Practical Crime Scene Processing and Investigation

Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigations

by Ross M. Gardner, Donna Krouskup

Every action performed by a crime scene investigator has an underlying purpose: to both recover evidence and capture scene context. It is imperative that crime scene investigators must understand their mandate—not only as an essential function of their job but because they have the immense responsibility and duty to do so.

Practice Crime Scene Processing and Investigation, Third Edition provides the essential tools for what crime scene investigators need to know, what they need to do, and how to do it. As professionals, any investigator’s master is the truth and only the truth. Professional ethics demands an absolute adherence to this mandate. When investigators can effectively seek, collect, and preserve information and evidence from the crime scene to the justice system—doing so without any agenda beyond seeking the truth— not only are they carrying out the essential function and duty of their job, it also increases the likelihood that the ultimate goal of true justice will be served.

Richly illustrated—with more than 415 figures, including over 300 color photographs—the Third Edition of this best-seller thoroughly addresses the role of the crime scene investigator in the context of:

Understanding the nature of physical evidence, including fingerprint, biological, trace, hair and fiber, impression, and other forms of evidence

Assessing the scene, including search considerations and dealing with chemical and bioterror hazards

Crime scene photography; scene sketching, mapping, and documentation; and the role of crime scene analysis and reconstruction

Bloodstain pattern analysis and discussion of the body as a crime scene

Special scene considerations, including fire, buried bodies, and entomological evidence

Coverage details the importance of maintaining objectivity, emphasizing that every action the crime scene investigator performs has an underlying purpose: to both recover evidence and capture scene context.

Key features:

Outlines the responsibilities of the responding officer, from documenting and securing the initial information to providing emergency care

Includes three new chapters on light technology and crime scene processing techniques, recovering fingerprints, and castings

Addresses emerging technology and new techniques in 3-D Laser scanning procedures in capturing a scene

Provides a list of review questions at the end of each chapter

Practice Crime Scene Processing and Investigation, Third Edition includes practical, proven methods to be used at any crime scene to ensure that evidence is preserved, admissible in court, and persuasive.

Course ancillaries including PowerPoint® lecture slides and a Test Bank are available with qualified course adoption.

Genres: Nonfiction, Crime

430 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 11, 2004

Reviews

[Taylor Papera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informational, and if you’ve ever taken a course from Ross Gardner, you can absolutely hear his voice and his opinions when reading this text. A very solid text review for the career crime scene investigator.

[Kelly Clingman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great textbook/book for building a foundation on crime scene processing knowledge. The information is in depth without getting too bogged down in weird jargon. Some of the mathematical analysis were beyond my scope of understanding while reading about it. That stuff and really everything will come with hands-on experience of crime scene processing. This book is great for at least giving you the skeleton (much like the metaphor in the book) for building crime scene processing skills. I especially like the photos and real-life stories or examples, as they give better understanding or application of the techniques taught in this book.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First textbook I’ve actually read word for word without skimming or skipping sections. Very detailed, well written, went into each topic with a good amount of depth to get a good understanding without getting lost in the proverbial weeds. Was a little repetitive at times, but was good at mentioning whether topics being discussed would have more in depth explanations in other chapters. Overall, a great introduction to forensics to anyone seriously interested in the field, or wanting to go into it as a career.

[Reginald Finley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well laid out and easy to read and comprehend. Even the trigonometry wasn't that difficult when calculatiing projectile and blood spatter angles. This book more than prepared me for my Crime Scene Investigator Exam, of which I aced! I highly recommend this book for those curious about entering the field of Forensic science either in the lab or in the field.

[Scott Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well worth the price. Textbook I’ll share with my co-workers.

[Cozette Zimmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very dense with information but quite helpful to review for a career path in forensics. If you read the whole thing at once, it can be repetitive but a strong source for a csi career.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorough coverage of the basic skills and methodologies of crime scene investigation, complete with photos, diagrams, and case studies to help you understand the material. It had a few chapters that cover more specialized scenarios, but not in significant detail. Pretty good layout that helps keep ideas clear.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

An introductory level text with the basic illistrated point by point of crime scene investigation. Not all inclusive with graphic details and lacking in in depth examples. A good topic starter at it's core.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good review of basic crime scene techniques. Most is how I do it, our how I should be doing it.