Franciscan University Professor’s New Book Brings Forensic Case Law to the Classroom

STEUBENVILLE, OHIO-Franciscan University of Steubenville's Dr. Charles P. Nemeth, professor of criminal justice and director of the Center for Criminal Justice, Law, and Ethics, published a new work with CRC Press titled, Forensic Law Casebook: Judicial Reasoning and the Application of Forensic Science in Criminal Cases.

In Forensic Law Casebook: Judicial Reasoning and the Application of Forensic Science in Criminal Cases, Nemeth breaks new ground by bringing real-world case law involving forensic science and evidence to the classroom. In each chapter, Nemeth reviews a unique forensic discipline and applies relevant case law and decisions to examine the use and limitation of forensic evidence, filling a critical need in forensic case law analysis. Through an examination of case law reasoning, legal decision-making, and the legal standards guiding the admissibility of forensic science, Nemeth connects the inherent challenges of forensic science with the demands of the courtroom.

"For the last 20 years, there has been a striking lack of a casebook for forensic law case analysis," said Nemeth. "While there are many forensic texts that are dedicated to the scientific or criminalistics side of the field, the field of forensic law has been severely neglected."

The benefit of this new publication, said Nemeth, is that "the casebook model allows students to read actual case law decisions regarding the use or limitation of forensic evidence and complements all programs in forensic science, criminalistics, and high-level investigative subject matter. This will fill an enormous gap in the field."

Nemeth is a well-known expert on professional ethics and the justice system, private-sector justice, and private security systems. Before assuming his current role at Franciscan University, he was chair and professor of Security, Fire, and Emergency Management and director of the Center of Private Security and Safety at John Jay College in New York City. He has published numerous other books and articles on law, justice, and philosophy including, Criminal Law: Historical, Ethical, and Moral Foundations, 3rd edition (Taylor Francis, 2023); Private Security: An Introduction to Principles and Practice, 2nd edition (Taylor Francis, 2023); Finding Happiness in a Complex World: Rules From Aristotle and Aquinas (Sophia Institute Press, 2022); Homeland Security: An Introduction to Practices and Principles, 4th edition (CRC Press, 2022); Private Security and the Investigative Process, 4th edition (CRC Press, 2019); and Private Security and the Law, 5th edition (CRC Press/Taylor Routledge, 2018).