Includes bibliographical references (p. 367-371) and index.

Entries A-Z -- Featured essays: Forensic science and history -- Classification, identification, individualization, and a common source -- Myths of forensic science -- DNA typing and privacy -- Drug testing in sports -- Careers in forensic science: a reality check -- Learning from tragedy: forensic science and terrorist attacks -- History of fingerprints: stay tuned! -- The future of forensic science -- Fiction and forensic science -- Identification of the dead: forensic science and mass disasters -- TWA Flight 800: mass disaster and the interface of criminal investigation, forensic science, and forensic engineering -- The future of lie detection -- Forensic science and juries: how complex is too complex? -- The "top ten" cases in forensic science -- Appendix 1: Bibliographies and Web resources -- Appendix 2: Common abbreviations and acronyms -- Appendix 3: Periodic table of the elements.

Presents more than 600 terms and situations significant to forensic science, including blood stains, fingerprints, firearms, DNA analysis, and drug testing in sports.