2022 Update: 3D Imaging Technologies and Virtual Comparison Microscopy for Firearms Examination, A Landscape Study

Date August 2022 Overview The National Institute of Justice’s (NIJ) Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE), led by RTI International, provides resources that promote the use of technologies in the forensic community. This report is an update to a 2016…

Just the Analysis of Impressions and Patterns

Original Release Date: May 27, 2022 In episode four of our Strengthening the Forensic Workforce season, Just Science sat down with Assistant Professor Jessica Zarate and 5th year student Kristen Szabelski at Madonna University in Michigan, as well as Dr.…

ASCLD Train the Director Webinar Series

2022 Webinars2021 Webinars2020 Webinars2019 WebinarsAdditional ASCLD Webinars 2022 WebinarsThe FTCoE and ASCLD are pleased to bring you the latest collaborative installment in the Train the Director webinar series. This year our subject matter experts will be covering a variety of…

The Effect of Time on Rusted Firearm Identification

← Back to Firearm and Toolmarks Webinar Series This webinar originally occurred on January 6th, 2022 Duration: 1 hour Since the development of early firearms in the mid-1200s, the best material for making critical parts for weapons has been iron-based…

Two-Pronged Study of Bullets Fired by Consecutively Rifled Barrels

← Back to Firearm and Toolmarks Webinar Series This webinar originally occurred on December 16th, 2021 Duration: 1 hour The 2016 President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) Report brought forensics, and specifically firearms identification, into the spotlight…

Glock Pistol Toolmarks: A Literature Review and Introduction of Undocumented Toolmarks

← Back to Firearm and Toolmarks Webinar Series This webinar originally occurred on December 14th, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Glock pistols are well known for their generally distinctive class characteristics and the numerous toolmarks that they create on fired cartridge…

Exploration of Breech Face Subclass Characteristics 

← Back to Firearm and Toolmarks Webinar Series This webinar originally occurred on December 9th, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Subclass characteristics are caused by damage, defects, and/or wear on a cutting tool that transfers to a small group of consecutively manufactured…

Firearm and Toolmarks Webinar Series

Overview With the implementation of new technologies like 3D virtual microscopy, updates to the language used in testimony and reporting, and new research including black box studies, it is a pivotal time for the forensic pattern disciplines, especially firearm and…

Success Story: Advancing 3D Virtual Microscopy for Firearm Forensics

National Institute of Justice and Cadre Forensics Date March 2019 Overview Examining bullets and cartridge cases from crime scenes can help link crimes, moving investigators one step closer to identifying a suspect. Firearm forensic analysis can also link recovered evidence…

Success Story: Demonstrating Objectivity in Ballistic Identification

National Institute of Justice and Intelligent Automation, Inc. Date April 2015 Overview Firearms experts are seeking to strengthen their understanding of the accuracy and reliability of methods they use to associate fired ammunition recovered from a crime scene with a…