Kids fascinated by crime and police work will appreciate this inside look at detection and forensic science. The 25 experiments can be performed at home and offer fascinating explanations of police lab techniques.

This book exposes the dangerously imperfect forensic evidence that we rely on for criminal convictions. "That's not my fingerprint, your honor," said the defendant, after FBI experts reported a "100-percent identification." The FBI was wrong. It is shocking how often they are. Autopsy of a Crime Lab is the first book to catalog the sources of error and the faulty science behind a range of well-known forensic evidence, from fingerprints and firearms to forensic algorithms. In this devastating forensic takedown, noted legal expert Brandon L. Garrett poses the questions that should be asked in courtrooms every day: Where are the studies that validate the basic premises of widely accepted techniques such as fingerprinting? How can experts testify with 100-percent certainty about a fingerprint, when there is no such thing as a 100 percent match? Where is the quality control at the crime scenes and in the laboratories? Should we so readily adopt powerful new technologies like facial recognition software and rapid DNA machines? And why have judges been so reluctant to consider the weaknesses of so many long-accepted methods? Taking us into the lives of the wrongfully convicted or nearly convicted, into crime labs rocked by scandal, and onto the front lines of promising reform efforts driven by professionals and researchers alike, Autopsy of a Crime Lab illustrates the persistence and perniciousness of shaky science and its well-meaning practitioners.

Of all crimes, murder fascinates the public more than any other. While considered a detestable act, for which society reserves its severest punishments, homicide still captivates the American public. But the way homicide and its investigation are depicted in our media fail to capture just how murders get solved. Here, Snow takes us on a tour of murder, its investigation, and its prosecution from the perspective of a seasoned homicide detective. From the commission of the crime to the collection of evidence, examination of the crime scene, roundup of suspects, interrogation, and resolution, he leads readers from the scene to the courtroom, stopping along the way to consider all the elements that go into a murder investigation. He considers the culprits, the motives, the victims and their families, and offers readers a glimpse into the actual techniques and methods used to solve real crimes. This volume will fascinate and inform anyone interested in knowing the truth behind the scene of the crime of murder.

Criminal Justice 101: A First Course is an introductory level book intended for beginning criminal justice students. It provides students with a practical, reader-friendly experience and we present and explain our materials, as much as possible, in an easy-to-read, conversational style. The fundamentals and basic tenets of criminal justice are explored in 12 chapters (easily covered in one semester) and we avoid the sometimes lengthy and oftentimes cumbersome information that is prevalent in so many other publications. Our text also attempts to eliminate the unnecessary legal formulations and esoteric terminology that the beginning criminal justice student may not always need. The book provides basic and fundamental information that can easily be absorbed by the beginning criminal justice student in one semester. It is our intent to provide a book that will engage students, rather than burdening them with information that may, at times, be overwhelming and unnecessary at the introductory level.

Show reluctant teens that reading is not only fundamental-it's also fun! In this companion book to Rip-Roaring Reads for Reluctant Teen Readers, Ammon and Sherman describe 40 exciting, contemporary titles (20 for middle school, 20 for high school) written by outstanding authors. These are books your students won't want to put down. Designed to make the matching process between student and books easy and successful, this volume also includes genre and theme indexes, curriculum activities, interest and readability levels, and reproducible bookmarks for each entry.

Criminal investigators need broad knowledge of such topics as criminal law, criminal procedure, and investigative techniques. The best resource for these professionals will distill the needed information into one practical volume. Written in an accessible style, the fourth edition of Criminal Investigation maintains the same reader friendly approach that made its predecessors so popular with students, professionals, and practitioners. Beginning with an overview of the history of criminal investigation, the book explores current investigative practices and the legal issues that constrain or guide them. It discusses the wide range of sources of information available, including the internet, individuals, state and local sources, and federal agencies and commissions. Next, the book discusses other investigative techniques, including interviewing and interrogation, informants, surveillance, and undercover operations. A chapter on report writing provides explicit instructions on how to capture the most critical information needed in an investigation. Additional chapters cover the crime scene investigation and the crime laboratory. The remainder of the book delves into the specific investigative protocols for individual crimes, including sex offenses, homicide, mass and serial murder, assault and robbery, property crimes, cybercrime, and narcotics. Concluding chapters focus on the police/prosecutor relationship and investigative trends. Each chapter includes a summary, a list of key terms, and review questions so that readers can test their assimilation of the material. Clear and concise, this book is an essential resource for every criminal investigator’s toolbox.

The shocking true account of a man who learned everything there was to know about getting away with murder. Thirty years ago, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, became the hunting ground for a predator. Women were being brutally raped and murdered in a series of savage-and seemingly unconnected-crimes. Not until 2007 would the truth come to light, when DNA evidence pointed the finger at Timothy Krajcir, a convicted sex offender who'd never even appeared on a suspect list. He was a man who had pursued a degree in criminal justice and psychology-alongside the very investigators who would later use those same criminal sciences to finally stop him.

Todd Thompson had been given the greatest opportunity of his new career: a chance for a permanent position at the prestigious Colby Agency. His assignment: to locate a prominent geneticist's missing pregnant wife. Trouble was, working side by side with Serena Blake — the brainy beauty who suspected foul play — provoked certain feelings Todd couldn't ignore. And when a series of mysterious incidents put Serena in jeopardy, Todd vowed he'd stop at nothing to keep her safe.... But now, as the danger escalated around them, the hunt for a sinister criminal threatened to resurrect long-buried secrets of the past that could threaten Todd and Serena's future forever....

Balousek presents a collection of some of the most baffling mysteries in Wisconsin history, including unsolved murders, haunted houses, UFO sightings, and strange environmental phenomena.

Describes the importance of forensic science in solving crimes and illustrates through case histories the role of science in crime detection and investigation.