Search -
Forensics: The History of Modern Criminal Investigation
Forensics The History of Modern Criminal Investigation Author:James Morton Two centuries ago, our justice system was based almost entirely on one person?s word against another?s. Today, investigators use state-of-the-art technology—from DNA sequencing to data mining to blood splatter analysis—to catch criminals. In Forensics, seasoned lawyer and legal scholar James Morton traces the development of procedures such as: — ... more »Fingerprinting Ballistics Handwriting analysis Dental record identification Electronic surveillance Beginning with Eugene Francois Vidocq, the nineteenth century French inspector commonly known as “the first detective,? Morton delves into notable cases throughout history that led to major advances in the field.
The science of forensics goes beyond than what you see in the labs of CSI or NCIS. Morton also shows how investigators have collaborated with some of the world?s best psychologists and criminologists to develop interrogation techniques such as recovered memory, false confessions, hypnosis, and polygraph tests, commonly known as lie detectors. In just the last few decades, the push to get inside the mind of the offender in turn has led to staggering advances in behavioral profiling, the technique used to track down serial killers like Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer and the subject of the hit show Criminal Minds.
Based on the author?s own original research and written with the suspense and immediacy of a thriller, Forensics is destined to be a new true crime classic.« less