Forensic Criminology

Forensic Criminology is the scientific study of crime and criminals for the purposes of addressing investigative and legal issues. It is a science, a behavioral science, and a forensic science. This text is intended to educate students in an applied fashion regarding the nature and extent of forensic casework that is supported by, dependent upon, and interactive with research, theory, and knowledge derived from criminology. It is also intended to act as a preliminary guide for practitioners working with and within related criminal justice professions. Particularly those involved with assisting investigations, administrative inquiries, legal proceedings or providing expert findings or testimony under oath. It is offered as an applied scientific sub-discipline within the domain of general criminology, as well as a roadmap to the forensic realm for the uninitiated. Written by the authors of the best-selling "Criminal Profiling", now in its third edition, and the groundbreaking "Forensic Victimology", "Forensic Criminology" provides a bridge between the broad constructs of theoretical criminology and the forensic examination of individual cases. It serves as a textbook for college and university coursework, as a manual for practitioners, and as career guide for students. It approaches the study of criminology from an applied standpoint, moving away from the purely theoretical. It contains relevant and contemporary case examples to demonstrate the application of forensic criminology. It provides an integrated philosophy with respect to criminology, forensic casework, criminal investigations, and the law. It is useful for students and professionals in the area of criminology, criminal justice, criminal investigation, forensic science, and the law.