"Criminal Investigation, Fifth Edition offers a comprehensive and engaging examination of criminal investigation and the vital role criminal evidence plays in the process. Written in a straightforward manner, the text focuses on the five critical areas essential to understanding criminal investigations: background and contextual issues, criminal evidence, legal procedures, evidence collection procedures, and forensic science. In this brand new edition, author Steve Brandl goes beyond a simple how-to on investigative procedures, and draws from fascinating modern research, comprehensive cases, and criminal evidences to demonstrate their importance in the real world of criminal justice"-- Provided by publisher.