Bridging the gap between the study of criminal justice and forensic science, Lisa Smith and John Bond provide a straightforward but comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of forensic science in its wider criminal justice context. This much-needed text: * takes students through the different types of evidence, technologies and methods used in criminal investigations, both at the crime scene and in a court of law; * analyses real-life forensic examples, drawn from a range of international contexts; and * encourages a critical perspective, through its examination of popular media representations and of contemporary issues and debates, including technological advances, the need for standardisation in forensic laboratories and the ethics of biometric databases. Engaging and easy to follow, this multidisciplinary overview contextualises the operation of science in the criminal justice system, offering crucial insight for social and natural science students alike.