Irrefutable Evidence: A History of Forensic Science

The rise of scientific thinking in finding, catching, and convicting criminals-and, just as important, freeing the innocent-has transformed society's 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 Kurland's 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 Bertillon's physical measurements used to recognize habitual criminals; the study of fingerprints identifying criminals long after they have left the scene of the crime; Gravelle's 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 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.

Review :
Irrefutable Evidence by Michael Kurland explores the history of forensic science dating as far back as 475 B.C. in ancient China. He focuses attention on major criminal cases, using them to discuss advancements in crime solving techniques over the past 2500 years. Kurland provides illustrations of the evolution of crime scene investigation, physical evidence analysis and how modern technology is used to help solve criminal cases today. Kurland points out that forensic science must be reliable and based on fundamental scientific principles. He argues that there is a need to improve many forensic disciplines such as ballistics, latent fingerprint analysis, document examination, bitemark and impression evidence analysis up to the level of DNA analysis which is considered to be the gold standard for criminalistics. The history of crime solving comes alive in this extraordinary and exciting survey of forensic science. Thanks to the new gold standard of DNA, hundreds of innocent people have being exonerated, often after spending years behind bars. Searching the massive databanks of DNA profiles produced nowadays routinely results in 'cold hits,' fingering previously unsuspected perps. Fingerprints used to be thought infallible, but a miscall a few years ago by the FBI in the Brandon Mayfield case cost the US government a multi-million dollar settlement. And forensic scientists nowadays aren't 'cops in labcoats,' but often have graduate degrees in biology and chemistry. What's going on?? Unfortunately learning about this fascinating subject often comes down to a choice between the inaccurate (CSI), the overly technical (textbooks for professionals), and the unsatisfying. Michael Kurland's Irrefutable Evidence avoids all of these, delivering an engaging, informative and highly readable picture of a field that is revolutionizing modern crime detection. On any given week, 8 out of the 10 highest rated shows are CSI and Forensic productions. Michael Kurland tells us how we got there and why the public is now and historically has been fascinated by every aspect of Forensic Science and how it has been used or misused over hundreds of years. From Lizzie Borden to the Lindbergh kidnapping to the shabby conviction of Sacco and Vanzetti, we are given the complete history of the use of forensic science without commercial interruption. Unless you are one of the 8 people on this planet who is NOT interested in this subject, READ THIS BOOK! Forget what you thought you learned from CSI....Turn instead to Irrefutable Evidence.