Description
Book SynopsisThe evidence discovered at underwater crime scenes must be handled with the same attention to proper chain of custody procedures as with any other type of investigation. Improper handling of these scenes can lead to evidence being lost, unrecognizable, destroyed, contaminated, or rendered inadmissible at the time of trial. Updated and expanded, Underwater Forensic Investigation, Second Edition presents a comprehensive approach to the processing of an underwater crime scene and the steps necessary to conduct the operation.
The book summarizes the history, physics, and laws applicable to underwater investigations and includes topics such as team formation, roles, deployment, and accountability. Explaining procedures that can make a true difference in the final outcome of water-related incidents, the author also debunks myths associated with submerged evidence.
This second edition contains several new chapters on photography, contaminated sites,
Trade Review
"Ron Becker is an accomplished criminal investigator turned personal injury attorney and judge. He took a fascination for the history of marine archaeology and underwater search and recovery and coupled it with his passion for forensic science and criminal law procedure in the pursuit of educating others in underwater forensic investigations. He is the author of the second edition of Underwater Forensic Investigation, published in 2013 by CRC Press. The text, which is 351 pages divided into 15 chapters, is a comprehensive view of this emerging area of criminal investigations. ... If you are an aspiring underwater forensic investigator, this book will encourage you to expand your knowledge of dry-land forensic crime scene processing and modern forensic techniques. For the police and crime lab administrator who may have a more historical view of this subject matter, the book effectively creates awareness and understanding of the benefits to ensuring any team operating in your service area does so with an eye on scientific rigor and commitment to building technical skill."
—B. Kroupa, RTI International, in Forensic Science Review, Vol. 26, No. 1
Table of ContentsIntroduction. A Brief History of Underwater Investigation. An Explanation of Pressure and the Laws of Boyle, Charles, Dalton, and Henry. The Underwater Forensic Investigator. The Law of Search and Seizure. The Underwater Crime Scene. Underwater Photography. Medicolegal Aspects of Underwater Death. Firearms Recovery and Investigation. Aircraft and Vehicle Investigations. Vessel Recoveries. Equipment. Diving in Contaminated Water. Using Experts and Evidence in the Courtroom. Defense Lawyers, Prosecutors, and Investigators. Index.
