For undergraduate-level introductory courses in Criminal Investigation and Crime Scene Investigation. Up-to-date and student-friendly, the 6th edition of this popular text is designed to provide an analytical understanding of the investigative process and its challenges in the 21st century. It smoothly merges the theoretical and the proven practical aspects of crime detection and solution, from a historical perspective to future possibilities. Each commonly encountered crime is discussed in terms of current status, offender characteristics, and investigative techniques. This introductory text assumes no prior police experience, and can be used by in-service personnel as an excellent reference tool.