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                            Library & Multimedia
 Utilizing a Magnetic Locator To Search for Buried Firearms and Miscellaneous Weapons at a Controlled Research Site
NCJ Number
              236206
Journal

*Journal of Forensic Sciences* Volume: 56 Issue: 5 Dated: September 2011 Pages: 1289-1295
Author(s)
          Mary M. Rezos M.A.;
                        John J. Schultz Ph.D.;
                        Ronald A. Murdock II M.S.;
                        Stephen A. Smith B.A.
Date Published

September 2011
Length
              7 pages
Annotation
              The following study was designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of a common, commercially available magnetic locator in forensic weapon searches by determining the maximum depth of detection for 32 metallic forensic targets and testing the effects of metallic composition on detection.
Abstract
              Forensic personnel generally use basic all-metal detectors for weapon searches because of their ease of use and cost efficiency. For ferromagnetic targets, an alternative easy to use and low-cost geophysical tool is a magnetic locator. In the current study, maximum depth of detection was determined for 16 decommissioned street-level firearms, six pieces of assorted scrap metals, and 10 blunt or bladed weapons by burying each target at 5-cm intervals until the weapons were no longer detected. As expected, only ferromagnetic items were detected; weapons containing both ferromagnetic and nonferromagnetic components were generally detected to shallower depths. Overall, the magnetic locator can be a useful addition to weapon searches involving buried ferromagnetic weapons. (Published Abstract)
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2007-DN-BX-K304


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Report (Study/Research)


  
  
        
  Award
        Detecting Buried Firearms Using Multiple Geophysical Technologies
    
  
  
Date Published: September 1, 2011
    
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