Crime and Circumstance: Investigating the History of Forensic Science

by Suzanne Bell

Overview

Today, there is more interest in forensic science than ever before. Crime and Circumstance weaves the intriguing tale of how an obscure corner of medicine dating back to ancient times matured into modern forensic science. The author explores the scientific and social threads that created forensic science and continue to drive its evolution into an entertaining narrative that introduces readers to intriguing cases and personalities across history, countries, and cultures and helps readers translate current popularity into the reality of forensic science and laboratory investigation. Through historical and contemporary examples, Bell illustrates how cutting edge research migrates to forensic laboratories, a transfer that is more indirect than people might expect. Although science and the judicial system both pursue truth, the interface between them is anything but seamless. The unique historical approach focuses on personalities from scientific law enforcement and emphasizes the myriad discoveries made over the years. Through these stories, the reader is introduced to the underlying science in an interesting, lively, and accessible way.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313353871
Publisher:	ABC-CLIO, LLC
Publication date:	06/30/2008
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	454 KB

About the Author

SUZANNE BELL is a forensic chemist at West Virginia University. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and a Diplomate/Technical Specialist certified by the American Board of Criminalistics. She serves on the international Scientific Working Group for Seized Drug Analysis. She has published widely in academic jourbanals including the Jourbanal of Forensic Science, Jourbanal of Analytical Toxicology, and Analytical Chemistry. She is the author of the textbook Forensic Chemistry and the Encyclopedia of Forensic Science.

Table of Contents

Figures     ix
Preface     xi
Acknowledgments     xv
Introduction     xvii
Sexy Science?     1
The Scene of the Catastrophe     7
Uniquely Human     17
Settlements and Civilization; Justice and Death     23
The Emerging Rules of the Game     29
Science and Biology; Alchemy and Chemistry     37
One Element's Story     49
A Visit from God     65
Death Investigation and Forensic Toxicology     83
Forensic Chemistry: The Color of Evidence     97
The Eye of the Beholder     109
Gunpowder and DuPont; Dyes and Polymers     123
Microscopy and Trace Evidence     131
Patterns I: Firearms and Tool Marks     141
Patterns II: Measuring and Mismeasuring Man     149
Blood: Forensic Biology Arrives     157
DNA: The Genetic in Genetic Markers     173
Admissibility and the Trilogy     185
Profession and Personalities     191
Professional Immaturity     207
Let Us Return to the Scene of the Crime     211
Notes     219
Bibliography     225
Index     241

Editorial Reviews

Suzanne Bell is a well known and accomplished forensic scientist in the U.S.A., and as such has written this interesting and informative book from her own perspective. However, unlike some other publications on this and like subjects that have originated in America, the author embraces this topic from a world-wide panorama. This book weaves an intriguing and engaging tale of how an obscure corner of medicine, dating back to ancient times, matured into modern forensic science. Along the way the author introduces interesting and absorbing cases and personalities across history, nations and cultures which assists the reader to translate what was encountered then, into the reality of current forensic science and laboratory investigation.” —Internet Law Book Review

From the Publisher