Criminology and Criminalistics are both centered in law enforcement. However, criminology explores the nature of crime and prevention, while criminalistics involves the collection and analysis of evidence. Criminology is the study of crime and its prevention, as well as the exploration of criminals and their treatment. Criminology students study the criminal justice system … [Read more...] about Difference between Criminology and Criminalistics
CSI
Sticky fingers: developing a materials science approach to forensics
From the bluebird painting propped against her office wall and the deer she mentions seeing outside her office window, Linda Lewis might be mistaken for a wildlife biologist at first glance. But rather than trailing animal tracks, Lewis, a researcher at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, is more interested in marks left behind by humans... She's a … [Read more...] about Sticky fingers: developing a materials science approach to forensics
Weapons tied to repeat Domestic Abuse
Women are up to 83 percent more likely to experience repeat abuse by their male partners if a weapon is used in the initial abuse incident, according to a new study that has implications for victims, counselors and police. Michigan State University researcher Amy Bonomi and colleagues studied the domestic abuse police reports of nearly 6,000 couples in Seattle during a … [Read more...] about Weapons tied to repeat Domestic Abuse
Is DNA Available from a Child Cold Case Murder 40 years ago?
Back in 1976, a boy named Donald Miles Whaley, just 12 years old, liked to hang out at a local shopping center. Barbara Dyer Channell, who at the time worked at May Co., knew Donald - nicknamed Donnie - when he’d go to the department store to play its juke box. At the time, "His family lived down the street from my family on Graves Avenue", Barbara said. Now, after all … [Read more...] about Is DNA Available from a Child Cold Case Murder 40 years ago?
Leucomalachite Green (LMG)
Leucomalachite Green (LMG) was a popular blood reagent used from at least the 1950's thru the 1990's. I'm sure some CSIs may still use this reagent but it is not nearly as prolific today. Most US forensic supply companies don't even sell the LMG reagent anymore. LMG has two primary uses in crime scene work. The first is as a presumptive blood test. LMG crystals are mixed … [Read more...] about Leucomalachite Green (LMG)