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Description
In today's criminal justice scenario, the traditional sources of proof, eyewitness' account, approvers, confessions have gone awry. The trials take just too long to keep the witnesses from turning hostile and the criminals are turning cleverer and more scientific. It is important that the prosecution agencies rely on something more authentic, more concrete and more productive in terms of convictions without the police having to resort to the third degree methods that not only violate fundamental human rights but also fail to produce positive results most of the time. There has to be something that is available, objective and, hence, not prone to the whims of the witnesses. The answer is provided by science, as by nature scientific evidence is, more or less, exact, far more reliable and does not turn hostile under threats. Besides, it works on clue materials, which are always available.
However, in India, we do not seem to have realized how vast is the potential of Forensic Science, have been far less than successful in developing a temperament in our police to apply scientifically viable evidence, and have also done equally bad in getting our lawyers and judges to fully appreciate them. Consequently, we so often see a piece of scientific evidence, painstakingly begotten after long arduous hours in the laboratory, go waste in the courtroom.
This work, based upon the careful study supplemented with valuable personal experience of the author, seeks to bring to the readers the necessary understanding of forensic science in layman's language so that the reader with an elementary understanding of science too could be benefited as much as a specialist would be.
The work would be of immense interest and help to the police officers, the lawyers, the judges and the forensic scientists besides a common man who wants to understand forensic science and its application without having to study science.
The book covers the entire gamut of Forensics including the latest developments, such as DNA, Fingerprinting, Voice Analysis, Computer Crime, Brain Printing etc.
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Contents
Chapter 1 - Introduction
1.1 - Nature
1.2 - Need
1.3 - Functions
1.4 - Development
1.5 - Principles
1.6 - Tools and Techniques
1.7 - Forensic Science Institutions
1.8 - Problems of Proof
1.9 - Expert Testimony
1.10 - The Court
1.11 - Time Element
1.12 - Law in Forensic Science
1.13 - Case Law
Chapter 2 - Scene of Occurance
2.1 - Importance
2.2 - The Problems
2.3 - Location
2.4 - Evaluation
2.5 - Modern Aids
2.6 - Scene Management Documentation
2.7 - Case Law
Chapter 3 - Forensic Psychology
3.1 - Definition
3.2 - Importance
3.3 - Nature
3.4 - Classification
3.5 - Problems
3.6 - Collection of Evidence
3.7 - Psychology in Interrogation
3.8 - Recent Advances in Detection of Deception
3.9 - Hypnosis
3.10 - Truth Serum
3.11 - Brain Printing
3.12 - Case Law
Chapter 4 - Computer
4.1 - Importance
4.2 - Computers and Law
4.3 - Nature
4.4 - Computer Work
4.5 - Computer Crimes
4.6 - Computer Criminals
4.7 - Prevention
4.8 - Computer Crime Investigation
4.9 - Case Law
Chapter 5 - Voice Analysis
5.1 - Introduction
5.2 - Importance
5.3 - Nature
5.4 - Problems
5.5 - Collection
5.6 - Evaluation
5.7 - Interpretation
5.8 - Miscellaneous
5.9 - Case Law
Chapter 6 - Fingerprints
6.1 - Importance
6.2 - Nature
6.3 - Location
6.4 - Collection
6.5 - Evaluation
6.6 - Presentation
6.7 - Legal Aspects
6.8 - Miscellaneous
6.9 - Case Law
Chapter 7 - Track Marks
7.1 - Importance
7.2 - Nature
7.3 - Problems
7.4 - Location
7.5 - Collection
7.6 - Recent Techniques
7.7 - Evaluation
7.8 - Presentation
7.9 - Acceptability
7.10 - Case Law
Chapter 8 - Tool Marks
8.1 - Importance
8.2 - Nature
8.3 - Location
8.4 - Collection
8.5 - Evaluation
8.6 - Case Law
Chapter 9 - Firearms
9.1 - Importance
9.2 - Nature
9.3 - The Problems
9.4 - Location
9.5 - Collection
9.6 - Evaluation
9.7 - Special Situation
9.8 - Gunshot Residues
9.9 - Range of Fire
9.10 - Firearm Injuries
9.11 - Reconstructions
9.12 - Duration of Fire
9.13 - Muzzle- Loading Firearms
9.14 - Improvised Firearms
9.15 - Miscellaneous
9.16 - Presentation of Evidence
9.17 - Case Law
Chapter 10 - Documents
10.1 - Importance
10.2 - Nature
10.3 - The Problems
10.4 - Location
10.5 - Collection
10.6 - Evaluation
10.7 - Specific problem
10.8 - Type Material
10.9 - Inks
10.10 - Papers
10.11 - Erasures
10.12 - Secret Writings
10.13 - Burnt Documents
10.14 - Age of Documents
10.15 - Obliterations
10.16 - Sequence of Strokes
10.17 - Indented Writings
10.18 - Closed Envelopes
10.19 - Writing Instrument
10.20 - Presentation
10.21 - Case Law
Chapter 11 - Poisons
11.1 - Importance
11.2 - Nature
11.3 - Location
11.4 - Collection
11.5 - The Problems
11.6 - Evaluation
11.7 - Individual Poisons
11.8 - Miscellaneous Poisons
11.9 - Presentation
11.10 - Judicial Proof
11.11 - Case Law
Chapter 12 - Narcotics
12.1 - Introduction
12.2 - Addiction
12.3 - Drugs and Crimes
12.4 - Classification
12.5 - Evidentiary Clues
12.6 - Forensic Problems
12.7 - Sedatives
12.8 - Stimulants
12.9 - Hallucinogens
Chapter 13 - Alcohol
13.1 - Importance
13.2 - Nature
13.3 - Location and Collection
13.4 - Problems
13.5 - Evaluation
13.6 - Case Law
Chapter 14 - Explosives
14.1 - Importance
14.2 - Nature
14.3 - Individual Explosives
14.4 - Explosives Devices
14.5 - Non –Explosive Explosion
14.6 - Location and Collection
14.7 - Problems
14.8 - Evaluation
14.9 - Case Law
Chapter 15 - Fires
15.1 - Importance
15.2 - Nature
15.3 - Collection of Clues
15.4 - Problems
15.5 - Evaluation
15.6 - Expert Testimony
15.7 - Case Law
Chapter 16 - Motor Vehicles
16.1 - Importance
16.2 - Nature
16.3 - The Problems
16.4 - Evidentiary Clues
16.5 - Collection
16.6 - Evaluation
16.7 - Resuscitation
16.8 - Case Law
Chapter 17 - Microtraces
17.1 - Importance
17.2 - Nature
17.3 - Location
17.4 - Collection
17.5 - Forensic Problems
17.6 - Evaluations
17.7 - Individual Microtraces
17.8 - Specific Traces – Fibres
17.9 - Specific Traces – Glass
Chapter 18 - Hairs
18.1 - Importance
18.2 - Nature
18.3 - Problems
18.4 - Location
18.5 - Collection
18.6 - Evaliation
18.7 - Specific Problems
18.8 - Case Law
Chapter 19 - Body Fluids
19.1 - Blood
19.2 - Semen
19.3 - Other Body Fluids
19.4 - Case Law
Chapter 20 - DNA Profiling
20.1 - Importance
20.2 - Nature
20.3 - Evidentiary Clue Materials
20.4 - Evaluations
20.5 - The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
20.6 - Case Studies
20.7 - Setting Standards
20.8 - Case Law
Chapter 21 - Elementary Forensic Medicine
21.1 - Death Investigator’s Role
21.2 - Possibilities
21.3 - Identification of Death
21.4 - Time of Death
21.5 - Cause of Death
21.6 - Identification of Dead
21.7 - Skeletal Remains
21.8 - Sexual Offences
21.9 - Incest
21.10 - Unnatural Offences
21.11 - Minor Sexual Offences
21.12 - Abortion
21.13 - Infanticide
21.14 - Case Law
Bibliography
Subject Index
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Author Details
Dr. B.R. Sharma has his basic education in chemistry. He worked for M.Sc. (Hons.) and Ph. D. in Delhi University Laboratories alter obtaining his B.Sc. (Hons.) degree from Punjab University.
Dr. Sharma, just before completion of his Ph.D. degree, was selected as Director, C.I.D. Scientific Laboratory, Punjab at the age of 26. Dr. Sharma has been heading, since then, various Forensic Science Institutions, (State ES.L. in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Union Territories; CFSL, (GOL, MHA), Chandigarh, etc.). He retired in September 1993.
Dr. Sharma has his rigorous training in documents in Scotland and has been a teacher in Forensic Science for about three decades. His appointments include Honorary Visiting Professor to Punjab University, Guest faculty member to Punjabi University, Patiala, Dr. H.S. Gaur University, Sagar, National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science, Central Detective Training School and numerous zonal/Regional Staff Training Colleges of various Banks (SBI, PNB, Canara Bank, SBOP, P&S Bank, Former NBI, etc.).
Dr. Sharma has done extensive research work. His researches in the identification of initials, digital writings, rubrics and symbols through Natural Variants remains unique piece of research in documents examination. He has guided doctoral thesis research. He has authored in about 100 papers /articles both in Indian and foreign journals.
His other works are: Firearms in Criminal Investigation and Trials, Bank Frauds-Prevention and Detection, Footprints Tracks and Trails, Scientific Criminal Investigation, Genie against Crime, etc.
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