Current Methods in Forensic Gunshot Residue Analysis [Hardcover]

A. J. Schwoeble (Author), David L. Exline (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0849300290 | ISBN-13: 978-0849300295 | Publication Date: June 27, 2000 | Edition: 1

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

... a useful reference for forensic specialists in this field ... a relatively easy-to-read educational tool for law enforcement personnel and members of the justice system. …an excellent book which delivers a great deal of useful information in the area of gunshot residue analysis.
—Bruce Kramarchuk, I/C Firearms Section, RCMP Forensic Laboratory, Regina, in Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal

Excellent value for its money. This book should prove very useful to forensic scientists involved in GSR analysis. It should also be useful for undergraduate and postgraduate students of forensic science and forensic medicine, and to law enforcement personnel in general. Fully recommended.
—Anil Aggrawal's Internet Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Volume 3, Number 1, January - June 2002

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: CRC Press; 1 edition (June 27, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849300290
• ISBN-13: 978-0849300295
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #352,463 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Current Methods in Forensic Gunshot Residue Analysis, October 26, 2005

By 

AJS "SKIP" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Current Methods in Forensic Gunshot Residue Analysis (Hardcover)

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.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Inadequate and dangerous., July 9, 2004

By 

Marco Morin (Venice, Italy.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Current Methods in Forensic Gunshot Residue Analysis (Hardcover)

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 Concentration.

Indeed a inadequate and potentially dangerous book.