EBOOK Forensic Science: A Very Short Introduction

Forensic science is a subject of wide fascination. What happens at a crime scene?        How does DNA profiling work? How can it help solve crimes that happened 20 years        ago?In forensic science, a criminal case can often hinge on a piece of evidence such        as a hair, a blood trace, half a footprint, or a tyre mark. High profile cases such        as the Stephen Lawrence enquiry and the Madeleine McCann case have attracted        enormous media attention and enhanced this interest in recent years. However, the        public understanding of forensic science is poor, and largely based on TV shows such        as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, which exploit high-tech imagery for        dramaticeffect.Forensic science is a complex activity at the interface of science        and law. However, it also deals with real life issues and its results are        interpreted within unique situations. Complex scientific findings must be considered        carefully, dispassionately, and communicated with clarity, simplicity, and        precision.In this Very Short Introduction, Jim Fraser introduces the concept of        forensic science and explains how it is used in the investigation of crime. He        begins at the crime scene itself, explaining the principles and processes of crime        scene management. He explores how forensic scientists work; from the reconstruction        of events to laboratory examinations. He considers the techniques they use, such as        fingerprinting, and goes on to highlight the immense impact DNA profiling has        had.Providing examples from forensic science cases in the UK, US, and other        countries, he considers the techniques and challenges faced around the world.