This book fills an important gap in the textbooks on criminal investigations. Foundations of Criminal Investigations presents the relevant investigations process as part of the scientific method. This places criminal investigation among the disciplines that have a scientific method or procedure in which a problem is discovered and articulated, facts are found to address the problem, these facts are analyzed, and then the findings are presented in some public format. Author Frank Morn incorporates contributions from some of these other academic disciplines such as anthropology, archaeology, history, geography, oceanography, psychology, and the natural sciences.

After an introductory section that gives an overview of both the criminal investigation process and the history of criminal investigation, Foundations of Criminal Investigations is divided into two distinct parts. Part One presents an overview of the investigative process from crime scene to the courtroom while Part Two deals with particular investigative problems such as death, sex offenses, arson, and robbery — framed against the backdrop of the information found in Part One. Numerous illustrations and charts also help explain the investigative process. This book provides a strong grounding and framework for those interested in a more practical hands-on approach to criminal investigations.