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Mass spectrometry is one of the most versatile analytical techniques due to the vast range of analytes that it can detect and quantify and, as such, for its contribution to a significant number of life science fields. The legal and forensics community has certainly benefited from this technique, which has been able to provide reliable evidence in court cases. Liquid Chromatography/Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (LC/GC–MS) still have a dominant role in the provision of forensic intelligence. However, in the past decade new and exciting MS-based techniques have emerged and are or have evolved to be at an operational deployment maturity, enabling either fast, ambient, non-destructive, or portable screening (or encompass all of these features). In this book, developments of LC–MS and GC–MS based techniques are covered with respect to operational practice and new applications, accompanied by other MS-based techniques that are increasing forensic opportunities and that operate on a variety of evidence types. Whilst the underpinning working principles of each relevant mass spectrometry technique are summarised, each chapter primarily focuses on its implementation in criminal investigation and court cases. In the last chapters, this book additionally covers emerging MS technologies that are at the beginning of their operational implementation journey as well as niche applications outside the fields of traditional forensic science but with a clear potential to impact future investigations (forensics beyond the courtroom). This book provides an up-to-date reference for the mass spectrometry-based tools that are currently available both as established and as emerging methods within forensic practice. It will help casework commissioning managers and forensic providers worldwide to make more informed decisions as to the forensic strategy and workflow when examining exhibits. It is also recommended to postgraduates and early career investigators with reference to the contribution that these techniques and methods could make if applied to classic forensic science practice.

Forensic science combines analytical science with the requirements of law enforcement agencies and legislation. This can often pose challenges within the development of novel analytical methods, particularly with the drive to have more in-field and in-situ applications to facilitate the investigation of criminal cases. This book will explore the specific challenges encountered by forensic scientists and the developments that are being made to address these within the framework of the legislative requirements. It will provide a critical appraisal of the current challenges facing analytical approaches for the detection of forensic evidence and the state of the art technologies used to address these challenges.Providing an excellent combination of current research and how this pertains to forensic investigations, the book will also highlight key obstacles within this ever-changing environment. Aimed at graduates and forensic professionals, this is a unique oversight of the current work being undertaken within the development of analytical methods and also in the interpretation of complex crime scene samples.

Forensic analysis relates to the development of analytical methods from laboratory applications to in-field and in situ applications to resolve criminal cases. There has been a rapid expansion in the past few years in this area, which has led to an increase in the output of literature. This is the first book that brings together the understanding of the analytical techniques and how these influence the outcome of a forensic investigation. Starting with a brief introduction of the chemical analysis for forensic application, some forensic sampling and sample preparation, the book then describes techniques used in forensic chemical sensing in order to solve crimes. The techniques describe current forensic science practices in analytical chemistry and specifically the development of portable detectors to guide the authorities in the field. The book provides an excellent combination of current issues in forensic analytical methods for the graduates and professionals. It will cover the essential principles for students and directly relate the techniques to applications in real situations.

The identification and quantification of material present and collected at a crime scene are critical requirements in investigative analyses. Forensic analysts use a variety of tools and techniques to achieve this, many of which use light. Light is not always the forensic analyst's friend however, as light can degrade samples and alter results. This book details the analysis of a range of molecular systems by light-based techniques relevant to forensic science, as well as the negative effects of light in the degradation of forensic evidence, such as the breakage of DNA linkages during DNA profiling. The introductory chapters explain how chemiluminescence and fluorescence can be used to visualise samples and the advantages and limitations of available technologies. They also discuss the limitations of our knowledge about how light could alter the physical nature of materials, for example by breaking DNA linkages during DNA profiling or by modifying molecular structures of polymers and illicit drugs. The book then explains how to detect, analyse and interpret evidence from materials such as illicit drugs, agents of bioterrorism, and textiles, using light-based techniques from microscopy to surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Edited by active photobiological and forensic scientists, this book will be of interest to students and researchers in the fields of photochemistry, photobiology, toxicology and forensic science.