Forensic Ecology Handbook. From Crime Scene to Court

Description

The analysis of plants, insects, soil and other particulates from scenes of crime can be vital in proving or excluding contact between a suspect and a scene, targeting search areas, and establishing a time and place of death. Forensic Ecology: A Practitioner’s Guide provides a complete handbook covering all aspects of forensic ecology. Bringing together the forensic applications of anthropology, archaeology, entomology, palynology and sedimentology in one volume, this book provides an essential resource for practitioners in the field of forensic science, whether crime scene investigators, forensic science students or academics involved in the recovery and analysis of evidence from crime scenes.
Forensic Ecology: A Practitioner’s Guide includes information not only on the search, location, recovery and analysis of evidence, but includes sampling strategies for diatom analysis, pollen and soils samples and entomology and provides guides for good practice. Each chapter provides background information on each discipline and is structured according to pre-scene attendance (what questions should the scientist ask when receiving a call? What sort of preparation is required?), scene attendance (including protocols at the scene, sampling strategies, recording), scientific examination of analysis of the evidence up to the stages and guidelines for witness statement and presenting evidence in court.
The book is written by specialists in all fields with a wealth of experience who are current forensic practitioners around the world. It provides an essential and accessible resource for students, academics, forensic practitioners and police officers everywhere.

Table of contents

About the Editors
List of Contributors
Series Foreword
Professor Niamh Nic Da´eid
Foreword
Jonathan Smith
Foreword
Richard T. Shepherd

1 Introduction 1
Nicholas M´arquez-Grant and Julie Roberts
References 4

2 Aspects of crime scene management 7
Ruth Buckley and Andy Langley
2.1 Introduction 7
2.2 Professionals within the investigation 7
2.3 Crime scene principles 12
2.4 Records and documentation 14
2.5 Crime scene attendance 16
2.6 Expectations 19
2.7 Conclusion 19
Acknowledgements 20
References 20

3 Forensic archaeology 23
Stephen Litherland, Nicholas M´arquez-Grant and Julie Roberts
3.1 Introduction 23
3.2 Forensic archaeology at a crime scene 25
3.3 Pre-scene attendance 28
3.4 Scene attendance 29
3.5 Case studies 40
3.6 Reporting and court testimony 42
3.7 Conclusion 44
References 45

4 Forensic anthropology 49
Julie Roberts and Nicholas M´arquez-Grant
4.1 Introduction 49
4.2 The role of the Forensic Anthropologist in criminal investigation 49
4.3 Pre-scene attendance 52
4.4 Scene attendance 53
4.5 In the mortuary 56
4.6 Positive identification 60
4.7 Production of an Expert Witness Statement and court attendance 61
4.8 Conclusion 64
References 65

5 Forensic radiography 69
Mark Viner
5.1 Introduction and current state of the discipline 69
5.2 Application of radiology to the analysis and identification of human remains 70
5.3 Conclusion 79
References 80

6 DNA analysis for victim identification 85
Michael Walbank and Andrew McDonald
6.1 Introduction 85
6.2 Taking DNA samples from the deceased 85
6.3 Collection of reference samples for victim identification 90
6.4 DNA laboratory analysis 91
6.5 Common DNA profiling tests 94
6.6 Conclusion 98
References 98

7 Other scientific methods related to victim identification 99
7.1 Introduction 99
Nicholas M´arquez-Grant and Julie Roberts
7.2 Dating of human remains 100
Gordon Cook
References 105
7.3 Other analytical techniques 107
Sophie Beckett
References 109

8 Forensic entomology 111
Martin Hall, Amoret Whitaker and Cameron Richards
8.1 Introduction and current state of the discipline 111
8.2 Applications 114
8.3 Pre-scene attendance 115
8.4 Scene attendance 117
8.5 Mortuary attendance 125
8.6 Laboratory analysis 125
8.7 Reporting and court appearance 130
8.8 Conclusion 131
References 131

9 Diatoms and forensic science 141
Eileen J. Cox
9.1 Introduction 141
9.2 Applications 144
9.3 Pre-scene attendance 145
9.4 Scene attendance and sampling 145
9.5 Preparation and treatment of samples in the laboratory 146
9.6 Analysis of samples 147
9.7 Reporting and court appearance 148
References 149

10 Forensic palynology 153
Beverley Adams-Groom
10.1 Introduction and current state of the discipline 153
10.2 Pollen 154
10.3 Applications 158
10.4 Pre-scene attendance 160
10.5 Scene attendance 161
10.6 Mortuary attendance 165
10.7 Laboratory analysis 165
10.8 Reporting and court appearance 166
References 167

11 Forensic botany 169
Heather Miller Coyle, Peter Massey and Peter Valentin
11.1 Introduction 169
11.2 Applications 169
11.3 Pre-scene attendance 170
11.4 Scene attendance 171
11.5 Mortuary attendance 174
11.6 Laboratory analysis 175
11.7 Reporting and court appearance 177
11.8 Conclusion 179
References 179

12 Forensic geology and soils 183
Duncan Pirrie and Alastair Ruffell
12.1 Introduction and current state of the discipline 183
12.2 Applications for forensic geology 186
12.3 Pre-scene attendance 189
12.4 Scene attendance and sampling 190
12.5 Sampling and preparation in the laboratory 195
12.6 Laboratory analysis 197
12.7 Reporting and court appearance 199
Acknowledgements 200
References 200

13 Exhibits 203
Chris Webster
13.1 Introduction 203
13.2 Exhibit principles 204
13.3 Recovery procedures 205
13.4 Labelling exhibits 206
13.5 Key exhibit principles 209
13.6 Practical guidelines for exhibit handling 213
13.7 Splitting exhibits 216
13.8 Long-term sporadic seizures of exhibits 217
13.9 Unsealing and resealing exhibits for examination 218
13.10 Conclusion 219
References 220

14 Forensic photography 221
John Yoward
14.1 Introduction 221
14.2 Basic elements of photography 222
14.3 Security of images 228
14.4 The forensic photographer and the crime scene 229
14.5 The forensic photographer at the mortuary 230
14.6 Conclusion 231

References 231
Index 233