U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Events
 Two-Pronged Study of Bullets Fired by Consecutively Rifled Barrels Event Dates
              December 16, 2021, 1:00 pm
 – 2:00 pmEastern
Event Duration
              1 hour
Location
              Online

Register

The 2016 PCAST (President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology) Report brought forensics, and specifically firearms identification, into the spotlight once again. According to the PCAST Report, the field lacks empirical data supporting firearms examiners' ability to determine what source (i.e., firearm) created the markings left on fired bullets and cartridge cases.

In response to this criticism, Houston Forensic Science Center (HFSC) designed a black box study using ten consecutively rifled and three nonconsecutively rifled Ruger LCP barrels. Like many consecutively rifled barrel studies, test kits consisting of known samples (i.e., test fires) and unknown bullet samples were assembled and distributed to a broad group of firearms examiners across the Unites States and internationally. In this study, four different open-set test kits were created. Participants were asked to choose one of five possible conclusions for each comparison: identification, inconclusive A (leaning toward ID), inconclusive B (neutral), inconclusive C (leaning toward elimination), or elimination. The examiners' results were used to establish (an) error rate(s) for this study.

Unlike other consecutively rifled barrel studies, HFSC incorporated 3D technology to add a second prong to this study. HFSC teamed up with Dr. Alicia Carriquiry and Dr. Heike Hofmann of the Center for Statistics and Applications in Forensic Evidence (CSAFE). A sample of each of the four test kits was sent to Iowa State University, where the CSAFE team scanned each known and unknown bullet using a confocal light microscope. Based on these 3D scans, CSAFE researchers used a RandomForest score to establish similarity scores between the land engraved areas (LEAs) and predict source relationship between bullets. An error rate was established for this method of identifying a common source. CSAFE's similarity scores were compared to the examiners' results. The scoring of inconclusive results was of particular interest: there was no clear separation between inconclusive and elimination scores. However, there was a distinct separation of identification scores, as expected, highlighting the potential for the use of 3D technology in support of identifications in casework.
View Event Page
  
  
          Details
Series
                  Firearm and Toolmarks Webinar Series

  Event Type
              Webinar
    Event Option(s)
          Online,
                        On demand

Sponsor(s) / Host(s)

Forensic Technology Center of Excellence;National Institute of Justice (NIJ), U.S. Department of Justice
    Contact
          Forensic Technology Center of Excellence

  Link
              If you have questions about this course, contact the FTCoE

  Registration Dates
              November 12, 2021 - December 16, 2021

  Registration Status
              Open

  Eligibility
              Free and open to all.

  Credits
              Certificate of completion
    
  
Read more about
    
            Rifles
        Forensic sciences
        Firearm identification
        Evidence analysis and processing
        Firearms
        Toolmark identification
        Forensic Technology Center of Excellence
  
Date Created: August 5, 2021
    
          Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ 2024 Research Conference
    
      
            
            
            
      Scheduled Events
    
      
            
            
            
      On-Demand Events
    
      
            
            
            
      Research Meetings & Workshops
    
      
            
            
            
      NIJ-Hosted Online TrainingSimilar Events
        
                      DEIA: What I learned from the AAFS Diversity Outreach Committee
                  FBI Laboratory Decision Analysis Studies in Pattern Evidence Examinations
                  Discovery, Disclosure and Ethical Considerations
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov