Textbook of Forensic Science

This textbook provides essential and fundamental information to modern forensics investigations. It discusses criminalistics and crime scene aspects, including investigation, management, collecting and packaging various types of physical evidence, forwarding, and chain of custody. It presents fundamental principles, ethics, challenges and criticism of forensic sciences and reviews the crime typologies, the correlates of crime, criminology, penology, and victimology. It provides a viewpoint on legal aspects, including types of evidence, the procedure in the court and scrutiny of the evidence and experts.

The book summarizes forensic serological evidences such as blood, semen, saliva, milk-tears, sweat, vaginal fluids, urine, and sweat. It also provides an overview of forensic examination of different types of evidence and also includes comprehensive detailing of forensic ballistics including firearm classification, bullet comparison and matching. Further, it explores the examinations of drugs, chemicals, explosives, and petroleum products. It focuses on the various aspects of forensic toxicology, including the study of various poisons/toxins, associated signs and symptoms, a fatal dose /fatal period of poisons.

The book also emphasizes digital and cyber forensics, including classification, data recovery tools, encryption and decryption methods, image, and video forensics.

It is a useful resource for graduate and post-graduate students in the field of Forensic Science.

Dr. Pankaj Shrivastava received his Ph.D. in Microbiology with a specialization in Biotechnology from the Department of Biological Science, Rani Durgawati University, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India. He is in-charge of the Forensic DNA Fingerprinting facility of Govt. of Madhya Pradesh, India. His research interests include population DNA database, improvement of methods in forensic DNA typing, finding rapid protocols for the technology, and microbial forensics. He is the recipient of the prestigious Pt. Govind Vallabh Pant Award from the Bureau of Police Research and Development, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India and Anusrajan Award from AIISECT University, Bhopal for his authored books. He is also a recipient of the FICCI smart Policing award for developing a fast DNA typing protocol. He has authored 13 books and published more than 60 research articles in the journals of repute in forensic science, 36 book chapters, 84 conference proceedings, and 15 popular science articles.

Prof José Antonio Lorente is a Professor of Forensic Medicine at the University of Granada, Spain. After graduating at the Faculty of Medicine of Granada, he received Ph.D. Honors in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Granada. Dr. Lorente has published over 140 peer-reviewed papers and several books and book chapters. He has a special focus on the use of DNA and its application to human rights; he also created and launched the DNA-PROKIDS Program in 2004. His areas of interest in forensics also deal with population variability and analysis of old and ancient DNA samples and databases expansion and control. Dr. Lorente is also actively working in medical genomics and he's the scientific director of the Center for Genomics and Oncological Research (GENYO), where his team focuses on liquid biopsy and cancer interception. Dr. Lorente is the founder and first president of the AICEF (Ibero-Latin American Network of Forensic Sciences), and an honorary member of the AFSN (Asian Forensic Sciences Network).

Dr. Ankit Srivastava is a well-known academician in the field of Forensic Science. Currently he is serving as Associate Professor and Coordinator in the School of Forensic Sciences, the W.B. National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata. He also holds the post of Director, Centre for Studies & Research in Forensic Science, WBNUJS, Kolkata, India. He has more than 16 years of teaching and research experience in the field of forensic sciences. During his 16 years of journey, he authored several research articles and books published in different journals of national and international repute. He has visited and has been invited by various countries, namely Singapore, Thailand, China, USA, UK, Netherland, New Zealand, and Czech Republic, for lectures and presentations. In addition to this, he also associated as Editorial Board Member/Reviewer of different journals of national and international fame. He is also associated with internationally famed Rutgers University Camden, USA, as an external supervisor. Dr. Srivastava is associated with various reputed universities/institutions as a member of Advisory Board, Board of Studies, and external subject expert in Indian Universities. He also served as subject expert of Forensic Science in State Public Service Commissions of India.

Dr. Ashish Badiye is presently the Head of the Department and Assistant Professor (Senior Grade) at the Department of Forensic Science, Government Institute of Forensic Science, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India. He has completed his Ph.D., M.Sc. and B.Sc. (Honors) in Forensic Science. He has published over 55 research articles in journals of high repute and 18 book chapters. He has delivered invited talks, guest lectures, workshops, and demonstrations to Police officers, Public Prosecutors, and multiple colleges, institutes, and universities, across India on various aspects and topics related to Forensic Science. He is an expert Forensic Science trainer and assists the Maharashtra police in the various aspects of crime scene investigation. He has been awarded with “the Young Scientist Award” (2018) and “Special Recognition” (2017, 2018, 2019) for his services in “Scientific Aid to Investigation” to the Maharashtra Police. He is a member of the Board of Studies, Advisory Boards, Paper Setter, Examiner, and Evaluator, for various Universities in India. He also serves as a recognized reviewer for 30+ reputed journals. 

Dr. Neeti Kapoor is presently working as an Assistant Professor (Senior Grade) at the Department of Forensic Science, Government Institute of Forensic Science, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India. She completed her Doctorate, Master’s as well as Bachelor’s degree in Forensic Science. She has teaching and research experience of more than 10 years in the field of Forensic Science and has published more than 50 research articles injournals of high repute and 15 book chapters in International publications. She serves as a recognized reviewer for more than 14 journals from reputed publishers. She is a member of the Board of Studies, Paper Setter, Examiner, and Evaluator, for various Universities in India. She has delivered several invited talks and practical demonstrations at various educational institutions and to the police officers on various topics including Forensic Dermatoglyphics, Crime Scene Investigation, Physical evidences, Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, etc. Over the past decade, Dr. Neeti Kapoor have been instrumental in helping the police officers with the scientific collection, preservation, packaging and forwarding of the evidence, framing of the questionnaire, Crime Scene Analysis, Crime Scene Reconstruction, etc.