Forensic Ballistics

An investigation involving a firearm is a specialty of forensic science which focuses on the examination of firearms linked to ballistics. Ballistics is related to finding out the exact flight path of projectiles. Ballistics is the area of study that examines the exact path of the bullet from the moment it leaves the muzzle of the firearm up until it hits the target. During examination many items are collected for evidence including the firearm, bullets, live ammunition, cartridge casings, trace materials such as powder residue, and anything damaged by the projectile. Firearms are often divided into three processes: Internal, External, and Terminal Ballistics. Internal refers to the inside of the firearm; the space of time in which the shooter pulls the trigger, and the when the bullet is exiting. External ballistics is the flight between leaving the muzzle of the firearm, and it striking its target. Terminal ballistics is the impact of ballistics that refers to the examination in which the projectile strikes a target. All firearms leave markings on the cartridge casings once expelled when firing. Ballistic identification and microstamping laws make it possible to link a cartridge recovered to the

Forensic ballistics and firearm investigation begin when the bullets, cartridges, a weapon, or any combination of the above found at a crime scene. With the evidence, a crime laboratory will explore for clues on some things that might cause a suspect or possible to prove that the things were used in the crime. By contrast, the markings on the bullets or cartridges found at the scene with those discharged from the suspect’s weapon, a ballistics expert will typically confirm if the rounds came from a similar weapon. Just the act of cycling a cartridge through the weapon without firing it will leave permanent scratches on the case that is distinctive to the weapon.

When people usually hear the word forensics they usually automatically visualize crime scenes filled with things that can vary from blood, bullets, fingerprints ect. Unfortunately, it is not as cut and dry as you think, you're only seeing a small piece of the picture. The subject of forensics itself is very broad and actually involves a variety of different sciences all mixed together including, biology, chemistry, genetics, toxicology, phonetics, medicine, engineering, anthropology and many more. It is one of the fields of law enforcement, were technology and crime-solving all come together as one. Gathering the information needed to figure out what happened and the methods used to connect pieces of evidence to the crime scene were also not

One of the most important purposes of physical evidence is to establish the identity of a suspect or victim. Some of the most valuable clues at a crime scene are fingerprints. "Processing a crime scene" is a long, tedious process that involves focused documentation of the conditions at the scene and the collection of any physical evidence that could possibly shed light on what happened and point to who did it.

However, back in the 1980s, detailed studies were done to try to accomplish this task. One specific comprehensive study was done in 1984 by Peterson et al. In this study, the analysts found that physical evidence was discovered in only about twenty to thirty percent of serious crimes (Peterson, 2013). When each of the crimes were studied separately, however, they found that only crimes such as homicide, drug, or rape resulted in a large chance of physical evidence being found at the crime (Peterson, 2013). Cases such as attempted murder, burglaries, and robberies yielded lower chances of the retrieval of physical evidence from the crime (Peterson, 2013). When considering all of these possible crimes, the most commonly collected evidence were controlled substances, and then in lesser amounts, there was other physical evidence such as blood, hair, firearms, and fingerprints (Peterson, 2013).

It is important for a forensic scientist to determine the distance from a gun to a shooter because in some cases a

Investigators search witness and police intelligence reports for possible leads and suspects. The physical evidence, taggants, or micro particles left behind at the crime scene, is analyzed at a forensics laboratory in order to trace it back to a specific business or individual. The information gleaned from witnesses, reports, and evidence, often lead to the identification and arrest of the

When evidence is gathered, different equipment and processes are used to determinate what it means. In 2011, the Federal Bureau of Investigation estimated that 8,583 murder victims, in the United States, died because of a firearm. Forensic scientist can use equipment, such as the Integrated Ballistic Identification System, to find what firearm was used (Bureau). "They used a shotgun loaded with double-O buckshot. Inside the casing for each shot are nine

The victim sustained a gunshot to the abdomen and in the head. After analysing photographs of the crime scene and the bullet entries in the body, the investigators were able to determine the trajectory of the bullet’s path and discovered that for the gunshot to the abdomen the assailant was approximately 2 feet away. After being shot in the abdomen, the victim attempted to distance herself when she fell and the assailant came closer and shot her in the head. The two bullets were retrieved from the body so they could examine the bullet’s tool marks and they discovered that the bullets are a .38 caliber. The bullet’s lands and grooves will later be used to match the bullets to the assailant’s

Firearms that are left behind at a crime scene can be extremely helpful. This evidence includes not only the firearm itself but also the ammunition used in the firearm, componets that make up the firearms, and the residue that comes out when the

Let us start on how to collect and process expended projectiles and cartridge casings. When collecting expended casings, projectiles and remnants of shotgun ammunition each one should be numbered, photographed and measured for placement in a crime scene sketch (Tina Young, 2011). Each one collected should be placed in a pillbox or coin envelope then those should be placed into bigger envelopes or bags (Tina Young, 2011). If a projectile is stuck in a wall the section of the wall where the projectile is located should be removed (Tina Young, 2011). If a firearm found at a crime scene the best way to link it to the crime or other crimes is to test fire it into a water tank or ballistic gel. Once this has been done, the forensic tech can then compare the bullet and casing using a microscope. (Tina Young, 2011). If the firearm is not located then the casing or bullet can be ran through the National Ballistic Database. Now that we have talked about rendering firearms safe and also how they should be processed, now we can look at what information can be gained from the firearm and the cartridges and

Physical evidence/scientific examinations is the evidence found at the scene of the crime. This can include clothing, blood, fingerprints, weapons and much more. An example of physical evidence could be any listed above but also a bloody knife or a casing from a bullet.

After doing their job in he crime scene, the evidence they took will be taken to the forensic scientist. Crime scene investigators will look at the photographs and connect their theories based on the crime that occurred. The forensic scientists will also examine the victim’s clothes, while the medical examiner will analyze the victim’s body for more clues and evidence that they may find and they will all be doing this in the crime lab. The things they may find could be hair, fiber, semen, blood, another person’s DNA, bruises and many more. After the forensic scientists

Every criminal investigation starts off the same way: A crime was committed, someone informs the police, law enforcement shows up, secures the crime scene and they start the investigation. There are steps taken in every investigation. Police interview witnesses, check surveillance, interrogate suspects; however, one of the most important steps is the collection and analysis of evidence. According to the Encyclopedia of Criminology (2014), forensic evidence refers to the verbal statements and physical items presented to a neutral fact-finder in the court of law that assist him or her in rendering a verdict (Vandenberg, 2014). In simple terms, it is anything offered to a court to demonstrate if the suspect on trial is guilt or innocent.

Forensic science borrows from a number of sciences which include: physics, Biology and chemistry. It therefore involves examination of a wide spectrum as compared to any other method of investigation. Due to the wide spectrum of investigation and evidence analysis the method offers; it ensures that the results are accurate and can be used in the court of law to make a decision. The method establishes the existence of a crime, the connection between the crimes and the