ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses career and experiences of world-renowned forensic scientist, Dr. Douglas Lucas. During his final interview with Rick Libman in October 1996, he asked a question that he had never seriously thought about: "Having had the good fortune to observe forensic science practices in many countries around the world, have found that there are many things in common or are things really quite different?" As he considered the question, he began to realize that although there are many different ways to deliver forensic science services, for example, individual practitioners, large/small laboratories staffed with civilian/police specialists, law enforcement agencies, other government entities, university departments, or coroner/medical examiner offices, the methods they use and the items to which these are applied are pretty much the same everywhere. The volume and distribution of types of cases may differ between countries, states, and provinces, but the practitioners, with very few exceptions, perform their examinations and present their results with objectivity and competence.
