Objectives

At the conclusion of this module the student should be able to do the following:

Explain the following and their relationships:
- Standards
- Accuracy
- NIST traceability
- Measurements
- Laboratory accreditation
- Laboratory protocols
Define when an examiner would use the following reference resources:
- The web site of the Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners (AFTE)
- The web site of the Scientific Working Group for Firearms and Toolmarks (SWGGUN)
Define the measurement equipment for weight and force, specifically:

Describe the types of equipment available to firearm/toolmark examiners for measuring dimensions, such as these:
- Glass reticules in the eyepieces of stereo microscopes
- Older comparison microscopes using glass reticules
- Filar micrometer eyepieces
- Electronic reticules used with stereo microscopes
- Digital measuring equipment
- Digital micrometers
- Digital calipers
- Steel machinist’s scale
Articulate the use of a chronograph
Describe the use of the stereo and the comparison microscopes
Describe the examiner’s use of tools and supplies at the laboratory bench
Define the occasion for the examiner’s requirements for the following firing facilities:
- Indoor range
- Bullet recovery system
- Outdoor range
Describe the available imaging systems of use to the examiner, including these:
- Film imaging
- Digital imaging
Describe the types of equipment normally required for laboratory field support in crime scenes
Describe the current capabilities of the following systems:
- Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS)
- MatchPoint Plus™
- BulletTRAX-3D™ System
Describe the firing facilities and bullet recovery systems used by examiners