NCJ Number
36898
Date Published
1974
Length
392 pages
Annotation
THIS TEXT WAS PREPARED FOR THE NON-MEDICALLY ORIENTED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHO IS CALLED ON TO INVESTIGATE CRIMES OF VIOLENCE, ACCIDENTS, OR OTHER INCIDENTS REQUIRING SCIENTIFIC BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE.
Abstract
PARTS OF THE CHAPTERS DEAL WITH THE PATHOLOGY OF TRAUMA AND CONSIDERABLE PATHOLOGICAL TERMINOLOGY IS EMPLOYED, BUT THIS IS FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT INVESTIGATING OFFICERS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THIS VOCABULARY IN ORDER TO DESCRIBE ACCURATELY THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE, IN THEIR REPORTS AND IN THEIR TESTIMONY. TOPICS COVERED IN THE BOOK INCLUDE DETERMINATION OF DEATH AND TIME OF DEATH, GUNSHOT WOUNDS, CUTTING AND STABBING, AND VARIOUS VIOLENT DEATHS (STRANGULATION, DROWNING, BURNING, INFANTICIDE, HEAD WOUNDS). THE PRINCIPLES OF SMALL ARMS BALLISTICS ARE REVIEWED FOR THEIR APPLICATIONS TO GUNSHOT WOUNDS. THE BATTERED CHILD SYNDROME, SEX-RELATED CRIMES, ALCOHOLISM, AND SUICIDE ARE DISCUSSED IN SEPARATE CHAPTERS. IN RECOGNIZING THE CONTINUING THREAT OF BOMBING INCIDENTS, THE BIOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS OF BOMB BLASTS ARE INCLUDED AS NECESSARY INFORMATION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL. VICTIM AND SUSPECT IDENTIFICATION ARE COVERED IN THE CHAPTERS ON FORENSIC SEROLOGY AND INDIVIDUAL IDENTIFICATIONS FROM HUMAN SKELETAL MATERIAL. THE APPENDIXES PRESENT INFORMATION ON BULLET VELOCITIES, FIREARMS, TESTIMONY IN COURT, EVIDENCE IN FIREARMS CASES, AND LEGAL TERMS USED IN FORENSIC SCIENCE. (SNI ABSTRACT)