This book brings together studies in forensics, law and criminology, which are all equally essential for a fair criminal justice system. It gives a comprehensive view to a wide variety of readers from the three communities across the globe to connect the dots which link all these three subjects, thus catalyzing interdisciplinary collaborations. The book explores the topics through four themes -- exploring forensic science in the 21st century; looking at law and criminal justice in the new millennium; contemporary trends in criminology; and, medico-legal aspects of human identification. The readers who will find important learnings in the book include scientists, legal and law enforcement practitioners, academicians and students to create a holistic environment for cumulative and collaborative approach towards the criminal justice system.

Uniting forensics, law, and social science in meaningful and relevant ways, Forensic Science and the Administration of Justice is structured around current research on how forensic evidence is being used and how it is impacting the justice system. This unique book—written by nationally known scholars in the field—includes five sections that explore the demand for forensic services, the quality of forensic services, the utility of forensic services, post-conviction forensic issues, and the future role of forensic science in the administration of justice. The authors offer policy-relevant directions for both the criminal justice and forensic fields and demonstrate how the role of the crime laboratory in the American justice system is evolving in concert with technological advances as well as changing demands and competing pressures for laboratory resources.

The Future of Forensic Psychology: Core Topics and Emerging Trends is an authoritative text that presents state-of-the-art research from rising stars in the field. Presented in an accessible way, it draws on cutting-edge research to analyse both core topics and current trends in forensic psychology. Borne out of the internationally recognized House of Legal Psychology doctorate programme, the book features eighteen authors from different international contexts who evaluate current and emerging topics in the field. The book is divided into three sections; eyewitness memory and testimony, investigative interviewing and, deception detection and legal decision making. Each section contains in-depth research and includes classics topics such as factors affecting eyewitnesses and determining deceit in investigations. The book also covers newer exciting developments within the field, including credibility in asylum contexts, alibies and cross-cultural aspect of interviewing. Offering an insightful summary of the field today, this book is an indispensable read for students and researchers of forensic psychology, legal psychology and criminology. It will also be of great interest to practitioners in the judicial system.

Forensic science has undergone dramatic progress in recent years, including in the areas of DNA collection and analysis and the reconstruction of crime scenes. However, too few professionals are equipped with the knowledge necessary to fully apply the potential of science in civil, criminal, and family legal matters. Featuring contributions from renowned experts in the forensic, scientific, and legal professions, Forensic Science and Law: Investigative Applications in Criminal, Civil, and Family Justice communicates the wide range of methods and approaches used for achieving justice in these circumstances. A solid grounding in the underlying principles of our legal system provides a context for understanding how these methods are applied. The book brings together the words and thoughts of diverse professionals whose common goal is to uncover the truth. About the editors... Cyril H. Wecht, M.D., J.D., is actively involved as a medical-legal and forensic science consultant, author, and lecturer. Currently coroner of Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania, he is certified by the American Board of Pathology in anatomic, clinical, and forensic pathology and is a Fellow of the College of American Pathologists and the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. Dr. Wecht is a Clinical Professor at the University of Pittsburgh Schools of Medicine, Dental Medicine, and Graduate School of Public Health, an Adjunct Professor at Duquesne University Schools of Law, Pharmacy and Health Services, and a Distinguished Professor at Carlow University. He is a past president of both the American College of Legal Medicine and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. Dr. Wecht is the author of more than 500 professional publications and has appeared as a guest on numerous national television and radio talk shows. John T. Rago, J.D., is Assistant Professor of Law at Duquesne University School of Law and the Director of both The Cyril H. Wecht Institute of Forensic Science and Law and the Law School’s Post-conviction DNA Project. He teaches criminal law and procedure to law students and graduate courses on wrongful convictions, foundations in American law and constitutional criminal procedure to students in the university’s Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences. Professor Rago also serves as an appointed member to the Innocence Project’s Policy Group of the Cardozo School of Law in New York. He is admitted to practice before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the United States Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

MODERN FORENSIC TOOLS AND DEVICES The book offers a comprehensive overview of the latest technologies and techniques used in forensic investigations and highlights the potential impact of these advancements on the field. Technology has played a pivotal role in advancing forensic science over the years, particularly in modern-day criminal investigations. In recent years, significant advancements in forensic tools and devices have enabled investigators to gather and analyze evidence more efficiently than ever. Modern Forensic Tools and Devices: Trends in Criminal Investigation is a comprehensive guide to the latest technologies and techniques used in forensic science. This book covers a wide range of topics, from computer forensics and personal digital assistants to emerging analytical techniques for forensic samples. A section of the book provides detailed explanations of each technology and its applications in forensic investigations, along with case studies and real-life examples to illustrate their effectiveness. One critical aspect of this book is its focus on emerging trends in forensic science. The book covers new technologies such as cloud and social media forensics, vehicle forensics, facial recognition and reconstruction, automated fingerprint identification systems, and sensor-based devices for trace evidence, to name a few. Its thoroughly detailed chapters expound upon spectroscopic analytical techniques in forensic science, DNA sequencing, rapid DNA tests, bio-mimetic devices for evidence detection, forensic photography, scanners, microscopes, and recent advancements in forensic tools. The book also provides insights into forensic sampling and sample preparation techniques, which are crucial for ensuring the reliability of forensic evidence. Furthermore, the book explains the importance of proper sampling and the role it plays in the accuracy of forensic analysis. Audience The book is an essential resource for forensic scientists, law enforcement officials, and anyone interested in the advancements in forensic science such as engineers, materials scientists, and device makers.

This analysis of the current trends in forensic psychology considers the following topics: police and investigative psychology; criminal and delinquent behaviour; victimology and victim services; psychology and the courts; and correctional psychology.

This collection reviews developments in DNA profiling across jurisdictions with a focus on scientific and technological developments as well as their political, ethical, and socio-legal aspects. Written by leading scholars in the fields of social studies of forensic science, science and technology studies and socio-legal studies, the book provides state-of-the-art analyses of forensic DNA practices in a diverse range of jurisdictions, new and emerging forensic genetics technologies and issues of legitimacy. The work articulates the various forms of technolegal politics involved in the everyday, standardised and emerging practices of forensic genetics and engages with the most recent scholarly and policy literature. In analyses of empirical cases, and by taking into account the most recent technolegal developments, the book explores what it means to live in a world that is increasingly governed through anticipatory crime control and its related risk management and bio-surveillance mechanisms, which intervene with and produce political and legal subjectivities through human bodies in their DNA. This volume is an invaluable resource for those working in the areas of social studies of forensic science, science and technology studies, socio-legal studies, sociology, anthropology, ethics, law, politics and international relations.