Forensic Evidence: Hairs and Fibers

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

Just like a TV program or a movie, this story opens with a crime in progress. A jewelry store is being robbed and the criminals escape. They have cut the wires to the alarm system and to the surveillance cameras. Could they have committed the perfect crime? Today's technology and the Crime Scene Investigators (CSIs) make getting rid of all traces of a person nearly impossible. These crime scene investigators check for fingerprints, hairs, and fibers. Unlike what some may have seen on television, these professionals make sure that they do not contaminate any other potential evidence by wearing overalls and covering their hair. They make sure the samples of everything they pick up are placed in secure containers. Readers will learn quite a bit about body hair as compared with hair from other animals and what an actual hair looks like when seen under a microscope. Much of the material found at the crime scene is actually examined at the crime lab. In addition to things like hairs and fibers, a human hair can actually lead to a DNA test—for those who may not be aware they will learn that DNA is unique except for identical twins. This case gets quite complex, but is slowly built as all of the evidence is brought to court. The suspect has a very good defense attorney and it may be difficult for the jury to decide based on the evidence as to whether the suspect really is guilty of the crime. There is a brief one page glossary titled "Need-to-Know Words," a few websites to visit and an index. The story is plausible and the presentation of the information is clear and quite enlightening. A good choice for older students who are not reading on grade level as well as those who are. Part ofthe "Crabtree Contact" series. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot