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Book Reviews
scientific community. The latter is treated in the context of psychophysiology and the use of the polygraph. This last instrument is not accepted as being valid in most judicial systems. Chapter three is concerned with fingerprint evidence that has been accepted in most judicial systems for many years but whose scientific bases has often been erroneously related to a proscribed set of comparators. Only in recent times has it become accepted that fingerprint comparison is a subjective probabilistic problem that means that the reliability of such evidence is perhaps more than much other scientific evidence dependent upon the skills of the fingerprint expert. As a consequence of this, sets of criteria should be established which identify the necessary skills of the scientist and the required features of the finger mark for an identification. Chapter four deals with handwriting evidence and presents the arguments under the Daubert and Kumho Tire cases in the United States which has downgraded such scientific evidence to that of evidence resulting from technical or specialist knowledge. Much discussion has ensued in various parts of the world over this judgement in the Johannes Hines case. Chapter five deals with an area not widely employed in the forensic community and that is osmology, better known under the description of scent identification by dogs which appears to be accepted in Dutch and Polish courts but I suspect in few others. The discussion here centres on whether such a technique meets the Daubert criteria and the difficulty of identifying properly defined controls and standards. Similar arguments are provided in chapter seven that discusses eyewitness identification through photographs and identity parades. Methods for removing bias in such parades especially by the use of sequential observation are critically evaluated. Chapters eight, nine and ten deal with areas that many scientists would have difficulty in identifying as a science and that is hypnosis, dowsing and clairvoyance. The reviewer was interested to encounter another word that describes a dowser that is a radiesthesist. A good one for the scrabble board. Again these subject areas are tested against the Daubert criteria. Tthis is an easy to read little book that goes someway towards meeting the aims of the title. It is well referenced but suffers from the drawback that many of the references are in Polish. I would recommend this volume as a very valuable aid to all those studying criminal law, forensic science or those who have just embarked on a career in this discipline. It is also a useful aid to those forensic scientists with some experience of the courts. An enjoyable read.
Brian Caddy
EXCELLENT VALUE Helping people cope with crime: the Victim Support Handbook P Spackman, ed. (Hodder & Stoughton, London, 2000, index, 124pp, ISBN 0340780495; £6.99) This useful publication is extremely easy to read and therefore will be useful to a wide audience. The book predominantly will be of help to persons who have been victims of crime but may give a general oversight of likely procedures to anyone who is a witness in proceedings. There are chapters dealing with various types of victims e.g. crimes against children. The book gives a useful outline of how crime affects people and the likely emotions which could take place. It gives useful advice to those who come into contact with victims. There are six pages of contact names and addresses. The book is excellent value at only £6.99. The probable drawback is that the Criminal Justice System in the UK is being rapidly overhauled by the government and there are likely to be many changes with which any further edition of the book will have to address. R Whitehouse
NOT JUST FOR "MY COUSIN VINNY" The Investigator's Guide to Tire Failures RJ Grogan (Institute of Police Technology and Management, Univ. N. Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, 1999, 273pp, index, ISBN 1884566332; $48) The long awaited update to Rex Grogan's An Investigator's Guide to Tire Failures has been produced at last. Firstly, it should be said that this book is a must for those concerned solely with the examination of tyres, and accident reconstruction experts concerned with accidents as a whole. It is written in such a way that it is a genuinely 'good read', making it easy to follow for those with only a peripheral knowledge of tyre technology. Several chapters from the earlier publication have been expanded and some of the information in those chapters could be embarrassing for some tyre manufacturers. Having said that, the book is essential reading for the Accident Investigator, there are some points which could be improved/revised. For example, the author has used the original Home's equation with regard to aquaplaning speeds. This equation has been revised. Secondly, I really do not believe that even the most sophisticated front suspension will hide the presence of a deflated front tyre from a driver who is awake, although Mr Grogan implies otherwise. Having carped over some of the points in the book I reiterate that this book, with its friendly informative style and unique content, is an absolute must for the Accident Investigator.
John Manderson Science & Justice 2001; 41(2): 127-131
scientific community. The latter is treated in the context of psychophysiology and the use of the polygraph. This last instrument is not accepted as being valid in most judicial systems. Chapter three is concerned with fingerprint evidence that has been accepted in most judicial systems for many years but whose scientific bases has often been erroneously related to a proscribed set of comparators. Only in recent times has it become accepted that fingerprint comparison is a subjective probabilistic problem that means that the reliability of such evidence is perhaps more than much other scientific evidence dependent upon the skills of the fingerprint expert. As a consequence of this, sets of criteria should be established which identify the necessary skills of the scientist and the required features of the finger mark for an identification. Chapter four deals with handwriting evidence and presents the arguments under the Daubert and Kumho Tire cases in the United States which has downgraded such scientific evidence to that of evidence resulting from technical or specialist knowledge. Much discussion has ensued in various parts of the world over this judgement in the Johannes Hines case. Chapter five deals with an area not widely employed in the forensic community and that is osmology, better known under the description of scent identification by dogs which appears to be accepted in Dutch and Polish courts but I suspect in few others. The discussion here centres on whether such a technique meets the Daubert criteria and the difficulty of identifying properly defined controls and standards. Similar arguments are provided in chapter seven that discusses eyewitness identification through photographs and identity parades. Methods for removing bias in such parades especially by the use of sequential observation are critically evaluated. Chapters eight, nine and ten deal with areas that many scientists would have difficulty in identifying as a science and that is hypnosis, dowsing and clairvoyance. The reviewer was interested to encounter another word that describes a dowser that is a radiesthesist. A good one for the scrabble board. Again these subject areas are tested against the Daubert criteria. Tthis is an easy to read little book that goes someway towards meeting the aims of the title. It is well referenced but suffers from the drawback that many of the references are in Polish. I would recommend this volume as a very valuable aid to all those studying criminal law, forensic science or those who have just embarked on a career in this discipline. It is also a useful aid to those forensic scientists with some experience of the courts. An enjoyable read.
Brian Caddy
EXCELLENT VALUE Helping people cope with crime: the Victim Support Handbook P Spackman, ed. (Hodder & Stoughton, London, 2000, index, 124pp, ISBN 0340780495; £6.99) This useful publication is extremely easy to read and therefore will be useful to a wide audience. The book predominantly will be of help to persons who have been victims of crime but may give a general oversight of likely procedures to anyone who is a witness in proceedings. There are chapters dealing with various types of victims e.g. crimes against children. The book gives a useful outline of how crime affects people and the likely emotions which could take place. It gives useful advice to those who come into contact with victims. There are six pages of contact names and addresses. The book is excellent value at only £6.99. The probable drawback is that the Criminal Justice System in the UK is being rapidly overhauled by the government and there are likely to be many changes with which any further edition of the book will have to address. R Whitehouse
NOT JUST FOR "MY COUSIN VINNY" The Investigator's Guide to Tire Failures RJ Grogan (Institute of Police Technology and Management, Univ. N. Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, 1999, 273pp, index, ISBN 1884566332; $48) The long awaited update to Rex Grogan's An Investigator's Guide to Tire Failures has been produced at last. Firstly, it should be said that this book is a must for those concerned solely with the examination of tyres, and accident reconstruction experts concerned with accidents as a whole. It is written in such a way that it is a genuinely 'good read', making it easy to follow for those with only a peripheral knowledge of tyre technology. Several chapters from the earlier publication have been expanded and some of the information in those chapters could be embarrassing for some tyre manufacturers. Having said that, the book is essential reading for the Accident Investigator, there are some points which could be improved/revised. For example, the author has used the original Home's equation with regard to aquaplaning speeds. This equation has been revised. Secondly, I really do not believe that even the most sophisticated front suspension will hide the presence of a deflated front tyre from a driver who is awake, although Mr Grogan implies otherwise. Having carped over some of the points in the book I reiterate that this book, with its friendly informative style and unique content, is an absolute must for the Accident Investigator.
John Manderson Science & Justice 2001; 41(2): 127-131