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PARTICLE ANALYSIS FOR THE DETECTION OF GUNSHOT RESIDUE, 3 - THE CASE RECORD

NCJ Number
62434
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 24 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER 1979) Pages: 864-869
Author(s)
G M WOLTEN; R S NESBITT; A R CALLOWAY
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE APPLICATION OF A METHOD OF GUNSHOT RESIDUE ANALYSIS TO POLICE CASEWORK IS DESCRIBED. INTERPRETATION OF THE EVIDENCE IS DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE FINAL STEP IN DEVELOPING A PARTICLE ANALYSIS METHOD FOR GUNSHOT RESIDUE DETECTION INVOLVED ASSISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WITH THEIR CASES. POLICE AND SHERIFFS WERE INVITED TO WITNESS LAB EXAMINATIONS OF THEIR EVIDENCE AND RECEIVED REPORTS ON RESIDUE PARTICLES FOUND. CASES INVOLVED WERE HOMICIDES/ASSAULTS, HOMICIDES/SUICIDES, AND SUICIDE VERIFICATIONS. SAMPLES FROM THE HANDS OF LIVE SUSPECTS IN HOMICIDE/ASSAULT CASES WERE ANALYZED FOR GUNSHOT RESIDUE, RESULTING IN 88 PERCENT POSITIVE RESULTS FOR HANDGUNS AND 59 PERCENT FOR LONG GUNS 1 TO 13 HOURS AFTER THE CRIME. IN SUICIDE/HOMICIDE CASES, BOTH VICTIMS AND SUSPECTS WERE EXAMINED, WITH A POSITIVE FIND RATE OF 89 PERCENT. IN SUICIDE VERIFICATION CASES, THE POSITIVE FIND RATE WAS 94 PERCENT FOR HANDGUNS. POLICE GENERALLY FOUND THE METHOD USEFUL. SPECIAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED INCLUDE PRESERVING EVIDENCE ON THE HANDS, EVIDENCE CONTAMINATION BY BLOOD, AND DIFFICULTIES IN DETECTING RESIDUE FROM LONG GUNS. HOWEVER, PARTICLE ANALYSIS IS CURRENTLY THE BEST AND MOST CERTAIN METHOD FOR DETECTING GUNSHOT RESIDUE. BECAUSE AN EXPERIENCED OPERATOR CAN AVERAGE ONLY TWO CASE ANALYSES PER DAY, THE METHOD IS LABOR-INTENSIVE, BUT FUTURE AUTOMATION MAY HELP. REFERENCES, FOOTNOTES, AND A TABLE ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)