Summary
Firearms evidence examination and fingerprint comparison have had a long and interesting history. The role of fingerprints in human identification can actually be traced back several thousand years. The development of the science of fingerprint comparison and the scientific examination of firearms, however, began in the early 19th century. The goal of the preservation of physical evidence is to associate each piece of evidence with its responsible source, allowing forensic scientists to answer questions regarding the who, what, when, where, how, and why of a crime.
Firearms and Fingerprints traces these early beginnings and the icons that laid the groundwork for the current science. Coverage includes the highly specialized education, training, and experience required for current practitioners in the modern forensic laboratory. Providing a thorough examination of the capabilities and limitations of firearms and latent print evidence, this book also looks at future possibilities as these fields continue to evolve and looks at the recent legal challenges that have arisen. Author Edward Hueske uses his extensive experience as a forensic scientist, professor, and consultant to paint a detailed picture of this fascinating science, which is sure to engage students.
Chapters include:
- Overview
- A Brief History of Firearms and Fingerprints and the Scientists Involved
- Scientific Principles, Instrumentation, and Equipment
- Forensic Applications
- The Future.
Specifications
Black-and-white photographs and line illustrations. Index. Appendix. Glossary. Cross-references. Sidebars. Further reading. Web sites. Tables.
About the Author(s)
Edward Hueske retired in 1996 following a 23-year career with government crime laboratories in Texas, Arizona, and Oklahoma, as a criminalist, firearms examiner, and laboratory manager. Well-published in forensic literature, he is the author of Practical Analysis and Reconstruction of Shooting Incidents. He is also the criminalistics program coordinator at the University of North Texas and teaches both undergraduate and graduate classes in criminalistics. Hueske is a fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, an emeritus member of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors, an emeritus member of the Southwestern Association of Forensic Scientists, a distinguished member of the Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners, and a member of the International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts.