Government Documents on Forensic Science
Forensic science is used by government agencies for a variety of legal, investigative, and public policy purposes. These agencies are as diverse as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), other U.S. Dept. of Justice agencies, the Defense Department, and the U.S. Congress. Purdue Libraries serve as a depository of U.S. Government documents and Purdue´s government documents collections are kept in many Purdue Libraries. Most government documents dealing with criminal justice are in the Humanities, Social Science, and Education (HSSE) Library. Examples of subject headings you can use to search the Library Catalog for books and government documents on forensic science include:
Criminal
Investigation United States
Electronics
in Criminal Investigation United States
Evidence,
Criminal United States
Forensic
Sciences
Homicide
Investigation United States
A principal index for U.S. Government documents is the Monthly Catalog of U.S. Government Publications HSSE Ref & Periodicals 016.353 Un36 and is online version of this from 1994-present is Catalog of U.S. Government Publications. The GPO Index covers this material from 1976-present. An additional useful index is Congressional Information Service (CIS) Index HSSE REF 328.73005 C76 congressional committee publications.
Useful legal and regulatory information sources include the following materials located in the HSSE Library´s Reference Department.
| Slip Laws (e.g. P.L. 107-51) | HSSE DOC REF AE 2.110 |
| U.S. Statutes at Large | HSSE REF 345.11 Un3 |
| United States Code (e.g. 20 USC 101(a) | HSSE REF 345 Un3co |
| Code of Federal Regulations (e.g. 28 CFR 28) | HSSE REF 353.005 C64 |
| Index-Code of Federal Regulations | HSSE REF 353.005 C64 Index |
| List of Sections Affected | HSSE REF 353.005 C64 LSA |
| Federal Register | HSSE REF 353.005 Un34 |
| U.S. Reports | HSSE DOCS JU 6.8: |
| American Jurisprudence | HSSE REF 347.9 Am3a2 |
| Indiana Code | HSSE REF 348.772 In25c |
| Acts Indiana (Older issues in HSSE periodicals) | HSSE REF 345.91 In 2 |
| Indiana Administrative Code | HSSE REF 348.772025 In21 |
| Indiana Register | HSSE REF 348.772025 In3 |
| West´s Indiana Law Encyclopedia | HSSE REF 347.03 W52 |
| Black´s Law Dictionary | HSSE REF 347.03 B56L 1999 |
| Use Lexis-Nexis Academic for access to federal and state court case opinions. | www.lexis-nexis.com/universe |
Examples of useful U.S. Government documents on forensic science
as produced by agencies as diverse as the Justice Department,
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms, and congressional
oversight committees include:
| The FBI DNA Laboratory: A Review of Protocol and Practice Vulnerabilities |
| Managing Death Investigation | HSSE DOC J 1.14/2:D 39/2 |
| Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Forensic Aspects of Arson Investigation | HSSE DOC J 1.14/2:F 76/10 |
| The FBI Laboratory: An Investigation into Laboratory Practices and Alleged Misconduct... | HSSE DOC J 1.14/2:L 11/2 |
| Crime Laboratory Digest (Later Forensic Science Communications) | HSSE DOC J 1.14/18: |
| Handbook of Forensic Services (CD-ROM) | HSSE DOC J 1.14/23:F 76 |
| Electronic Crime Scene Investigation: A Handbook for First Responders | HSSE DOC J 28.8/3:EL 1 |
| Forensic Examination of Digital Evidence: A Guide for Law Enforcement | HSSE DOC J 28.15/2:F 76 |
| Death Investigation: A Guide for the Scene Investigator | HSSE DOC J 28.24/3:D 34/7 |
| A Guide for Explosion and Bombing Scene Investigation | HSSE DOC J 28.24/3:EX 7 |
| Medicolegal Death Investigation System: Workshop Summary | (National Academy of Sciences Report) |
| ATF Arson Investigative Guide | HSSE DOC T 70.8:AR 7/997 |
| The Practices & Procedures of the Investigative Services of the Department of Defense and the Military Departments Concerning the Investigations into the Deaths of Military Personnel | HSSE DOC Y 4.AR 5/3:S.HRG. 104-823 |
| DNA Crime Labs: The Paul Coverdell National Forensic Sciences Improvement Act | HSSE DOC Y 4.J 89/2:S.HRG. 107-342 |
| Cyber Attacks: Removing Roadblocks to Investigation & Information Sharing HSSE DOC Y 4.J 89/2:S.HRG 106-830 |
The last three titles listed are congressional committee hearings. The House and Senate Judiciary hearings have jurisdiction over FBI programs plus other Justice Department programs and provide funding for these programs. Transcripts of these committee hearings are available in HSSE from 1975 to the present and in the HSSE ATTIC for earlier years.
| House Judiciary Committee (Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) is a member of this committee. |
HSSE DOC Y 4.J 89/1: |
| Senate Judiciary Committee | HSSE DOC Y 4. J 89/2: |
| Congressional Research Service Reports (Courtesy-University of North Texas Library) |
Internet Resources
Increasing volumes of U.S. Government information are available on the Internet. The Purdue Libraries Government Documents Department homepage is a good starting point. GPO Access provides one stop access to the U.S. Government´s major legal, legislative, and regulatory information resources such as the United States Code, congressional bills, congressional committee reports on legislation, and the Code of Federal Regulations.
Other useful U.S. Government Internet resources on forensic science topics include:
State Government Resources
| Indiana State Police Laboratory |
| Indiana General Assembly |
| Indiana Code |
| Indiana Administrative Code |
| Indiana Register |
Selected Foreign & International Governments
