Forensic Science: A Beginner's Guide

Beginner's Guide (Oneworld Publications)

by Jay A. Siegel

The most remarkable weapon in the fight against crime, forensic science turns bullet trajectories, bodily fluids, and the very structure of our DNA into damning witnesses of our every act.

Jay Siegel tracks the journey of evidence from crime scene to courtroom and sweeps away the myths to reveal the incredible complexities and surprising pitfalls of a field that is crucial to our struggle for justice.

Packed with examples from real-life cases, this revised and updated edition covers all major areas of forensic science, including drugs, trace evidence, and crime scene investigation. Pathology, anthropology, and the laws that govern this evidence all come under the scalpel in a fascinating introduction to one of the most compelling elements of criminal investigation.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2009

About the author

Jay Siegel, PhD is retired Director of the Forensic and Investigative Sciences Program and Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. He was Director of the Forensic Science Program at Michigan State University for 25 years from 1980-2004 until his retirement as Professor Emeritus. Dr. Siegel is a Distinguished Member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and was named as Distinguished Alumni Scholar by his alma mater, George Washington University in 2011. He is co-editor of Forensic Science Policy and Management: An International Journal. He was a member of the National Academy of Sciences Forensic Science Committee from 2006-09.

Reviews

[Petra X · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've finished the book and it's got me really interested in knowing more about forensic science.

Apart from the narrator's drone, his almost computer-like voice which in the early chapters when there was nothing new to me, the only fault I could find with the book was on soil analysis. Handwriting was interesting and particularly well-covered, but soil analysis was not.

This is considered so difficult that few forensic laboratories deal with it. But to me it is the most fascinating. Soil from your carefully-tended garden will not be the same as the next door neighbour's who uses his for repairing motorcycles on and has a collection of rusting parts going back years. It certainly won't be the same as in the next town, the forest nearby, or by the sea a thousand miles away. It is covered too briefly and if anyone knows a good, readable book on the forensics of soil analysis that a non-scientist could enjoy, please let me know. I'm fascinating by forensics in general, but soil in particular.

[Rhnzz111]

A Forensic Science Beginner Guide provides an introductory look into the world of forensic science, detailing the basics of criminal investigations, evidence collection, and lab analysis. However, the book tends to offer a somewhat simplistic explanation of the field, glossing over the complexities and the interdisciplinary nature of forensic science. While it's useful for those just starting out, it doesn’t delve deeply enough into the nuances of how different aspects of forensic science interconnect in real-world scenarios.

One of the main drawbacks is that the book often digs too much into one particular aspect, such as fingerprint analysis or toxicology, while neglecting other equally important fields like digital forensics or forensic anthropology. This narrow focus limits the reader’s understanding of the broader scope of forensic science, which is critical for anyone looking to develop a well-rounded knowledge base in the field. A more balanced exploration of various disciplines would provide a fuller picture of how forensic science plays a role in criminal justice.

As someone who prefers to study through real-world examples, I found the book lacking in case studies or practical exploration. Instead of detailed reports, I would have preferred more in-depth discussions of actual forensic cases, showing how various forensic techniques are applied in solving crimes. The use of study cases could help bridge the gap between theory and practice, offering more engaging content for those interested in not just the science but also the application of forensic knowledge in real investigative scenarios.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't finish this book. It's a bit old, so I was initially forgiving of some of the information being out of date, but for me it was the bias creeping in that made me give up. The author talks about forensic scientists having to remove bias from their work, but this isn't evident in their writing. There was some scaremongering, especially in the chapter on illicit substabces. The author heavily described uses and manufacture of the drugs, but didn't discuss as heavily the testing for these in labs (aside from "mix three chemicals and look for this colour"...). If you know absolutely nothing about forensic science, this isn't a bad introduction, but I would suggest reading other books alongside this one for a more complete picture.

[Saoirse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book, it was easy reading and gave a good overview. I would have liked to get a bit more in-depth information and explanations on some of the topics, but I did like how broad the topics in the book were. Very interesting and comprehensive.

[Abdullah Siddiqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's pretty short, precise, and very beginner friendly. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this.

Although it's a very novice book, it still made me awe at all the in-depth science which goes on in crime scenes... And also dispelled quite a few myths which were popularized from TV shows.

[Pradeep · Rating 4 out of 5]

For novices in forensic science, this is a interesting read. Gives a window view of a much larger and bigger world.

[Carrie-Jennifer Simpson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite interesting, very wordy and found it a bit boring in places. But that's my own opinion. It was very well written.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too short to be of any use but I'll search out a longer one by the author as it feels very solid.

[Constant_Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly enjoyable, and easy to read. Would recommend if you're new to the field!

[Agi · Rating 4 out of 5]

first thing first: I'm not a scientist, and I'm about to have my forensic class, so this book helps me a lot when I have to do what I had to do.
Second: it's cheap. Priced around IDR 150k or around USD 11, this book has a great quality paper when it comes to paperback book. It means I can scribble some notes and highlight most of the book without worrying I will ruin the other side of the paper.

If you are a beginner in forensic and wants an easy insight of the forensic world without having to bury your head in difficult and scary scientific terms. this book is for you.

[Steele Dimmock · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is Forensic Science for morons. The author takes great pains to explain that you need evidence to convict a criminal. Evidence takes time to process and that lawyers use it in court.

Couldn't finish as every statement was frustratingly obvious

[Mills College Library]

363.25 S5715 2016

[Wilde Sky · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book provides an overview of what Forensic Science is.

I found this book a bit dull - it came across as simply an explanation of various terms.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really good book for anybody wanting to learn the basics of forensic science!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is exactly what it says it is. If you've watched every episode of Forensic Files, then you know everything in this book;)

[Secretgeek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learned a lot from this book. Really interesting and quite broad introduction to the topic.

[Larry · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was not much more than job descriptions.