Current Methods in Forensic Gunshot Residue Analysis

With the ever-spreading problem of violent crime in today's society, techniques to assist forensic scientists and other law enforcement personnel have come to the forefront. With improvement in collection methods and analytical tools to conduct more thorough analyses, gunshot residue examination has made a dramatic impact as an area of trace evidence that is essential in the investigation and prosecution of violent crime.

Current Methods in Forensic Gunshot Residue Analysis deals with major areas of gunshot residue analysis such as current and future methods of analysis, collection techniques, interpretation of evidence as well as expert testimony and report writing.

This text is a necessity for any forensic scientist conducting this type of analysis and all other law enforcement personnel, academia, and lawyers involved in the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes involving firearms.

Customer Reviews:

Current Methods in Forensic Gunshot Residue Analysis

By AJS "SKIP" - October 26, 2005

On the Morin review:

He obviously hasn't examined and compared the morphology and

chemistry differences between brake lining particulate and

GSR particulate. If he would look at the overall particle

population in each of the sample types and take a closer look

at the composition and morphology of those particles, perhaps

he might form a different opinion. I hope he doesn't have much

impact on the microscopists in the forensic community because

this and some of his other opinions are obsolete.

Inadequate and dangerous.

By Marco Morin - July 9, 2004

The authors's knowledge of internal ballistics is very poor and so they do not give a correct description of the phenomena related to the forming of GSR. They believe, for instance, that the particles solidification happens on the open, when the vapours escapes "through any available opening in the weapon" (page 11). This is not so, as it has been clearly explained (for example) by S. Basu in "Formation of gunshot residues" (Journal of Forensic Sciences, 27 - 1 - 1982). What is comical is that said article is reported in the book bibliography: one wonders if the authors took the trouble to read the material they list.
But what it is much worse is that they seems to ignore that particles containing lead, antimony and barium are not any more considered as unique as it has been proved, since 1998, that such particles can be produced by disk braking systems of some type of cars.
Almost useless for forensic purposes is the long chapter dedicated to the study of Plume... read more