DOCUMENT EXAMINATION & HANDWRITING ANALYSIS

Emily J. Will Forensic Document Examiner
Articles and information on the tools of the trade from the same expert listed under “Forensic Document Examinaton.”

Forensic Document Examination
Includes information on handwriting analysis, printing processes used to create documents, restoring faced writing, and the tools used in document examination and reconstruction.

Handwriting, Typing, Shoeprints, and Tire Treads
Despite its title, this FBI document deals primarily with handwriting and document analysis.

Identifont
Identify a font by answering a few questions.

Omniglot
A guide to writing systems around the world.

Virtual Typewriter Museum
A virtual museum which is based on various collections from around the world.

Weinberger Kidnapping
A case solved by the FBI in which they looked at almost 2,000,000 samples of writing to find a suspect.

What the Font
Scan text, upload the image, and this site will identify the font.


EAR MARKS AND IDENTIFICATION

Ear Identification
A history of Ear Mark evidence and a brief overview.

Ear Identification Research
If a person places his ear against the hard surface of a door in an attempt to overhear what people may be talking about behind the door, the eavesdropper may well leave an impression of his ear on the door's surface--an impression that can be "developed" much like a latent fingerprint at a crime scene can be made visible.

Earology
Excerpts from the book Ear Identification by Alfred Victor Iannarelli, with lots of information on classification and how-to’s.

Police Play It By Ear
Police are compiling what is believed to be the world's largest computer database of ear prints to be used in the same way as fingerprint evidence in linking suspects to crimes.


ENTOMOLOGY

American Board of Forensic Entomology
Includes a brief overview and history, as well as case studies and links.

Forensic Entomology at Department of Agriculture, Western Australia
The bottom of this page has information on collecting evidence from a corpse and links to insect photos.

European Association for Forensic Entomology
Includes links to identifying various insects.

Forensic Entomology
Everything you wanted to know about insects in legal investigations.

Forensic Entomology Pages
Includes a layperson’s introduction, as well as the stages of body decomposition and how insects are associated with each, common insects, analyzing and collecting evidence from the crime scene, case histories, as well as the use of arthropods in investigation of contraband trafficking.

Natural History Museum of London
This is a 23-minute video with the museum’s entomologist who explains how forensic entomology works; you will need the Quicktime player of Windows Media/Real Player.

The Why Files: CSI Fly
Aimed at kids, this is a brief overview of entomology.


FACIAL RECONSTRUCTION & FORENSIC ARTISTS

Facial Reconstruction
A step-by-step pictorial description of the reconstruction process from skull to sculpture.

Forensic Artist
News and articles.

Forensic Artist Certification
Certification requirements by the International Association for Identification.

Harvey Pratt
Considered one of the leading forensic artists in the United States, Harvey has spent over 40 years in law enforcement, completing thousands of witness description drawings and hundreds of soft tissue reconstructions.

Project Edan
The Forensic Artists of Project EDAN donate their work to make facial  reconstructions for Law Enforcement Agencies that do not have access to or funding for a qualified Forensic Artist.

Sculptural Forensics
A step-by-step process of how forensic sculpting is done.


FINGERPRINTS

Complex Latent Print Examination
Lots of reference articles, including the history of fingerprints, although definitely on the technical side.

Fingerprints for Dummies
The FAQs on these pages have resulted from the most common questions the www.onin.com webmaster has received.

Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS)
The Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System IAFIS, is a national fingerprint and criminal history system maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division.  IAFIS provides automated fingerprint search capabilities, latent searching capability, electronic image storage, and electronic exchange of fingerprints and responses, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Latent Print Examination
Articles for experts and how crime scene investigators can help protect evidence; even has an “Ask the Expert” section.

Latent Prints
Includes a link to an Interpol document outlining methods and procedures for use in the identification of fingerprints, as well as legal issues and articles on identification critera and processing techniques.

Michael Triplett’s Fingerprint Dictionary
An on-line dictionary of fingerprint terminology.

Ridges and Furrows
A history, new advances in digital image enhancement and how techniques such as FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) can help in analyzing fingerprints found at crime scenes, and articles on subjects like “Friction Skin Anatomy” and “Friction Skin Growth.”

Selection & Sequencing of Latent Fingerprint Processing
This is a very technical site, but has a lot of detailed information about the various types of equipment and materials used to test for fingerprints on different surfaces. It might help to have a little chemistry in your background, but very interesting, nonetheless.

Superglue to the Rescue
Scarcely visible fingerprint evidence can be saved with proper fuming.

The World of Fingerprints
An educational guide with lots of illustrated examples and a “try it yourself” section.



FOOTWEAR & TIRE TREADS

Chesapeake Area Shoeprint and Tire Track
CAST is a consortium of Footwear & Tire Track examiners in the mid-Atlantic. Their web site has useful articles on the subject of shoe and tire treads in crime scene investigation, including a directory of footwear manufacturers.

Estimation of Stature from Foot and Shoeprint Length
In the articles section of this NEIAI site, there is a link to a PDF document which gives an overview of the subject. There’s also a link to estimation of stature tables.

Footwear, the Missed Evidence
An article on the use of footwear evidence in crime scene investigation.

Footwear and Tire Track Evidence
A good basic overview of evidence collection, from the International Association for Property and Evidence

Footwear & Tire Track Impression Evidence
Databases for manufacturers of shoes and tires, and instructions on lifting evidence.

Footwear Impression Photography
This article is to discuss the process of recording footwear impressions on film.

Shoeprint and Tire
A descriptive site from the FBI with good general information on how casts and impressions are taken of such evidence.

Shoeprint Expert Testimony
A transcript of testimony given by FBI S.A. William Bodziak in 1995 in a trial in which he explains the steps he took to collect and qualify the evidence being used in the trial at hand.  It shows how such evidence can play a vital part in criminal cases.

Shoe/Tire Impression Casting
Shoe and tire impressions in dirt, sand or snow can be recovered by a combination of photographic techniques and making a cast of the impression -- a discussion of lightning powder and snow print wax.


GENERAL FORENSIC SITES & INFORMATION

A Beginner's Primer on the Investigation of Forensic Evidence
A basic overview, or what they don’t show you on TV.

Conducting Forensic Science: A Tutorial For Mystery Writers
A brief overview of the Forensic Sciences.

Crime Lab Project
A non-profit organization started by writers and producers to increase awareness of the problems facing public forensic science agencies.

Crimeline
A history of forensic science and crime, in timeline format.

Daily Forensic News
Up-to-date headlines, particularly relating to science and technology behind forensics.

D.P. Lyle, MD’s Writers’ Medical and Forensic Lab
Dr. Lyle is the the Macavity Award winning and Edgar Award nominated author of the non-fiction books Murder and Mayhem: A Doctor Answers Medical and Forensic Questions for Mystery Writers and Forensics For Dummies.  Dr. Lyle also has worked as a consultant for various TV shows like “CSI: Miami.”  His site includes some articles and links, and a Q&A section.

Explore Forensics
ExploreForensics contains articles written by their team of experts, with new articles added each month on subjects such as evidence analysis (e.g. ballistics, fingerprints, fibers/hair, etc.), pathology (DNA, serology), and types of forensics.

FBI Handbook of Forensic Science
Procedures on submitting evidence, evidence examinations, crime scene safety, crime scene searches, etc.

Forensic Databases: Paint, Shoe Prints, and Beyond
An overview of the various databases currently availablel to forensic scientists and law enforcement.

Forensic Evidence
Although this site hasn’t been updated much since 2005, there are archived articles on Evidence Law, Friction Ridge Evidence, Handwriting and Forensic Document Examination, Bite Mark ID, Firearm and Toolmark Evidence, Lip Prints, Ear Prints, and Other Less Well-known Marks and Miscellaneous Identification and Biometric Evidence.

Forensics FAQ
Provides an overview of various sub-disciplines within forensics.  New articles are added to the database frequently, which often include case studies and histories.

Forensic Laboratory Database
Although this site is from Canada, is has a searchable worldwide directory of forensic labs in a variety of disciplines.

Forensic NetBase
A bibliography (and store) of books on various subjects related to forensics.

Forensic Science
This is a commercial site offering books and online courses, but it also has a free library of articles on Criminal Profiling, Digital Evidence, Education, Forensic Science, and Legal Issues.

Forensic Science Central
A site with lots of informational pages on forensic science, including actual case files, definitions of the various types of forensics fields, and articles on subjects like trace evidence. There’s also a link to the Forensics and Crime discussion board.

Forensic Science Communications
F.S.C is a peer-reviewed forensic science journal published quarterly by FBI Laboratory personnel. The issues are included online, with other scholarly articles on various topics such as “A New Approach for the Analysis of Duct Tape Backings,” “Fundamental Frequency Analysis of a Metal Baseball Bat,” The Boiling Technique: A Method for Obtaining Quality Postmortem Impressions from Deteriorating Friction Ridge Skin” and “A New Approach for the Extraction of DNA from Postage Stamps.” Includes pages of information on hairs, fibers, crime, and evidence. http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/fsc/backissu/july2000/deedric1.htm

Forensic Scientists
Descriptions of the various types of forensic experts.

Handbook of Forensic Services
The purpose of the Handbook of Forensic Services is to provide guidance and procedures for safe and efficient methods of collecting, preserving, packaging, and shipping evidence and to describe the forensic examinations performed by the FBI’s Laboratory Division and Investigative Technology Division.

K9 Forensic
An overview of the differences between a search dog, cadaver dog, decomp dog and a forensic evidence dog.

Dr. Henry Lee
Over the past 40 years, Lee assisted in the investigations of more than 6,000 cases. There are some general articles about forensics on his site.

NecroSearch International
NecroSearch is a non-profit organization that specializes in the search for clandestine gravesites. The site has some basic information on methodology.

Virtual Exhibit on Forensic Science
In addition to a history of forensic science and an interactive game, this site from a consortium of Canadian law enforcement and museum officials also includes a database of forensic science, with overview articles on topics like Alcohol Analysis, Document Identification and Forgery,  Entomology, and Trace Evidence.


GEOLOGY

Forensic Geology
http://www.forensicgeology.net
Web page of Dr. Ray Murray, a forensic geologist since 1973


KNOTS AND LIGATURES

Death by Strangulation
http://lifeloom.com/II4Aggrawal.htm
A case involving the expertise of Dr. Anil Aggrawal, professor of Forensic Medicine

Forensic Knot Expert Witness
http://www.forensic-knots.co.uk/guild_knots.htm
The web site for Mike Lucas, Forensic Knot Specialist

A Guide to the Physical Analysis of Ligature Patterns in Homicide Investigations
http://www.corpus-delicti.com/ligature.html
The definition for ligature homicide in this work is concerned specifically with cases in which the victim has been garroted. This term applies to cases where an assailant has placed a ligature around a victim's neck and has tightened it for purposes of controlling, silencing, and/or killing the victim. Commonly documented examples of ligatures include, but are by no means limited to: ropes, neckties, scarves, stockings, metal wires, shoe/boot-laces, necklaces, clotheslines, sweaters, brassieres, belts, and electrical cords.

Unravelling Crime
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/gazette/vol69no2/knot_e.htm
A Q&A with Cpl John Van Tassel, an expert in forensic knot analysis (FKA).


MEDICINE/PATHOLOGY

Anil Aggrawal’s Popular Forensic Medicine Page
http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine/williamson/235
Aggrawal is Professor of Forensic Medicine at the Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India. His site is mostly a set of links to other forensic sites, but he also has a link to a page on Popular Forensic Medicine where he discusses science in crime detection (“When did the murder take place?”, “Who Handled the Gun?”, etc.), a link to his Yahoo discussion group on criminal poisoning, and a link to his Internet Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, with archives articles on various subjects related to forensic medicine.

Bodies From Water
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/forensicmedicine/notes/water.pdf
A look at drowning and its effects upon a body, including determinations as to whether a body was dead before being placed in the water

Forensic Medicine for Medical Students
http://www.forensicmed.co.uk
This site has a disclaimer that it’s not for minors due to the images of wounds, bodies, and violence. The Wound section includes images and descriptions of various types of wounds, from abrasions to bite marks to incised wounds; the Firearms sections has tutorials on the types of wounds guns can cause depending upon various factors; the Autopsy section has a procedural description; the Asphyxia section talks about strangulation and the effects on the body; there’s an Animal Anatomy section, since the the forensic pathologist and anthropologist must have some knowledge of comparative anatomy to be able to distinguish between human remains and those of animals; and there are additional areas for legal issues, articles, and links.

Forensic Pathology
http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/FORHTML/FORIDX.html
Includes tutorials on firearm injuries and drug abuse pathologies, as well as lots of images pertaining to blunt force and physical trauma, environmental accidents, drug abuse and poisoning, trauma with sharp instruments, and of course the firearm injuries. If you want to see what an exit gunshot wound looks like, this is the place.

PathMax
http://www.pathmax.com/main.html
A site devoted to links on the subject of various pathologies, it includes a section for forensic pathology.


META-SITES ON FORENSICS

Carpenter’s Forensic Science Resources
http://www.tncrimlaw.com/forensic
An extensive bibliography of forensic science resources indexed by physical, bio/life, and behavioral sciences, with categorized links to forensics sites.

Kruglick’s Forensic Links
http://www.bioforensics.com/kruglaw/forensic.htm
From the staff at Forensic Bioinformatics, another Web bibliography of forensic science links.

Michigan State University Forensic Science Links
http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/crimjust/forsci.htm
Loads o’ annotated links

Reddy’s Forensic Home Page
http://www.forensicpage.com
A forensics page by Reddy P. Chamakura, who spent 36 years as a forensic scientist with Police Laboratory, New York City Police Department, this page includes news and links galore on just about every topic related to forensic science

Zeno’s Forensic Site
http://forensic.to/forensic.html
Another site with loads of links by Dr. Zeno Geradts with the Netherlands Forensic Institute.


NURSING

Forensic Nursing
http://www.forensicnurse.org/about/aboutWork.cfm
Forensic Nursing is the application of nursing science to public or legal proceedings, as well as the application of the forensic aspects of health care combined with the bio-psycho-social education of the registered nurse in the scientific investigation and treatment of trauma and/or death of victims and perpetrators of abuse, violence, criminal activity and traumatic accidents.

Forensic Nursing Resource Homepage
http://www.fnrh.freeserve.co.uk/index1.html
A listing of links about forensic nursing, primarily from a European standpoint


ODONTOLOGY (BITE MARKS)

Bite Mark Analysis
http://www.crimeandclues.com/bite_mark.htm
This article gives a good overview of bite mark evidence, including a very brief history, the importance of digital photography in such evidence, and the case of Ted Bundy, which was solved in part by bite mark evidence.

Forensic Dentistry: Issues in Human and Animal Bite Mark Analysis
http://www.forensic.to/webhome/bitemarks
Links and a discussion of how bite mark impressions are handled

Forensic Dentistry Online
http://www.forensicdentistryonline.org
Articles on bitemarks, identification, and many links


PHOTOGRAPHY

Forensic Photography
http://www.neiai.org
This site from the NEIAI has three powerpoint presentations on forensic photography (which require that you have the Powerpoint software)


PSYCHIATRY & PSYCHOLOGY

David Willshire’s Forensic Psychology and Psychiatry (and Cycling!) Links
http://members.optushome.com.au/dwillsh

Forensic Psychiatry
http://www.forensic-psych.com
A look at the legal side of the subject, at what forensic psychiatrists contribute to court cases

Forensic Psychiatry and Medicine
http://www.forensic-psych.com
This page, by Harold J. Bursztain, MD, provides “lots of information on the role of Forensic Psychiatrists in expert witness testimony, managed health care, and more.”

Forensic Psychology
http://www.lib.jjay.cuny.edu/links/index.cfm?subid=166
Lot of links to relevant sites


SCIENCE, GENERAL & CRIME-RELATED

Chem Finder
http://chemfinder.cambridgesoft.com
ChemFinder.Com is a portal of free and subscription scientific databases (Reference, Chemical, Reaction, and Safety). It’s very scientific, but if you want to know the properties of a chemical or reactions, you can find them here.


Gene Almanac
http://www.dnalc.org/home.html
The Gene Almanac covers broad topics, including basic heredity, genetic disorders, eugenics, the discovery of the structure of DNA, DNA sequencing, cancer, and plant genetics. They also have some content available in off-line media (CD-ROM or DVD).

Live Science
http://www.livescience.com
This web site has updated news reports and articles on Space, Animals, Health, Environment, Technology, History and “Strange News.” They also have RSS feeds to which you can subscribe.

MadSciNet
http://www.madsci.org
A site where you can ask science questions and get answers, as well as search through thousands of archived questions and answers

Media Resource
http://www.mediaresource.org/scistacks.shtml
MediaResource is a Public Understanding of Science Program of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, with a mission of linking journalists and scientists. There are science links and news and a section for journalists seeking expert resources to e-mail questions. Although this is intended for the media, it might be a good resource for crime fiction writers, and certainly if you’re writing mystery-themed nonfiction articles.

Popular Science Blog
http://popsci.typepad.com
A blog from the print publication of the same name which includes free articles on various science subjects

Science Daily
http://www.sciencedaily.com
Up-to-date science news

Scientific American Ask the Experts
http://www.sciam.com/askexpert_directory.cfm
This site from the magazine by the same name, has a section where you can ask science questions. There’s also an archive section.


SOIL SCIENCE

Analysis and Collection of Soil Samples
http://www.crimeandclues.com/soil_analysis.htm
The history of soil evidence, how it’s collection, how it’s processed in the lab

The Centre for Australian Forensic Soil Science
http://www.clw.csiro.au/cafss/index.html
The CAFSS)is the first formal worldwide network of soil and forensic scientists that combines research, training and services in soil forensics to fight crime, terrorism and environmental pollution. The CAFSS has been actively involved in soils forensic work, assisting police forces, government agencies and non-government organisations with the search, location and recovery of soil and mineral samples from crime and environmental disaster scenes in Australia and overseas.