1.2.1 Example Problems
25.1.3 Worksheet: Problems (Show Your Work)
Lab 26. Fibers
26.1 Introduction
26.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
26.3 Scenario
26.4 Materials
26.5 Procedure
26.6 Follow-Up Questions
26.7 Fibers Worksheet
Lab 27. Polymers
27.1 Introduction
27.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
27.3 Scenario
27.4 Materials
27.5 Procedure
27.6 Follow-Up Questions
27.7 Polymers Worksheet
Lab 28. Fire Debris
28.1 Introduction
28.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
28.3 Scenario
28.4 Materials
28.5 Procedure
28.6 Follow-Up Questions
28.7 Fire Debris Worksheet
Lab 29. Explosives
29.1 Introduction
29.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
29.3 Scenario
29.4 Materials
29.5 Procedure
29.6 Follow-Up Questions
29.7 Explosives Worksheet
Unit 5 Forensic Physics
Lab 30. Accident Investigation: Skid to Stop Mathematics
30.1 Introduction
30.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
30.3 Procedure
30.4 Work Space for Calculations
30.5 Follow-Up Questions
30.6 Accident Investigation Worksheet
Lab 31. Glass
31.1 Introduction
31.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
31.3 Scenario
31.4 Materials
31.5 Procedure
31.6 Follow-Up Questions
31.7 Glass Worksheet
Lab 32. Forensic Analysis of Glass: Identifying the Type of Glass
32.1 Introduction
32.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
32.3 Scenario
32.4 Materials
32.5 Forensic Analysis of Glass Laboratory Exercises
32.5.1 Activity One: Determining the Density of a Piece of Glass
32.5.2 Activity Two: Determining the Refractive Index of Liquids
32.5.3 Activity Three: Identification of Glass Fragments Using Index of Refraction
32.6 Follow-Up Questions
32.7 Forensic Analysis of Glass Worksheets
Lab 21. Measuring the Diameter of a Human Hair
21.1 Introduction
21.2 Pre-Laboratory Questions
21.3 Scenario
21.4 Materials
21.5 Procedure
21.6 Follow-Up Questions
21.7 Measuring the Diameter of a Human Hair Worksheet
Bibliography
Index
Author(s)
Biography
Kathy Mirakovits is a retired high school teacher of forensic science and physics. She currently teaches forensic science and physics at Kalamazoo Valley Community College in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Kathy holds an MS in science education from Western Michigan University, a bachelor’s degree in science education from Miami University, and has completed over 15 graduate hours in forensic science. She has taught general science, physical science, chemistry, biology, earth science, and physics at the high school and two-year college level for a total of 30 years. Additionally, Kathy conducts workshops across the United States for teachers who wish to learn the application of forensic science in a school curriculum. Information on those workshops can be found at her website: www.forensicscience-ed.com. She has developed numerous forensic science educational products for a national science supplier and has led workshops at the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) in forensic science.
Kathy has served as president of the Michigan Chapter of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) and as a curriculum writer for the Michigan Department of Education. Currently, Kathy is the membership director for the Michigan Science Teachers Association. She has received the RadioShack Science Teaching Award and has been a two-time state finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST).
Gina Londino-Smolar received her MS in chemistry from Purdue University in Indianapolis. Gina is currently a senior lecturer in the Forensic and Investigative Sciences program at Indiana University–Purdue University, Indianapolis teaching courses in forensic science, forensic chemistry, and forensic microscopy since 2006. She has designed multiple courses in forensic science, including a variety of beginner-to-advanced laboratory exercises.