Irrefutable Evidence: A History of Forensic Science - Hardcover

Michael Kurland

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1566638038 ISBN 13: 9781566638036

Publisher: Ivan R. Dee (UK), 2009

Synopsis

The rise of scientific thinking in finding, catching, and convicting criminals—and, just as important, freeing the innocent—has transformed societys assault on crime. Before scientific detective work, early attempts to maintain public safety relied on the severity of punishment rather than any probability of apprehension. But with the rapid development of the sciences in the nineteenth century, some techniques began to spill over into more effective police work.

Michael Kurlands engrossing history of forensic science recounts this remarkable progress, which continues to the present. He traces the history of the major techniques of criminal detection and many of the minor ones. Here are Bertillons physical measurements used to recognize habitual criminals; the study of fingerprints identifying criminals long after they have left the scene of the crime; Gravelles comparison microscope comparing bullets to determine if they have been fired from the same gun; the development of bloodstain identification and, ultimately, the blood type involved. Mr. Kurland explains how once–accepted techniques have fallen by the wayside—handwriting analysis, for example—and how methods such as lie detectors, voice spectrum analysis, bite mark evidence, and other methods have proven unworthy.

Finally Irrefutable Evidence explores the rise of modern DNA typing techniques, which have proven the innocence of many persons convicted of major crimes and resulted in the exoneration of more than two hundred on death row. With 12 black–and–white illustrations.

About this title

About the Author

Michael Kurland is perhaps best known for his "Professor Moriarty" mystery novels; he is an American Book Award nominee and two–time finalist for the Edgar. Mr. Kurland's nonfiction books include How to Solve a Murder and How to Try a Murder as well as A Gallery of Rogues and The Spymaster's Handbook . He lives in Petaluma, California.

Edition details

• Publisher: Ivan R. Dee (UK)
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1566638038
• ISBN 13: 9781566638036
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 384