8127/frame/fm

E.
Summary
In this chapter, we have taken you from the literary beginnings of crime
detection, through the development of the practice of criminalistics, and into
some of the preliminary concepts and principles that have evolved, although
somewhat belatedly, along with the practice. We’ve described the evolution
of biological evidence as a tool in crime detection. Although fingerprints are
not traditionally grouped with blood and tissue typing, conceptually, they
are completely analogous; both kinds of evidence contain the potential to be
individualized directly to a person. The development of nonbiological evi-
dence has also been reviewed. By definition, nonbiological evidence may link
a person to a crime only indirectly. Therefore, inherent differences arise in
interpreting and presenting the results from the comparison or analysis of
nonbiological and biological evidence. We will continue to explore this coun-
terpoint throughout the book. However, in the broader sense, certain unify-
ing concepts and principles apply to all physical evidence. We will also
8127/frame/ch02 Page 66 Friday, July 21, 2000 11:51 AM

---

The Evolution of Forensic Science
67
introduce additional layers that interact to impact the forensic work product,
including the inherent nature of the evidence and the decisions introduced
by the analyst and the forensic community. In the next chapter, we introduce
a unifying paradigm for forensic science.
References
Allard, J. E. and Wiggins, K. G., The evidential value of fabric car seats and car seat
covers,
 J. Forensic Sci. Soc.
, 27(2), 93–101, 1987.
Ashbaugh, D. R., 
Quantitative-Qualitative Friction Ridge Analysis: An Introduction to
Basic and Advanced Ridgeology
, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 2000.
Biasotti, A., A statistical study of the individual characteristics of fired bullets,
J. Forensic Sci.
, 4(1), 133–140, 1959.
Block, E. B., 
The Wizard of Berkeley,
Coward-McCann, New York, 1958.
Block, E. B., 
Science vs. Crime: The Evolution of the Police Lab
, Cragmont Publications,
San Francisco, 1979.
Cole, S., Witnessing identification: latent fingerprinting evidence and expert knowl-
edge, 
Soc. Stud. Sci.,
28(5–6), 687, 1998.
Cole, S., What counts for identity? The historical origins of the methodology of latent
fingerprint identification, 
Sci. Context,
12(1), 139, 1999.
Commission on Proceedings Involving Guy Paul Morin, The Honourable Fred Kauf-
man, C.M., Q.C., Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 1998, and available at
http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/reports.htm
Cordiner, S. J., Stringer, P., and Wilson, P. D., Fiber diameter and the transfer of wool
fiber, 
J. Forensic Sci. Soc.
, 25(6), 425–426, 1985.
Coxon, A., Grieve, M., and Dunlop, J., A method of assessing the fibre shedding
potential of fabrics, 
J. Forensic Sci. Soc.,
32(2), 151–158, 1992.
Culliford, B. J., 
The Examination and Typing of Bloodstains in the Crime Laborator
y.
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1971.
Cuthbert, C. R. M., 
Science and the Detection of Crime
, Hutchinson, London, 1958.
Deadman, H., Fiber evidence and the Wayne Williams trial, Part I, 
FBI Law Enforce-
ment Bull.,
53(3), 12–20, 1984a.
Deadman, H., Fiber evidence and the Wayne Williams trial, Part II, 
FBI Law Enforce-
ment Bull.,
53(5), 10–19, 1984b.
DeForest, P., Lee, H., and Gaensslen, R., 
Forensic Science: An Introduction to Crimi-