Forensic Interpretation of Glass Evidence

by James Michael Curran

Intended for forensic scientists and students of the discipline, Forensic Interpretation of Glass Evidence provides the practicing forensic scientist with the necessary statistical tools and methodology to introduce forensic glass evidence into the laboratory. With free software available for downloading at the author's Web site, scientists can apply their own data and draw conclusions using principles practiced in the text.
This book contains an introductory chapter on glass evidence procedures and analysis before covering topics such as classical approaches to handling glass evidence, the application of Bayesian statistics to forensic science, and the use of histograms.
By presenting both the physical and chemical examinations performed on glass along with a recommended interpretation, the author allows readers the luxury of having all reference materials contained within a single book. Useful for case-working forensic scientists, this book is ideal for students of forensic science at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well anyone currently working in the field.

178 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Katia M. Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this publication if you are in love with statistics, frequency and probability. I can see the value of this work from an academic perspective and even as a tool to narrow down possibilities in investigations. However stick this info in front of a jury and I think most people would tune out and stare blankly at you. It is notoriously difficult to verbalise complex mathematical constructs in a way anyone can understand and interpret, especially if the results appear ambiguous on the surface or obvious without the maths. This study is a prime example of that and even admits as much. Still, I found it interesting that in general people who wear suits and use dry cleaning are covered in chips of paint and fragments of glass regardless of their potential proximity to a break and enter. Ok, I'll put my sarcasm back in its box. This is a highly specialised field of study probably only of interest to people in the field or weirdos like me who will read anything.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book. It goes greatly in depth into the analysis of glass evidence in forensic science, and includes several references for examinations and testing on the persistence and transfer of glass evidence in past and ongoing studies.

The perfect assistance to anyone studying a forensic degree or just interested in knowing a little more about glass.