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 an 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 in an entertaining narrative that introduces readers to intriguing cases and personalities across history, countries, and cultures and helps readers translate what they encounter in popular media 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. This 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:	9780313353864
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	06/30/2008
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.20(d)

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

Illustrations
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1. Sexy Science?
Chapter 2. The Scene of the Catastrophe
Chapter 3. Uniquely Human
Chapter 4. Settlements and Civilization; Justice and Death
Chapter 5: The Emerging Rules of the Game
Chapter 6: Science and Biology; Alchemy, and Chemistry
Chapter 7: One Elements Story
Chapter 8: A Visit from God
Chapter 9: Death Investigation and Forensic Toxicology
Chapter 10: Forensic Chemistry: The Color of Evidence
Chapter 11: The Eye of the Beholder
Chapter 12: Gunpowder and DuPont; Dyes and Polymers
Chapter 13: Microscopy and Trace Evidence
Chapter 14: Patterns I: Firearms and Toolmarks
Chapter 15: Patterns II: Measuring and Mis-measuring Man
Chapter 16: Blood: Forensic Biology Arrives
Chapter 17: DNA: The Genetic in Genetic Markers
Chapter 18: Admissibility and the Trilogy
Chapter 19: Profession and Personalities
Chapter 20: Professional Immaturity
Chapter 21: Let us Returban to the Scene of the Crime
Notes
Bibliography
Index

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