Blood, powder, and residue How crime labs translate evidence into proof

This is an outstanding overview of the role of forensic scientists or criminalists, aptly detailing how their goals in the courtroom differ from that of advocates and attorneys. The overwhelming majority (95 percent) of all defendants plead guilty in court cases, and in the remaining 5 percent of cases, a heavy burden of proof (beyond a reasonable doubt) is required to convict anyone of committing a crime. In almost every trial, experts such as chemists, medical doctors, DNA specialists, document examiners, firearm and tool mark examiners, and fingerprint examiners will testify and be cross-examined about the scientific evidence. Unlike the super scientists on television shows like CSI and Bones, these experts will have real qualifications, not enough time or resources, and probably less than optimum equipment. Bechky (New York Univ.) rightly emphasizes the importance of objective scientific integrity (the ability to not be influenced by the outcome the attorneys want) rather than the techniques and procedures of the scientific inquiry. Her book lends credence to these scientists becoming the voice for the evidence in court, so as to minimize conflicts between legal and science requirements. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels. --Larry D. Woods, Tennessee State University

Bechky (sociology, New York Univ.) offers a thorough account of the conclusions she's drawn from working with forensic scientists, whom she terms "criminalists," within an unnamed metropolitan crime lab. She seeks to demonstrate the exacting work of forensic science, which includes DNA profiling, narcotics, toxicology, and firearms examination. Underlying the work is the tension of translating the results for nonscientists in the criminal justice sphere, with the burden of having to testify in court always looming. The stakes are high, which is not helped by the public's outsize expectations; popular TV shows such as the CSI franchise present unrealistic portrayals of forensics, with fast turnaround times and implausible results. Bechky emphasizes that while the science is carefully analyzed, the results are still subjective and must be carefully interpreted and placed in context. Criminalists must maintain the integrity of the science in the face of an adversarial criminal justice culture, in which attorneys frequently seek to bend the science to suit legal ends. Bechky can become repetitive, but this doesn't hinder the value of this important dive into a field many people misconceive. VERDICT Highly recommended for true crime collections; fans of books and documentaries with an emphasis on forensics such as Making a Murderer and The Staircase will especially enjoy.--Barrie Olmstead, Lewiston P.L., ID