Scientific Evidence in Civil and Criminal Cases

Book excerpt: Scientific Evidence in Civil and Criminal Cases is the sixth edition of an authoritative work that has defined and shaped scientific evidence for four decades. This practical resource covers the law associated with scientific evidence, as well as the underlying principles of the forensic science disciplines most frequently encountered in the courtroom. It explains the capabilities and limitations of the forensic science methodologies and discusses controversial and emerging issues both in the forensic science community and in the legal system. For each discipline, the standards and qualifications of experts are presented along with the current status of admissibility and applicable evidentiary law.