CANTON -- Elizabeth A. Erickson, a professor in the criminal justice department at SUNY Canton recently published a new textbook.

Erickson’s book guides readers through a mock crime scene investigation and teaches students to solve a homicide based on forensic evidence.

Erickson said the concept for the book, titled "Criminalistics Laboratory Manual: The Basics of Forensic Investigation," was based on questions from students in her introduction to forensic investigation course.

"They were interested in how the crime scene evidence was gathered, used in the trial, and how it all tied together," she said. "The book is geared toward students who have little to no prior knowledge of forensic science. The manual starts with an original crime scene narrative, setting up the crime that students are to solve."

The book, which is Erickson's first, can be purchased on Amazon in paperback or e-book for Kindle.

Erickson was formerly a latent print examiner for the Onondaga County Center for Forensic Sciences before joining SUNY Canton.

She also worked as a forensic scientist for the Indiana State Police Forensic Laboratory.

Erickson holds a master's degree in forensic sciences from George Washington University.