Product Description
Children/Science

Become a super science sleuth with . . .

Detective Science

40 Crime-Solving, Case-Breaking, Crook-Catching Activities for Kids

Search for evidence, gather clues, and discover how science can help solve a mystery. From dusting for fingerprints to analyzing handwriting, these easy, fun-filled activities give you a firsthand look at how detectives and forensic scientists use science to solve real-life crimes.

Make a plaster cast of a shoe. Identify lip prints left on a glass. Examine hair and clothing fibers. Practice chemistry to identify mystery substances, and much more.

In no time at all, you'll be thinking like a detective and performing experiments like a real forensic scientist! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great ideas!!!
This book has many kid-friendly activities related to forensic science.They are easy to do and are engaging!

Best Science experiement book?I'd say so!
This book, along with all of Jim Wiese's books, are a complete essential for any science teacher, curious adult, curious kid, student who has to complete a science project, or parent of a student who has to complete a science project.

I can't say enough about this line of books.When I taught biology, I used ideas in these books to run experiments in my classroom.One of my students lifted fingerprints off of tin foil via the method outlined in this book, I created an ink chromatography lab based on a lab in this book.My stories connected to these books are endless.

And I revently turned my friend who teaches elementary school onto these books.He's bought every one- more than the three I have.Rollercoaster Science looks neat.My favorite is Detective Science, then Magic Science.He's bought ones I didn't know exised and is starting a science club, which no doubt will revolve around these books.He did a fingerprinting activity in class last week, which sent the kids into a frenzy!They thought it was the coolest!

You'll never regret getting this book or any others from Jim Wiese.I only wish I had them when I was a kid!!!

Buy this book!
This book contains fantastic activities that can easily be done inside a classroom. They are easy to understand and lots of fun for kids. I developed a mystery unit using this book, and my students loved it.

Not bad, but contains some errors
Not bad, but contains some errors. For example on page 29 thedescription of Radial and Ulnar loops is incorrect. You can'tdifferentiate between the two types unless you know which hand theycome from. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is a basic textbook for use in college and university forensic science courses at the introductory level in which little or no prior knowledge of science has been assumed. Most of the book is devoted to a careful exploration of the importance of physical evidence and this new edition includes a chapter on DNA. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fine introduction to the field; but, listing data may be a problem.
This © 1983 volume is the first year of publication. It was still being distributed to educators for evaluation by the College Division of McGraw Hill in 1983. It can NOT possibly be the 70th printing. That appears to result from a mis-reading (by the product lister) of the (HALHAL) Halliday printing code, which differs from the typical book number line. I have not been able to find a reference to interpret the second half of that line, in which the numbers "1" and "2" are missing and the "8" occurs twice. I suspect it to be the date of printing. It just can NOT be the 70th printing. [see the image from the edition & copyright page]
As listed, this printing statement information is unreliable for reference in academic or literary work and/or citation. If anyone knows, I would appreciate any additional information to explain and verify the "HALHAL" code being used by Halliday Lithographic Corporation, at that time.

what a way to start
Ideal for police officers and crime lab techs. If you expect to work oncrime scenes or deal with those who do, this is the book for you.It givesthe ideals and the basics for crime scene work. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Product Description

The Ultimate Illustrated Guide for Nonscientists

Customer Reviews (2)

great vocational information and inspiration
the book is great for 7th-12th graders who want to know more about possible vocations that require science. It gives a good description of the types of disciplines and the pictures and layout make for easy flipping back and forth and fast reading.

very good information in a compact book
this book is a good tool for anyone interested in the basics. lots of interesting photos and information ... Read more

Product Description
Forensic Science in Court: The Role of the Expert Witness is a practical handbook aimed at forensic science students, to help them prepare as an expert witness when presenting their evidence in court. Written in a clear, accessible manner, the book guides the student through the legal process and shows them how to handle evidence, write reports without ambiguity through to the more practical aspects of what to do when appearing in court. The book also offers advice on what to expect when working with lawyers in a courtroom situation.

An essential text for all students taking forensic science courses who are required to take modules on how to present their evidence in court. The book is also an invaluable reference for any scientist requested to give an opinion in a legal context.

·         Integrates law and science in an easy to understand format 

·         Inclusion of case studies throughout 

·         Includes straightforward statistics essential for the forensic science student 

·         An invaluable, practical textbook for anyone appearing as an expert witness in court 

·         Unique in its approach aimed at forensic science students in a courtroom environment 

... Read more

Product Description
Due to its connections to violent crime and ingenious detective work, forensic science is a subject of endless fascination to the general public. A criminal case can often hinge on a piece of evidence such as a hair, a blood trace, a bit of saliva on a cigarette butt, or the telltale mark of a tire tread. High profile cases have stoked this interest in recent years and some of the most popular shows on television--such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and its raft of spin-offs--attest to the enduring popularity of forensic science as a form of grisly entertainment.This Very Short Introduction looks at the nature of forensic science, examining what forensic science is, how it is used in the investigation of crime, how crime scenes are managed, how forensic scientists work, the different techniques used to recover evidence, and the range of methods available for analysis. It also considers how forensic science serves the criminal justice system and the challenges of communicating complex scientific evidence in a court of law. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Readable and thorough
Forensic Science has been enjoying a lot of popular interest in recent years, primarily thanks to various TV shows (such as CSI) that use it as a centerpiece of their plotlines. However, as it's often the case, the actual real world methods and practices are somewhat at odds with their TV portrayals. This very short introduction attempts to set the record straight, so to speak, and to explain what actual forensic scientists do and how their work affects police investigations and court cases.

The book is primarily focused on the forensic science in UK, but most of the information is equally applicable to all other common law jurisdictions (including the US) as well as civil law jurisdictions. One of the more fascinating differences between the UK and US systems is the fact that in UK most forensic labwork is outsourced to private companies. This seems like a very effective cost-saving practice.

The book is very thorough in describing forensic procedures (as much as a book of this size can be) and it includes numerous charts, graphs and tables. It gives real-life examples of courtroom interactions between lawyers and forensic scientists, which can be rather comical at times. There is a detailed description of already very familiar procedures, such as the fingerprint evidence, the fiber analysis, etc. One point that the book is constantly trying to drive home is that context matters: very rarely is the forensic investigation the only or even the predominant aspect of criminal investigation. Most of the time forensic scientists and pathologists are induced to look for evidence and clues that are inspired by one or two hypotheses about the crime that has been committed.

Overall, this is an interesting book that provides an important insight into how the real-world forensic science operates. ... Read more

Product Description
The tragedy of 9/11 placed homeland security and the prevention of further attacks into the central focus of our national consciousness. With so many avenues of terror open to our enemies in terms of mode, medium, and location, effective management and mitigation of threat must be grounded in objective risk assessment. The structure of national security decisions should be premised on decision theory and science with minimal political posturing or emotional reactivisim.

National Security Issues in Science, Law, and Technology demonstrates a mature look at a frightening subject and presents sound, unbiased tools with which to approach any situation that may threaten human lives. By applying the best of scientific decision-making practices this book introduces the concept of risk management and its application in the structure of national security decisions. It examines the acquisition and utilization of all-source intelligence, including the ability to analyze data and forecast patterns, to enable policymakers to make better informed decisions. The text addresses reaction and prevention strategies applicable to chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons; agricultural terrorism; cyberterrorism; and other potential threats to our critical infrastructure. It discusses legal issues that inevitably arise when integrating new legislation with the threads of our Constitution and illustrates the dispassionate analysis of our intelligence, law enforcement, and military operations and actions. Finally, the book considers the redirection of our national research and laboratory system to investigate the very problems terrorists can induce through the use of weapons we have as yet to confront.

Taking the guesswork out of hard choices, National Security Issues in Science, Law, and Technology provides anyone burdened with the mantle of responsibility for the protection of the American people with the tools to make sound, well-informed decisions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

"National Security Issues" is a First-Rate Resource
National security studies comprise an academic field exhibiting exponential growth.This excellent textbook describes the basic component parts of this area of study in a straightforward style and well-organized format.It also makes sense of the mass of essential individual disciplines that are necessary elements of the concept of "national security."Many threads are well-woven into a clear, cogent, and perceptive tapestry making a complicated area of study readily accessible to professionals, students, academics, and laypersons alike.

The book is also an indispensable guide for policy-making and implementation, made possible by the far-ranging expertise and experience of the authors.It is a veritable almanac in the breadth of its coverage, yet more than that since each chapter goes into sufficient depth to give the reader a good grasp of the topic as well as directing the avenues available for further study. Carefully researched and usefully, unobtrusively footnoted, the book makes penetrating a vast and often unwieldy area of study more approachable and manageable.

Well-written and edited throughout, even the fairly complex technical passages are understandable and digestible to the non-technical or non-scientific user.The index is thorough and the appendices are relevant.Scientists, intelligence professionals, law-enforcement and government officials, as well as attorneys will find it a solid resource.Students, in particular, will benefit because it provides a comprehensive first footing in an area of study still being defined.

This book stands apart from the hastily cobbled together and mass-produced offerings often rushed to market of late.It would be an excellent textbook for a variety of courses as well as a professional reference resource.It is sincerely and unreservedly recommended.

By:
Prof. Roy Shannon and
Prof. Micah Van Zandt
Lawrence Livermore/Sandia National Laboratory
and Los Alamos National Laboratory

... Read more

Product Description
Crime scene investigation is hotter than ever, and kids everywhere will love learning about how their favorite detectives use science to figure out unsolvable thefts, arsons, mysteries, and more. CSI Expert!: Forensic Science for Kids includes more than 25 in-depth activities on fingerprinting, evidence collection, blood-stain identification, forensic careers, ballistics, and much more.

The author of the best-selling Crime Scene Detective series of books combines more than a decade of experience teaching forensic science to middle school students with the latest technology and research in criminal investigations in the intriguing standards-based scientific study included in CSI Expert!

Students will love collecting dental impressions, studying their classmates’ fingerprints, looking at tool marks left at the scene of the crime, analyzing mysterious powders, and discovering the various types of counterfeit checks. Each lesson includes a realistic case for students to crack using the knowledge they’ve learned about analyzing forensic evidence, and the book also includes an assessment assignment that teachers can employ to test their students’ learning.

Both kids and teachers will be able to easily implement the book’s hands-on, detailed, and exciting forensic science experiments using everyday materials. After completing these activities, kids will be begging for more fun science learning! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Book for Teachers
This book was in excellent shape when I received it.I had purchased it for my daughter; however, as I looked through the book, I realized it was an activity book for teachers to use in the classroom.

Great ideas for science programming!
We used activites in this book for several of our programs, and found them to be easy to implement.The supplies needed are everyday, with the exception of a few items for which ideas for purchase are given.Perfect combination of hands on and background!

An easy-to-use educational supplement ideal for spicing up one's curriculum
Designed for classrooms in grades 5-8, CSI Expert! Forensic Science for Kids is a guide for educators to rousing kids' interest in science through twenty-five different lab activities concerning hot modern topics ranging from blood stains to fingerprinting and identifying counterfeit checks. A hands-on learning resource that meets national science standards, CSI Expert! divides each lab into (inexpensive) "materials needed", "essential question", "background research", step-by-step "experiment procedures", and various supplementary items such as reproducible data tables for students to fill in or sample charts and graphs. An easy-to-use educational supplement ideal for spicing up one's curriculum, and highly recommended for homeschooling teachers as well as grade school science instructors.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
... Read more

Product Description
The CBS television show, "C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation," has captured audiences - and ratings - with its unflinchingly realistic details of forensic science, tools, and technology. This fascinating new book - written by an acclaimed biographer with a master's degree in forensic psychology - goes behind the crime-solving techniques dramatized on the TV show to examine the reality of these cutting-edge procedures.

From DNA typing and ballistics, to bitemark and blood pattern analysis, here are detailed accounts of the actual techniques used in today's crime investigations. Prominent experts in the field offer rare glimpses into cases ranging from missing persons to murder.

For fans of the television show, as well as true crime buffs and science readers - this is the real thing.

"With the mind of a true investigator, Katherine Ramsland demystifies the world of forensics with authentic and vivid detail." (John Douglas)

"Fascinating...this book is a must for anyone who wonders how the real crime-solvers do it." (Michael Palmer, New York Times bestselling author of The Patient.) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Not for Forensic buffs
This book is one of the worst books I have ever purchased. It attempts to cash in on CSI the series by using cryptic quotes from different episodes. Partly through giving a "generic" and uneducated description of some forensic process, the author breaks into some comparison of a show episode and then bounces to other processes. The book is written very elementary, not put together well and leaves me asking if the non-show information is actually factual and researched, other than looked up on the internet. Very bad. Very, very bad.
Even if you like CSI the series on T.V., please don't buy this. You will just be taking up space with a useless waste of paper.

Behind the scenes...the real forensic science info --fibers, hair etc
We loved this book-- on the back cover it asks about a half dozen questions like -- "how can a pair of glasses suggest murder rather than suicide?" and others-- and then goes on to explain how forensic scientists arrive at their final conclusions using all kinds of methods and analysis. The auhtor has a masters degree in forensic psychology and has published 15 books incuding biographies of such famous writers as anne Rice and Dean Koontz. She also spent a year as a research assistant to former FBI profiler John Douglas...and she writes forensic science articles for Court TV's Crime Library. Note that the book was not authorized, prepared, approved, licensed or endorsed by anyone in connection with the TV series CSI...The book is divided into 11 chapters and includes a good glossary, references section and index. Topics covered begin 1) Scene of Crime and end at 11 Evidence Response and in between include 2) handling bodies 3) ID unknown 4) Traces, 5) We have a Match 6) Science v Intuition 7) Elements of Reconstruction 8)Criminal Logic and 9) Varieties of Deception and 10 Forensic puzzles. I especially like the boldface sections of the book where the author adds some historical perspective ie how the coroner system evolved etc. She certainly demystifies lots of the science of forensics and explains what's fact-based behind some of CSI's most watched shows. Did you know that Iodine fumes are used to bring up latent fingerprints-- well after reading this book you'll know lots more about forensic science...and it's great cocktail chatter too....

Instructive butflawed due to lack of illustrations
The hit TV series CSI has spawned interest in forensic science in the public. This book shows you how forensic works in reality, from fingerprint and DNA to blood spatter pattern analyis.
It is not an episode guide to the TV show with some explanations tagged on, as another reviewer wrote. The book uses the CSI show merely as an angle to introduce the general reader into this interesting topic. You will surely find much of interest here, even if you have never seen an CSI episode. Author Katherine RAMSLAND also clearly points out where the series does not get it right:
* forensic investigations take much more time in reality (whereas in the TV show uses some artistic licence due to narrative necessities)
* crime scene investigators don't interrogate suspects
* proceedures and tests, which look rather easy in the show, are difficult and time consuming.
I liked the methodological approach of the book: It starts with the definition of a crime scene, details the investigation from the inital response of law enforcement personel to the processing of the scene all the way to what happens during the autopsy and in the crime lab. It gives you a good insight into what crime scene investigators do (the kits, equipment and tools they use, what legal and scientific proceedures they have to adher to, how evidence is collected, preserved, investigated
and stored, what happens at the lab and so forth) without being overly technical.
As mentioned above, the angle author Katherine RAMSLAND uses is the CSI TV show. So there are often references to the show, what tests GRISSOM and his team used and they are explained in detail without being overly technical. The book is interspersed with references to real crimes (I was surprised to see how many CSI episodes were apparently inspired by true crimes!) and how forensic science helped to solve them.
The author also points out the psychological side in chapters on profiling and the use of psychological autopsy.
My main complaint with the book is the absence of any kind of illustrations. It is much more instructive when discussing the e.g. various kinds of fingerprints and blood spatter patterns and to actually see some pictures of samples, let alone the equipment in a crime lab. I mean, who knows what a gas chromatograph looks like? Also some kind of diagramms or illustrations would have been helpful with some of the scientific tests. The complete lack of pictures makes the book occassionally a bit dry at times.

this book is a 10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this book tells you everything you need to know about forensics. It is the best science text i have ever read. from the scene to the autopsy table, it has it all. if you like the show CSI and the CSI books by Max Allen Collins, you'll love this! it gives you real life examples, lists , and explanations on every page. it also has an awesome glossary and reference. LOVE IT!!!!!!

Might be good to get your teen into reading science
I found this book to be marginal at best.That may have something to do with my education and the amount of reading I have done in real forensics books.It would be a good read for teens interested in a possible career in this field, or for adults whose primary exposure is through the TV series.I'm sure that the writer knows much more than is in this book, and I would like to see a more in-depth coverage written for those who aren't in medicine or law enforcement but who have a genuine interest in the science.If your teen likes the show, it might be an excellent way to get them interested in reading science outside of that dull text from high school. ... Read more

Product Description

The range of species that fall within the realm of wildlife crimes is extensive, ranging from ferns and orchids to bald eagles and great whales. Solving these crimes is rarely dependent on the testimony of witnesses or victims. An ever-increasing number of research groups are applying scientific tests to animal and plant studies alike. However, until now, whatever progress is available in this area has remained scattered through the literature.

Forensic Science in Wildlife Investigations focuses on the developing test methods that can be applied to wildlife crimes. In large part, the tests described are drawn from human-based research. Edited by Adrian Linacre, a noted forensic researcher and one of the principal pioneers active in wildlife forensics, this volume collects the work of others working across the world with both plant and animal investigations.

While the book contains valuable approaches that lab investigators can employ, the scientific material is written at a level that requires no more than a fundamental knowledge of biology. Any required scientific information is provided in separate boxes.

Offering practical guidance, it helps investigators and lab technicians decide on best methods, including a determination of when basic microscopy is sufficient, when DNA testing should occur, and what tests or combination of tests should be executed in a particular circumstance. The text illustrates how to identify the species and geographic region of origin of an unknown sample.

Demonstrating the latest methods through real-world case studies, this volume provides the direction and practical advice needed by legal and police professionals seeking to gain the evidence needed to prosecute wildlife crimes.

Product Description

As forensic science continues to play a wider role in the investigation of crimes and apprehension of criminals, those without crime scene or crime lab training must now become familiar with the techniques and language of the forensic scientist. Avoiding the complicated science and graphic violence typical of most forensic references, this book is written specifically for those without forensic science experience. While it provides a professional reference for those not steeped in the details of forensic science, the wealth of instructor material available for teachers and its pedagogical approach make this an ideal textbook for high school and introductory level courses.

Following up on the tremendously popular first edition, Forensic Science: The Basics, Second Edition now adds the insight of a new co-author who is known nationally for training instructors how to teach forensic science at all levels of education. The book takes readers from the initial evidence collection process, through the evaluation procedures, right up to and including the courtroom presentation.

Packed with case studies, photographs, and exercises, this book provides everything the non-scientist needs to be able to understand and utilize the vital research approaches that forensic science can offer.

"Test Yourself" questions at the end of each chapter familiarize you with the language and approaches needed to understand and communicate with experienced crime scene investigators and laboratory personnel.

Offering the forensic sciences at their most accessible, Forensic Science: The Basics, Second Edition is a valuable resource for detectives, journalists, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and other non-science professionals who need to understand, interpret, and report on the newest advances in crime scene investigation.

PowerPoint^® lecture slides, test bank, and other ancillary material on CD-ROM is available with qualifying course adoption

Product Description
FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. ... Read more

Product Description
In many ways, global awareness of the ongoing threat of terrorism has expanded the role of criminalistics from traditional examination of crime scene and physical evidence to include assisting Homeland Security in deterring terrorism. Scientists and criminal justice professionals alike must be conscious of one another s efforts and understand the intricate policies and procedures that are evident within the area of forensic science.Criminalistics: Forensic Science and Crime gives readers an in-depth overview of this hot-button topic and explores the various tasks and actions that take place in crime scenes and laboratories all across the world today.It places criminalistics within the framework of basic chemistry and biology and clearly explains processes to readers with little or no scientific background. Using a unified approach that blends science with criminal justice, this text helps readers understand the necessities and processes of forensic science in the ever-advancing world of crime investigation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Just okay..
A lot of wrong facts which can be misleading. Overall helpful, but dry. Really liked the true-life cases and connections. Important information without it being written over and over and over different ways, like many other books.

Watch out: Many mistakes!
This book is somewhat of an easy, but dull, read. However, watch out: There are WAY too many mistakes. If you have no background in forensic science/criminalistics, you will have a hard time learning the truth when there are so many false statements in this book. I do not recommend this book: It is dull and filled with lies!

Amazing resource
I write, and so for me, this is a great place to get a comprehensive guide for forensic science, especially for all you writing mystery novels out there!

Easy to read, but too many mistakes to take this seriously!
I used this book for a Forensic Science class this spring. It is very easy to read, but had a lot of mistakes in the reviews at the end of the chapters. I think that these ending sections must have been write by another person because they did not use the proper definitions. Like in Chapter 9: Inorganic Analysis they say plasma is a part of human blood instead of a mixture of gases that conduct electricity because of a significant concentration of cations. In the glass chapter the also mess up the definition of an amorphous solid, they actually say it is a solid with regular order! (this is the exact opposite of the meaning.) These are just the two mistakes that stood out the most, but I am sure there are at least 20 more.
Essentually anyone reviewing with this book is bond to be screwed up unless they already know everything! ... Read more

Product Description
If your students enjoy solving mysteries, they’ll love the activities in Science Sleuths.   Forensic science is an ideal vehicle for teaching the nature of science as well as basic science concepts. Besides teaching students to think like scientists, forensic science activities also help them understand, master, and apply science concepts. In addition, forensic science relies heavily on science process skills, manipulative skills, laboratory skills, and interpersonal skills, all emphasized by the National Science Education Standards.  ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Science, non-formal educational experiences
As a statewide coordinator for a non-formal educational program in STEM we've bought 80 of these books to use with volunteers, teachers and others in our program.It meets the science standards in KY and can be used both outside the school classroom in a non-formal setting (and various delivery methods) as well as in the classroom setting with grades 4th through 8th.The lay out for adult instructor (or even teenage instructors) as well as the youth instructions are simple, concise, material list is easily obtainable for the activity and having all the worksheets and tips are great.We wish we had more materials like this one to use.We've used this at camp for CSI discovery, after-school activities, day camps, or to just introduce a concept in a fun setting for youth...good investment...highly recommended.

Detective fun for students
Really practical fun ideas for use in science classrooms.I'm a teacher and my kids loved solving the mysteries.These activities are easy to use and very engaging, perfect for summer school programs or enrichment activities.

Great book!
This is a great resource tool for teachers that want to introduce forensic science and critical thinking skills to their class.It can be adapted to younger kids (Grade 1-3) if needed with very little effort. ... Read more

Product Description
Now available in paperback -- the history of fingerprinting, as "fascinating, informative and as gripping as a great crime novel" --Simon Singh, author of Fermat's Enigma and The Code Book.

It is almost impossible to imagine that prior to the 20th century, there was no reliable way to distinguish between the guilty and the innocent. All that changed in Britain in 1905, when the bloody bodies of an elderly couple were discovered in their shop -- and a solitary fingerprint became the only piece of evidence . . . ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Too light for a book, but an interesting story
Beavan wanders back and forth through history exploring how Britain, and then the world, came to the point where a bit of ink and a smudge of oil could be such a valuable forensic tool.His narrative linchpin is the gristly London murder trial where fingerprints were first used as the primary method of identification.This all sounds like a fun enough ride through history, science, and politics (there's quite a bit of backstabbing in the world of fingerprint experts, if Beavan is to be believed), and indeed it is.For a quick glimpse at the development of fingerprinting as an art, a science, and a crimefighting tool, 'Fingerprints' is as good a source as any.

Beavan's jacket bio notes his extensive experience as a magazine features writer - and that shows in 'Fingerprints'.The book is ultimately light, despite the myriad of characters introduced, places visited, and time periods covered.Beavan also seems to jump around a little too quickly when drawing parallels between the historical developments in fingerprinting and the murder trial that largely bookends the text, particularly where no real parallels exist (several individuals throughout history made some use of the unique aspects of fingerprints, but some described in the book had no significant connection to those who developed modern fingerprint identification).

All in all this is a bookstore book with a catchy title, a light read where you might learn something to boot.Another reviewer has questioned the validity of Beavan's research.I can't comment on that, but I can say that, lovely hardcover graphic notwithstanding, 'Fingerprints' was probably better suited for the pages of Vanity Fair.

Unique "Fingerprints"
Fun history of fingerprinting focusing on the often acrimonious debate among pioneers about who really deserves credit for the discover and practical application of fingerprinting.

Interestingly enough, the writer points out that, though no two fingerprints have yet been found to be identical, there is no biological or technical assurance that all fingerprints are in fact unique.

Introduction to the Social & Scientific Issues Surrounding the Development of Fingerprinting.
"Fingerprints: The Origins of Crime Detection and the Murder Case that Launched Forensic Science" starts with the 1905 murder of an English shopkeeper and his wife, then takes us back through the history of criminal law, professional police detection, and the development of fingerprint identification and classification systems that led to the use of fingerprints to identify and convict criminals.There was more than one landmark case in the history of fingerprinting, but the Farrow case in 1905 established the importance of Scotland Yard's newly formed Fingerprint Branch, advancing the use of fingerprints in criminal investigations around the world.

Parallel to the development of both fingerprinting and anthropometric systems to identify criminals in the late 19th century, Colin Beavan presents the battle over credit for pioneering work in fingerprint identification between Francis Dalton and William James Hershel on one side and Scottish missionary Henry Faulds on the other. Faulds had proposed fingerprinting to Scotland Yard as a method of criminal investigation years before Dalton appropriated and built on his research. The three men would bicker over their accomplishments for the rest of their long lives. Faulds only received the recognition he sought posthumously.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this history of fingerprinting is that the need to identify people became a pressing social problem for the first time in human history in the late 19th century. The increasingly urbanized, bureaucratized world of the Industrial Era made it easier for people to achieve anonymity or adopt false identities. Reformed judicial systems sent fewer people to the gallows and more to prison. Fingerprint and anthropometric systems of identification were first adopted to keep track of recidivist criminals, so that they might be kept in prison.

It's worth noting that now, in the early 21st century, there is again a call from the public and politicians for a means of identifying people. There has been a surge in the use of biometric data in public and private sectors to protect against fraud and terrorism. Whether or not fears are exaggerated to promote the use of biometric devices, just as fears of being murdered in the streets of London a century ago may have been disproportionate to the danger, there is a remarkable similarity in the politics and even the methods involved. We still use fingerprints, and biometrics are simply a more sophisticated form of anthropometrics.

"Fingerprints" is a nice introduction to the issues surrounding the development of fingerprint identification. It's a short, popular history, not a meaty, detailed one. Colin Beavan has done good research but doesn't have a background in the subject. I might have preferred something more thorough, but this book covers a lot of ground and functions very well as an overview of its topic while being very readable. If you normally find history books tedious, you might still enjoy this one.

Fingerprints "History of"
Colin Beavan has written a GREAT non fiction book on the history of fingerprinting. This author has it all! Suggested reading for any law enforcement employee, active or retired, and any history buff. GREAT easy reading!

How Henry Faulds Invented Fingerprinting
Mark Twain's 1894 book "The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson" noted that the lines on the insides of the hands and feet uniquely identified a human being. The use of physical evidence was pioneered by Vidocq in Napoleonic France in 1812. The reduction of hanging in Britain resulted in the need to identify prior offenders. Chapter 1 begins with a murder in 1902 Deptford. No eyewitnesses, no murder weapon; only a thumbprint on the cashbox. A milkman and his helper had seen two men leaving that shop, but could not pick them out from a line-up. One thumbprint linked one man to the crime. Physical evidence had been distrusted as being too vulnerable to manipulation (p.18). The Dark Ages of England saw "trial by ordeal" as the origin of modern criminal proceedings (p.22). This was an advance over blood feuds and clan war (p.23). Next investigating juries replaced trial by ordeal. Trial by combat was on the law book s until 1817. Defendants could not call their own witnesses, there was no use of physical evidence.

Vidocq pioneered modern police detection (p.30). The Sepoy Mutiny in India was put down with terror tactics that recalls the Nazi SS (p.41). Afterwards the Indians used passive resistance, like repudiating signed contracts. William Herschel used handprints for a signature that couldn't be denied (p.42). Later he used fingerprints to verify contracts. The science of criminology began in the 19th century. A poor economy generated more crime (p.51). The Case of the Tichbourne Claimant showed the need for reliable identification (pp.58-59). Chapter 4 has the life of Henry Faulds, a medical missionary in Japan, who realized fingerprints could identify a individual (p.72). Faulds' article in `Nature' 10-28-1880 "was the first in the scientific literature to suggest the basic concepts of the fingerprint system of identification" (p.74).

Chapter 5 is about the life and career of Alphonse Bertillon who invented a system of identifying criminals. Analysis of French army recruits revealed a wide range of bodily dimensions. The solution was a rapid search of records by physical measurements (a decision table) This new system attracted others, like Francis Galton (p.93). Chapter 6 tells of this impressive but flawed figure (pp.98-99). [If Galton stole from Faulds it could be due to heredity (p.104)!] Galton's 1992 book "Finger Prints" was very comprehensive and provided a systematic proof (p.110). Chapte r7 tells of the first use of fingerprints to identify a criminal in 1892 Argentina. Juan Vucetich's system would be used in much of South America. Bertillon's method was so successful that most French criminals stopped using false names (p.126). Fingerprints were taken directly and correctly (p.127). The British adopted Bertillon's classification of measurement, and fingerprints, for identification. Faulds' system was more sophisticated (p.131). Azizul Haque invented a classification system less prone to error and faster (p.141). This was adopted in 1897 British India.

Edward Henry's paper on fingerprint classification gained him recognition (p.149). The arrest and conviction of Adolf Beck by mistaken identification advanced the method of fingerprinting. Fingerprints as a reliable method of identification was sanctioned at the trial of the Stratton brothers, convicted and executed on the basis of one thumbprint (Chapter 10). [The British substance `paraffin' is called `kerosene' in America (p.173).] The Illinois Supreme Court made a landmark ruling for fingerprint identification (p.193). France adopted fingerprinting after Bertillon died. [When there are no fingerprints the Bertillon practice of measuring bones is used for identification.] The `Epilogue' notes the importance of fingerprints today, and explains why. After a century of use, no one has ever proved that a person's fingerprints are unique. But it has never been disproved.
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Product Description
This advanced textbook provides the reader with an up-to-date account of recent developments and future potential in the study of human skeletons from both an archaeological and forensic context. It is well-illustrated, comprehensive in its coverage and is divided into six sections for ease of reference, encompassing such areas as palaeodemography, juvenile health and growth, disease and trauma, normal skeletal variation, biochemical and microscopic analyses and facial reconstruction. Each chapter is written by a recognised specialist in the field, and includes in-depth discussion of the reliability of methods, with appropriate references, and current and future research directions. It is essential reading for all students undertaking osteology as part of their studies and will also prove a valuable reference for forensic scientists, both in the field and the laboratory. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not very useful
Among other related sciences, I teach human osteology at the college and graduate levels.There is no use for this text in the classroom.It is a sad book stop on a shelf full of other more useful books.If you are looking for a 500 page book of awkwardly strung together minutiae of little relevance to the forensic world, this it the book for you.If you're not, I recommend checking out other sources.

Human Osteology.Editors: Margaret Cox & Simon Mays.
For the first time all the leading practitioners of the United Kingdom, currently working within the fields of archaeology and anthropology, are brought together to produce a comprehensive overview of human osteology,and its applications in the interpretation of human skeletalremains.

Whether your interest in Human Osteology is academic orforensic, this single volume contains a wealth of information and furtherreferences.

The historical development of the subject is succinctlyexpounded, followed by more specialist chapters on: juvenile skeletaldevelopment; palaeodemography; the effects of disease on the skeleton;variation in the human skeleton; the efects of trauma and assault on theskeleton; and the microscopic, biochemical and analytical approachescurrently undertaken.

All of which can assist both the archaeologist inthe reconstruction and interpretation of the past; and the forensicscientist in the identification of unknown human remains,and in assistingthe authorities in criminal investigations, including war crimes.

Thisvolume is written from the experience of osteological research, analysis,and practice within the north-west European context, and offers analternative, whilst complementary, source of information to that of theNorth American experience. It is long overdue and most welcome.

TheEditors have ensured that not only a fulldiscussion of the current stateof research is available to the reader, but also the challenges and optionsfor the future development of human osteology.

For the undergraduate andpost graduate student this volume will provide an excellent basic text inits own right, and will no doubt quickly become a standard reference withinuniversities and colleges. ... Read more

Product Description
A riveting true crime story that vividly recounts the birth of modern forensics.

At the end of the nineteenth century, serial murderer Joseph Vacher, known and feared as “The Killer of Little Shepherds,” terrorized the French countryside. He eluded authorities for years—until he ran up against prosecutor Emile Fourquet and Dr. Alexandre Lacassagne, the era’s most renowned criminologist. The two men—intelligent and bold—typified the Belle Époque, a period of immense scientific achievement and fascination with science’s promise to reveal the secrets of the human condition.

With high drama and stunning detail, Douglas Starr revisits Vacher’s infamous crime wave, interweaving the story of how Lacassagne and his colleagues were developing forensic science as we know it. We see one of the earliest uses of criminal profiling, as Fourquet painstakingly collects eyewitness accounts and constructs a map of Vacher’s crimes. We follow the tense and exciting events leading to the murderer’s arrest. And we witness the twists and turns of the trial, celebrated in its day. In an attempt to disprove Vacher’s defense by reason of insanity, Fourquet recruits Lacassagne, who in the previous decades had revolutionized criminal science by refining the use of blood-spatter evidence, systematizing the autopsy, and doing groundbreaking research in psychology. Lacassagne’s efforts lead to a gripping courtroom denouement.

The Killer of Little Shepherds is an important contribution to the history of criminal justice, impressively researched and thrillingly told. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Great book for fans of Victorian/Edwardian - era detective stories.
This is a great book for fans of historical true crimeor victorian detective fiction.I tend to think of Victorian crime mostly in terms of Sherlock Holmes and Jack the Ripper, but in reality, the era's major advances in scientific crime detection were being made in France, by people like Bertillon and Dr. Alexandre Lacassagne (the "protagonist" of this story, if the use of the term makes sense in nonfiction).

This book tells the story of the detection, capture, and conviction of one Joseph Vacher, a french serial killer thoroughly comparable with Jack the Ripper and only forgotten today because he was, after all, caught. What made the story interesting to me was that the book gives the process, procedure, and technique of a real, honest-to-god "scientific detective" of Holmes's era: if Sherlock had been a real person, after all, this is pretty much how he'd have worked. If you're a fan of victorian-era detective stories, like Holmes or R. Austin Freeman's Thorndyke mysteries, you'll definitely appreciate this one. It's true.

perfect combo for the curious
I have been interested in forensics before the advent of all of the tv shows dealing with it.I have also been interested in the psychopathy of serial killers because the nature of their crimes is anathema to me.

This well-researched and written book manages to combine both into one heck of a ride for those of us who are interested,if not obsessed,with the beginnings of forensic science,and we get a terrible serial-killer to boot.

I do not mean to sound gleeful when writing about the horrible depravity of the murderer,but the book and his story are fascinating.

If you are interested in either of the two topics,by all means,get this book. It is not a dry,dull discussion of a facet of medicine/science,but rather a comprehensive,excitingwork that will make you keep reading until the end.

I have learned a lot about forensics,and one horrible human-being ,the murderer Vacher. Forensics won out,and because of the work and studies of the good doctor Lacassagne,many more vile creatures were apprehended and made to pay for their crimes.

This book is ,in my opinion,every bit as exciting as any good murder-mystery I have read. The fact that it is non-fiction,makes it all the more interesting.

Excellent!
"The Killer of Little Shepherds" by Douglas Starr, grabs you from the beginning and does not let go!This book is a true crime story of Joseph Vacher, a serial killer that roamed the rural countryside of France in the mid 1890s. In addition to telling the story of a man who in the end confessed to eleven gruesome and violent murders, the author paints a picture of the history of Forensic Science and how it developed and progressed. Starr presents this in a very engaging but obviously well researched manner. As a person who has always been fascinated with Forensic Science and the criminal mind, I highly recommend this gem!

well-researched and highly readable
It is ironic that early French forensic science cut its teeth on a killer like Joseph Vacher, known as "the French Jack the Ripper."Vacher does not fit within the neat categories developed by modern FBI profiling.Even today we would have difficulty categorizing him.His crimes were both "organized" (showing evidence of clever planning and ritual) and "disorganized" (showing evidence of frenzied irrationality and opportunism).Unlike the cold and methodical psychopathic sadist, he appears to have been truly insane, probably schizophrenic, with disturbing religious delusions that convinced him he was doing the work of God and was under the protection of the Virgin Mary.In prison, he liked to be photographed wearing a white rabbit-fur hat (which to him denoted purity) and a set of keys he borrowed from a guard (representing the keys to the kingdom of heaven).He killed, mutilated and defiled with post-mortem rape somewhere between a dozen and two dozen people, male and female, old and young--though his favorite target was isolated children herding sheep (hence his nickname "The Killer of Little Shepherds").Vacher remains an enigma, but Douglas Starr has done an excellent job researching and portraying him in this fascinating true-crime history.

That Vacher was caught at all was due to the extraordinary efforts of an investigative magistrate named Emile Fourquet.French police-work in the late 1890s was highly parochial, handled by local magistrates and authorities.The countryside was filled with a large number of vagrants, who had become unemployed due to a depression in the farming sector.These factors allowed Vacher to wander the country killing people with no central authority to connect the killings.Tragically, the French peasant culture with its petty resentments caused locals to blame disfavored people in their villages for the murders.Fourquet, though, was a man who could think outside the box and connect the dots to establish that there was one murderer, not many.Once Vacher was caught, Fourquet proved a capable interrogator who wrung confessions out of the violently irrational suspect.

The other great man who deserves credit for the end of Vacher's reign of terror is Alexandre Lacassagne, the criminologist whose work helped convict him at trial.Lacassagne was a highly-competent scientist who sought to understand both the criminal mind and criminal methods.His accomplishments in early forensic science were amazing, all the more so because he was in direct competition with one of history's great misguided thinkers, Cesare Lombroso.Lombroso's studies of criminals were so methodical and detailed that his work is still read today, but his conclusions were dead wrong.He believed that certain people were born criminals and that their criminality could be detected by their physical appearance.Lacassagne, by contrast, was more interested in situating the criminal within his environment and criminal culture.

"The Killer of Little Shepherds" is a fascinating and well-written study.Douglas Starr allows us to enter for a little while the long-vanished but chilling world of Joseph Vacher and the dedicated men who caught him.It's a good read and an enlightening one.

"People might lie, but evidence did not."
In the late nineteenth century, a psychopath named Joseph Vacher, known as "The Killer of Little Shepherds," butchered men, women, and children as he made his way across the French countryside, "preying on the innocent, the weak, and the young."Although few people have ever heard of Vacher, he is considered to be "one of the most notorious serial killers of his century."Vacher was a megalomaniac who had violent tendencies even as a child.A stint in the French army did nothing to quell his explosive rage and paranoia.In this meticulously researched book, Douglas Starr recounts how Vacher managed to kill at least eleven people (although it is likely that the body count was much higher), while eluding capture for years.Starr makes excellent use of primary sources, including letters, affidavits, court testimony, autopsy reports, newspaper accounts, and oral histories to piece together this horror story.

We meet a towering figure in forensic history, Dr. Alexandre Lacassagne, who taught at the University of Lyon for over three decades.Lacassagne was a Renaissance man--a scholar, writer, teacher, researcher and pioneer--who devoted his life to the study of criminology and legal medicine.He conducted methodical autopsies, studied psychology (why do offenders transgress the rules of society?) and helped update crime scene analysis. Other notable figures are Alphonse Bertillon, who devised a unique method of criminal identification, and Cesare Lombroso, an Italian criminologist, who insisted that "some people were biologically 'born criminals.' " Hans Gross, an Austrian jurist and law professor, wrote a monograph in which he discussed "the wisdom of using scientific experts" in such fields as chemistry, physics, zoology, and botany to help detectives investigate crime.

For those accustomed to watching television programs depicting an army of forensic technicians analyzing everything from minute fibers to DNA, the science of the late eighteen hundreds may seem primitive by comparison.Still, the turn of the century was an exciting and pivotal time when, spurred by "a spirit of inquiry," a handful of courageous, ingenious, and dedicated individuals initiated and publicized techniques that would modernize, revolutionize, and standardize many aspects of the criminal justice system.

This is an enlightening look at the ways in which law enforcement officials and criminologists developed the necessary tools to protect society against the men and women who threatened public safety.Although the narrative is a bit long and occasionally repetitious, Starr vividly and meticulously recreates a unique and defining era."The Killer of Little Shepherds" is enhanced greatly by Starr's extensive endnotes, photographs, and superb index.Warning:Those who shy away from explicit gore and are revolted by such topics as postmortem putrefaction might want to give this one a pass.On the other hand, readers who are interested in forensics will be fascinated by this worthy addition to the history of criminology.
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Product Description
Honest but mistaken eyewitnesses are the leading cause of wrongful convictions in the United States. As the innocent go to prison their lives are shattered; as the criminal goes free, the public remains vulnerable. With a vivid cast of brilliant scientists, street-wise cops, and former prosecutors--all haunted by the legacy of wrongful convictions, some directly involved with one--Doyle sheds light on the intersection of personal ambition, legal and political principles, and scientific inquiry. He highlights real possibilities for improved identification, their challenges to the legal tradition, and persuasively argues that the promises of improved justice must be realized before another wrongful conviction lets the guilty go free. This is an important look at a pressing issue in the news with every exoneration.
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Customer Reviews (8)

interesting insights
I had to read this book for Psychology 101, it was "interesting".It's worth the read if you are actually interested in the subject though.

True Witness: Cops, Courts, Science, and the Battle against Misidentification
Too much time spent on background of the players and their attempts to legitimize their theories. Were they just trying to make the book impressive by making it longer? I think there is enough current information out there to provide a much more interesting and informative read.

An Exercise in Tuning Justice
Combining humor, history and the upheaval from DNA-proved wrongful convictions, Doyle stunningly recounts the long, bumpy process of fine-tuning justice in the American criminal system.While focused on the history and frailties of eye witness identification, this book is for anyone evenly remotely connected to ... or interested in ... the criminal justice system: psychologists, lawyers, law enforcement, pre & post conviction professionals, judges, criminologists, forensic specialists and, especially, university personnel and students of these fields.Laugh aloud when you read about Mr. Potato Head.Cringe with Jennifer Thompson as she realizes that her honest but mistaken testimony sent an innocent man to jail.Worry whether Texas executed an innocent man, a man whose last words were "they are murdering me..." This is great reading.Doyle unveils his subject with care, drawing on his uncanny ability to observe and participate simultaneously.As Doyle acknowledges in his final remarks, the science of justice does not stand still.But Doyle has made a massive contribution to describing the process, and capturing one of those rare moments when the science lurches forward.You will enjoy this book.

New ammunition that improves accuracy by at least 50%!
Doyle's story might be the "body armor" for eye witness identification.Science has produced highly effective and reasonably accessible materials to keep you safer on the street.Yet it does no good when you leave it in the trunk of your cruiser.Science has done the same for eye witness identification yet many have yet to unpack it from its box.

Read Doyle's story and decide for yourself if you are being fair to your eye witness identifications or if you are just doing it "the way it's always been done around here."

If you found new ammunition for your duty pistol that improved the accuracy of every round fired by at least 50%, would you continue to carry the same old duty ammo?

When life-saving resources are at your disposal, don't leave them in the trunk.

Well-written, thought-provoking and entertaining
I am interning as an Investigator for the Washington, DC Public Defender Service and thought I'd read this book to understand why some believe eyewitness testimony to be imperfect.So far, from 4 weeks on the job, the questions that the author puts forward in True Witness are dead-on.Even well-intentioned people make mistakes, and human memory is no camera.This book is full of examples that illustrate the author's main arguments, and it provides a nice balance of these true-life stories and a delving into the questions that the examples raise about the American legal system.I genuinely enjoyed the read, and learned a lot. ... Read more