"The Methods of Attacking Scientific Evidence catalogs potential attacks on the admissibility and weight of expert testimony and scientific evidence and dissects the strategic factors involved"--

Scores of talented and dedicated people serve the forensic science community, performing vitally important work. However, they are often constrained by lack of adequate resources, sound policies, and national support. It is clear that change and advancements, both systematic and scientific, are needed in a number of forensic science disciplines to ensure the reliability of work, establish enforceable standards, and promote best practices with consistent application. Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward provides a detailed plan for addressing these needs and suggests the creation of a new government entity, the National Institute of Forensic Science, to establish and enforce standards within the forensic science community. The benefits of improving and regulating the forensic science disciplines are clear: assisting law enforcement officials, enhancing homeland security, and reducing the risk of wrongful conviction and exoneration. Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States gives a full account of what is needed to advance the forensic science disciplines, including upgrading of systems and organizational structures, better training, widespread adoption of uniform and enforceable best practices, and mandatory certification and accreditation programs. While this book provides an essential call-to-action for congress and policy makers, it also serves as a vital tool for law enforcement agencies, criminal prosecutors and attorneys, and forensic science educators.

Forensic science evidence and expert witness testimony play an increasingly prominent role in modern criminal proceedings. Science produces powerful evidence of criminal offending, but has also courted controversy and sometimes contributed towards miscarriages of justice. The twenty-six articles and essays reproduced in this volume explore the theoretical foundations of modern scientific proof and critically consider the practical issues to which expert evidence gives rise in contemporary criminal trials. The essays are prefaced by a substantial new introduction which provides an overview and incisive commentary contextualising the key debates. The volume begins by placingforensic science in interdisciplinary focus, with contributions from historical, sociological, Science and Technology Studies (STS), philosophical and jurisprudential perspectives. This is followed by closer examination of the role of forensic science and other expert evidence in criminal proceedings, exposing enduring tensions and addressing recent controversies in the relationship between science and criminal law. A third set of contributions considers the practical challenges of interpreting and communicating forensic science evidence. This perennial battle continues to be fought at the intersection between the logic of scientific inference and the psychology of the fact-finder‘scommon sense reasoning. Finally, the volume‘s fourth group of essays evaluates the (limited) success of existing procedural reforms aimed at improving the reception of expert testimony in criminal adjudication, and considers future prospects for institutional renewal - with a keen eye to comparative law models and experiences, success stories and cautionary tales.

Covers new trace evidence techniques and expanding areas of analysis, along with key theory and applications Developed around the need for updated information in the disciplines of trace evidence the Handbook of Trace Evidence Analysis focuses on the increasing awareness and need for validation, modern methods for addressing and controlling contamination, the shift towards incorporating statistical analyses into the interpretation phase and cutting edge research into new forensic science methods and their application. Beginning with an overview of the topic and discussing the important role that information derived from trace materials can provide during investigations, the book then presents chapters on key techniques. The first being the critical nature of microscopy, and the methods employed for the recognition, collection, and preservation of trace evidence. Subsequent chapters review the core disciplines of trace evidence examination: paints and polymers, hairs, fibers and textiles and glass. Each chapter contains in-depth discussions on the origin of the materials involved, including any natural or synthetic processes involved in their production, the nuances involved in their detection, and the methods of analysis that are used to extract valuable information from samples. In addition, suggested workflows in method and testing selections, as well as addressing specific scientific challenges as well as the limitations of knowledge on the transfer, persistence and background abundance of trace materials are discussed. The book ends by examining the interpretation of trace evidence findings from a historical perspective and examining the methods that are currently being developed. Provides an in-depth introduction to the general area of trace evidence and discusses current and new techniques Consolidates trace evidence and materials categories of testing into one reference series Offers a detailed focus on technical approaches and guidelines to trace evidence Includes analytical schemes/workflows and valuable guides for the interpretation of data and results The Handbook of Trace Evidence will appeal to forensic science academics, students, and practitioners in the trace evidence and materials science disciplines, as well as DNA analysts, toxicologists, forensic anthropologists, crime laboratory managers, criminal justice students and practitioners, and legal professionals. It would also be a valuable resource for every crime laboratory reference library.

Professional Issues in Forensic Science will introduce students to various topics they will encounter within the field of Forensic Science. Legal implications within the field will focus on expert witness testimony and procedural rules defined by both legislative statute and court decisions. These decisions affect the collection, analysis, and court admissibility of scientific evidence, such as the Frye and Daubert standards and the Federal Rules of Evidence. Existing and pending Forensic Science legislation will be covered, including laws governing state and national DNA databases. Ethical concerns stemming from the day-to-day balancing of competing priorities encountered by the forensic student will be discussed. Such competing priorities may cause conflicts between good scientific practice and the need to expedite work, meet legal requirements, and satisfy client's wishes. The role of individual morality in Forensic Science and competing ethical standards between state and defense experts will be addressed. Examinations of ethical guidelines issued by various professional forensic organizations will be conducted. Students will be presented with examples of ethical dilemmas for comment and resolution. The management of crime laboratories will provide discussion on quality assurance/quality control practices and the standards required by the accreditation of laboratories and those proposed by Scientific Working Groups in Forensic Science. The national Academy of Sciences report on Strengthening Forensic Science will be examined to determine the impact of the field. Professional Issues in Forensic Science is a core topic taught in forensic science programs. This volume will be an essential advanced text for academics and an excellent reference for the newly practicing forensic scientist. It will also fit strategically and cluster well with our other forensic science titles addressing professional issues. - Introduces readers to various topics they will encounter within the field of Forensic Science - Covers legal issues, accreditation and certification, proper analysis, education and training, and management issues - Includes a section on professional organizations and groups, both in the U.S. and Internationally - Incorporates effective pedagogy, key terms, review questions, discussion question and additional reading suggestions