Evans, C. (2004). Murder Two:

Evans, C. (2004). Murder two: The second casebook of forensic detection. Hoboken, NJ: John

Wiley & Sons.

This text provides a comprehensive overview of 130 real-world applications of forensic technologies ranging from ballistics to handwriting analysis as well as fingerprinting, ballistics, gunpowder residue, blood splatter and blood stain analyses, among others. Author has written extensively on the subject of the development of forensic science. Author presents a comprehensive description of toxicological processes and some important milestones in the evolution of forensic science. Author also presents timely descriptions of some of the cutting-edge technologies that have emerged in recent years including brain fingerprinting and DNA typing for establishing identities. Of particular interest was Evans' presentation of the key players involved in the development of these technologies and the circumstances that resulted in their application to forensic science. Author also presents some step-by-step guidance concerning how these technologies are typically applied in criminal cases including the precautions that must be taken to ensure that the resulting findings are admissible as evidence in a court of competent jurisdiction such as ensuring the chain of custody for forensic evidence remains unbroken. In sum, this text provides a useful and valuable starting point for further examination of the key forensic technologies being used today.

Saks, M.J. & Koehler, J.J. (2008). The individualization fallacy in forensic science evidence.

Vanderbilt Law Review, 61(1), 197-199.

Authors are professors of law at Arizona State University - Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law and Northwestern University - School of Law, respectively. Authors preface their journal article with a discussion concerning the two basic steps involved in forensic analysis, which are (a) to determine whether a piece of evidence sufficiently matches a known source to provide justification for a match and (b) interpreting the meaning of this match. Authors apply these steps to various types of commonly encountered crime scene evidence such as handwriting, bite marks, shoeprints, fingerprints, blood and hair samples, firearms and gunpowder residue, and so forth. Authors emphasize that each of these different types of evidence requires different analytical techniques but stress that the fundamental two steps described above represent the starting point for all forensic analyses. Unfortunately, there remains a paucity of relevant databases that contain sufficient samples of many of these different types of samples to ensure proof-positive identification, but note that the body of knowledge continues to expand on a daily basis, making forensic testing increasingly reliable over time. Authors also cite the need for forensic scientists and examiners to apply blind examination procedures to ensure that their interpretations of the results of their tests are not biased in the same fashion as are used in other fields. Finally, authors provide some specific real-world examples concerning how establishing matches for evidence such as fingerprints can be a particularly challenging enterprise, even for experienced forensic scientists. All told, this journal article provides a useful overview of what forensics tests are currently being used and what constraints and obstacles are involved in their applications.

Schwabe, W., Davis, L.M. & Jackson, B.A. (2001). Challenges and choices for crime-fighting technology: Federal support of state and local law enforcement. Santa Monica, CA:

Rand.

Authors present the results of their analysis of forensic technologies currently being used by law enforcement agencies across the country at the state and local level. Authors also examine in depth the types of support provided by federal agencies to state and local law enforcement authorities in their implementation and use of forensic technologies. Authors present the results of a national law enforcement technology survey and comparable forensics technology survey that was conducted by the RAND Corporation to assess the effectiveness of this support and constraints to applying forensic technologies at the state and local level. Authors devote several chapters to different types of forensic analyses, including what types of techniques are best suited for various types of crimes and the evidence that may be present. A discussion concerning the types of evidence, including controlled substances, firearms, explosives, fire debris, bullets, footwear, vehicle tire marks, latent fingerprints, blood, gunpowder residue and so forth that are typically encountered in different crime scenes is followed by a useful description concerning how and why specific forensic technologies are used. Authors also present a description concerning how computer-based technologies are facilitating the application of these forensic investigatory methods to achieve higher conviction rates by providing improved testing results. Based on its comprehensiveness and on-point coverage of relevant forensic methods, this text was deemed highly suitable for review and interpolation.

Watterson, J., Blackmore, V. & Bagby, D. (2006). Considerations for the analysis of forensic samples following extended exposure to the environment. The Forensic Examiner, 15(4),

19-21.