Forensic Science Handbook, Volume 1

by Richard Saferstein

The second in a three-volume series, this popular and widely circulated professional handbook describes the theories and practices of today's criminalistics, and covers a wide range of subject areas relevant to the services rendered by crime laboratories and related facilities. Presents authoritative reviews from recognized forensic criminologists and forensic scientists well-versed in their chosen areas of expertise. Considers a specific examination technique for a wide-range of evidence prevalent in the modern crime laboratory, e.g., DNA, hair, paint, soil, glass, petroleum products, explosives, alcohol in blood and breath, and questioned documents. Describes the theory, operation, and forensic utilization of such modern analytical instruments as mass spectrometry, capillary electrophoresis, high-performance liquid chromatography, and the visible microspectrophotometer. Emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between forensic science and criminal law as it examines the role and conduct of the expert witness, rules of evidence, and the legal requirements governing the admissibility of scientifically evaluated evidence. For professionals in forensic science and criminology.

784 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 2001

About the author

Dr. Richard Saferstein was the chief forensic scientist of the New Jersey State Police Laboratory from 1970 to 1991. He appeared in over 1,000 courts as an expert witness and published numerous articles throughout his career. From 1972 to 1991, he also taught an introductory forensic science course in the criminal justice programs at Ocean County College and College of New Jersey.

Upon his retirement in 1991 he started his own consulting business, working as a consultant for attorneys and the media in the area of forensic science. He worked on numerous high-profile cases, including the O.J. Simpson criminal trial, and wrote several forensic science textbooks, the most important being “Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science” which became the leading textbook in the field in the U.S. In 2006, he received the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Paul L. Kirk award for distinguished service and contributions to the field of criminalistics.

He passed away in 2017.

Reviews

[Alvi Lael · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s packed with info, but the book meanders so much it feels like it lost. Its great!, and somehow it feels mandatory. I'll still read the next volume soon!.

Very Classic

8/10