Intended for forensic scientists and students of the discipline, Forensic Interpretation of Glass Evidence provides the practicing forensic scientist with the necessary statistical tools and methodology to introduce forensic glass evidence into the laboratory. With free software available for downloading at the author's Web site, scientists can apply their own data and draw conclusions using principles practiced in the text.
    This book contains an introductory chapter on glass evidence procedures and analysis before covering topics such as classical approaches to handling glass evidence, the application of Bayesian statistics to forensic science, and the use of histograms.
    By presenting both the physical and chemical examinations performed on glass along with a recommended interpretation, the author allows readers the luxury of having all reference materials contained within a single book. Useful for case-working forensic scientists, this book is ideal for students of forensic science at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well anyone currently working in the field.

    Introduction
    EXAMINATION OF GLASS
    History
    Flat glass
    Float glass
    Toughened glass
    Laminated glass
    Glass composition
    Glass breakage under impact
    Physical examinations
    Examinations of large fragments
    Examinations performed on small and large fragments
    Elemental composition
    Summary of Chapter 1
    THE CONVENTIONAL APPROACH TO EVIDENCE INTERPRETATION
    Data comparison
    Statistical tests and grouping1
    Coincidence probabilities
    Summary of Chapter 2
    THE BAYESIAN APPROACH TO EVIDENCE INTERPRETATION
    Probability - some definitions
    The laws of probability
    Bayesian thinking in forensic glass analysis
    Taking account of further analyses
    Search strategy
    Comparison of measurements: the continuous approach.
    Summary of Chapter 3
    GLASS FOUND AT RANDOM AND FREQUENCY OF GLASS
    Relevant questions
    Availability
    Glass found at random (clothing surveys)
    Comparison between suspect and general population: an example.
    Estimation of the probability of finding at random i groups of j fragments
    frequency of the analyzed characteristics
    Control glass data collections
    Clothing surveys
    Characteristics of glass found on general population
    Characteristics of glass found on suspect population
    Comparison between suspect and general population: an example
    Summary of Chapter 4
    TRANSFER AND PERSISTENCE STUDIES
    Transfer of glass
    Persistence of glass on garments
    Main results of the studies
    Modeling glass transfer and making estimates
    STATISTICAL TOOLS AND SOFTWARE
    Data analysis
    Calculating densities by hand
    Computer programs
    Summary of Chapter 6
    REPORTING GLASS EVIDENCE
    Verbalization of a likelihood ratio answer
    Sensitivity of the a likelihood ratio answer to some of the data estimates
    The effect of search procedures
    Fallacy of the transposed conditional
    REFERENCES

    Biography

    James Michael Curran, Tacha Natalie Hicks Champod, John S. Buckleton

    "…an outstanding text for trace examiners who provide statistical analysis of their data, or for those who wish to learn statistical treatment of evidence. An excellent set of references at the end of the book provides a thorough literature study of glass for those with the appropriate resources."
    - Virginia M. Maxwell, State of Connecticut Forensic Laboratory, Meriden

    "By presenting both the physical and chemical examinations performed on glass along with a recommended interpretation, the author allows readers the luxury of having all reference materials contained within a single book. Useful for case-working forensic scientists, this book is ideal for students of forensic science at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as anyone currently working in the field.
    - ZI Ziegelindustrie International, September 2001

    "Forensic Interpretation of Glass Evidence contains valuable information for the practising forensic glass examiner and should be included on any trace evidence bookshelf. Overall this book has made a good attempt at summarizing the scientific literature pertinent to forensic glass examination and has made a good first attempt at describing the interpretation of glass evidence in a Bayesian context."
    -Mark Sandercock, M.Sc., RCMP Forensic Laboratory, Winnipeg, in Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal