If Sherlock Holmes had cracked the O. J. Simpson case, he would have done it with forensic science. Techniques and devices used to analyze crime scene evidence—and their real and fictional practitioners—have long fascinated the public. This reference covers all aspects of forensic science:

• Types of evidence

• Types of crimes or conditions

• Criminal cases

• Criminal and civil law

• The disciplines of criminal justice

• Poisons and drugs

• The evolution of forensics

• Forensic scientists and officials

• Serial killers

• Relevant literature, characters, and writers



The study focuses on the criminal and societal effects of forensic science in the United States, with attention paid to major British and French advances. The book also examines historical cases in which new techniques were first applied. Entries are arranged both alphabetically and topically, making them easily accessible to student and amateur sleuth alike.