Forensic Science in Court explores the legal implications of forensic science--an increasingly important and complex part of the justice system. Judge Donald Shelton provides an accessible overview of the legal issues, from the history of evidencein court, to "gatekeeper" judges determining what evidence can be allowed, to the "CSI effect" in juries. The book describes and evaluates various kinds of evidence, including DNA, fingerprints, handwriting, hair, bite marks, tool marks, firearms and bullets, fire and arson investigation, and bloodstain evidence. Assessing the strengths and limitations of each kind of evidence, the author also discusses how they can contribute to identifying the "who," "how," and "whether" questions that arise in criminal prosecutions. Author Donald Shelton draws on the depth of his experiences as courtroom prosecutor, professor, and judge, to provide a well-rounded look at these increasingly critical issues. Case studies throughout help bring the issues to life and show how forensic science has been used, both successfully and not, in real-world situations.

Author: Shelton, Donald
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Illustration: Y
Language: ENG
Title: Forensic Science in Court
Pages: 00196 (Encrypted EPUB) / 00196 (Encrypted PDF)
On Sale: 2010-10-16
SKU-13/ISBN: 9781442201897
Lib Category: Evidence, Criminal - United States
Lib Category: Evidence, Expert - United States
Category: Law : Civil Procedure
Category: Law : Criminal Law - General
Category: Law : Forensic Science