This subject guide covers forensic science resources available at the Johnston Memorial Library, including full-text journals, magazine, and newspaper articles, forensic science websites, and printed materials in the Reference Collection. This is not a comprehensive subject guide, but rather a selective list of materials that are most useful for locating information in this field. Library location and call  number are provided for print publications. 
 

• Annual Reviews. Full-text access to scientific information in the fields of biological and medical sciences, physical sciences, and social sciences.

• Cambridge Journals Online.  Full text journal articles in the biomedical sciences, social sciences, and humanities from Cambridge University Press.

• Highwire Press. Full-text journal articles in in the areas of biological science, medical science, physical science, and social science. 

• PsychARTICLES. Searchable full-text, peer-reviewed scholarly and scientific articles in psychology. Coverage spans 1985 to present.
  
  
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• Biological Sciences. Abstracts and citations to a wide range of research in biomedicine, biotechnology, botany, zoology and much more.

• Biology Digest. Biology Digest Abstracts and indexes of domestic and international literature in the area of life sciences.

• Criminal Justice Abstracts. Offers in-depth abstracts of scholarly criminology and criminal justice literature with coverage of journals, books, reports, dissertations, and unpublished papers on criminology and related disciplines.

• Medline. (Cambridge Scientific Abstracts). Medical topics relating to research, clinical practice, administration, policy issues, and health care services. Covers 1989 to present.

• NCJRS. Summaries of more than 180,000 criminal justice and forensic science publications, including Federal, State, and local government reports, books, research reports, journal articles, and unpublished research.

• PsychINFO. Professional and academic literature in psychology and related disciplines including forensics, medicine, psychiatry, nursing, sociology, education, pharmacology, physiology, linguistics, and other areas
  
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• Encyclopedia of Forensic Science. by Barbara Gardner Conklin. Oryx Press, 2002. This encyclopedia covers the major scientific techniques and devices that forensic scientists use in analyzing evidence collected at a crime scene. Location: Reference Collection, First Floor, Call Number: REF HV8073.C595.

• Encyclopedia of Forensic Science. by Jay A. Siegel. Academic Press, 2000, 3 vols. Provides a collection of articles that cover the whole panoply of activities which make up forensic science. Considerable space is devoted to investigative aspects including collection and preservation of evidence, and the interpretation of analytical findings and their presentation in court. Location: Reference Collection, First Floor, Call Number: REF HV8073.E517.

• Forensic Science Glossary. by John C. Brenner. CRC Press, 2000. The author states that most fields of forensics have one or two good reference books that define the words used in that field. The objective of this book is to combine word definitions from the various fields into one single source. Location: Reference Collection, First Floor, Call Number: REF HV8073.B677.

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• American Academy of Forensic Science. AAFS is a professional society of international scope that is dedicated to the application of science to the law. AAFS has been in existence for more than 50 years and disseminates news and information through the Journal of Forensic Sciences, annual conferences, and newsletters. The AAFS Web site provides users and members with information on educational requirements for schools that offer undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in forensic science and lists current employment opportunities in the field.

• Crime Scene Investigation.  This site was designed primarily to provide resources for Crime Scene Investigators. However, anyone interested in crime scene investigation is welcome. There is a lot of material on this site that will help you learn more about crime scene investigations.

• The Criminal Mind. A collection of web links on criminal psychology, criminal profiling, and forensic science courtesy of the Criminal Library.

• Forensic Psychiatry and Medicine. This page by Dr. Harold J. Bursztajn describes how expert psychiatric opinions are formed, and how they can be useful outside of the courtroom setting; for instance, to establish damages in sexual harassment cases, or to determine whether an American with Disabilities Act claimant in fact has an obsessive-compulsive disorder. This site also has a special page for criminal justice containing articles that provide a deeper analysis of forensic psychiatry. Also included: a sample of actual court testimony by an expert regarding diminished capacity; information on the use of forensic psychiatric testimony to affect sentencing; the current law on jury instructions regarding the use of forensic psychiatric testimony; and a handbook entitled "Preventing Workplace Violence."

• Forensic Science Communications. A forensic science journal published quarterly in January, April, July, and October by FBI Laboratory personnel. It is a means of communication between forensic scientists. 

• Forensic Science Resource. Describes books, web links, and other resource.

• Handbook of Forensic Services. The purpose of the Handbook of Forensic Services is to provide guidance and procedures for safe and efficient methods of collecting and preserving evidence and to describe the forensic examinations performed by the FBI Laboratory. This site is maintained by the FBI.

• Kruglick's Forensic Resource and Criminal Law Page. Provides links to over 1000 forensic science and criminal justice resources.

• Merck Manual. Merck is dedicated to providing reliable, easy-to-use medical information. The manual can be searched by keyword.

• National Center for Forensic Science. This organization works to provide "proactive and innovative solutions to meet the challenges facing the investigative and forensic science and criminal justice communities." Information is provided on the center and its work, including information on digital, biological and physical evidence evidence. The site provides access to the ignitable Liquids Reference Collection database.

• Police List of Resources: Forensics.  Comprehensive listing of forensic sciences websites..

• Virginia Institute of Forensic Science and Medicine. Provides free information on forensic sciences and medicine.

• World Wide Web Virtual Library: Forensic Toxicology.  Collection of web-sites dealing with all aspects of Forensic Toxicology.

• Zeno's Forensic Site. Extensive listing of links to forensic science, including medicine and psychology.

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©VSU Library and Media Services, 10-26--05.
Gloria Beck, Government Documents Librarian.