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Pattern evidence

The Accuracy, Repeatability, and Reproducibility of Firearms/Toolmarks Comparisons

January 2022

This video is one of 12 from the recorded at the Firearm and Toolmarks Policy and Practice Forum hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence January 11–14, 2022. Video includes welcome remarks and a keynote address by Erich Smith, FBI Laboratory. The symposium included presentations and panel discussions on topics relevant to recent advances in firearm and toolmark examination with a focus on the future. 

NIJ's Forensic Intelligence Initiative - Using Forensics for Crime Disruption and Prevention

January 2022

This video, a presentation by NIJ's Jonathan McGrath and Basia Lopez, is one of 12 from the recorded at the Firearm and Toolmarks Policy and Practice Forum hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence January 11–14, 2022. The symposium included presentations and panel discussions on topics relevant to recent advances in firearm and toolmark examination with a focus on the future. 

Crime Gun Intelligence Revolution: Day 3 Keynote at the Firearm & Toolmarks Policy & Practice Forum

January 2022

This video is one of 12 from the recorded at the Firearm and Toolmarks Policy and Practice Forum hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence January 11–14, 2022. This video includes welcoming remarks and the day keynote address by Thomas Chittum, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The symposium included presentations and panel discussions on topics relevant to recent advances in firearm and toolmark examination with a focus on the future. 

Impact of Advances in Computer Science, Statistics & Engineering on Firearms & Toolmarks Examination

January 2025

This video is one of 12 from the recorded at the Firearm and Toolmarks Policy and Practice Forum hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence January 11–14, 2022. This video includes a brief introduction and the keynote from day 2, which focused on emerging technologies. 

Support for Firearms and Toolmarks R&D at the National Institute of Justice

January 2022

This video, a presentation by Gregory Dutton, Ph.D., is one of 12 from the recorded at the Firearm and Toolmarks Policy and Practice Forum hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence January 11–14, 2022. The symposium included presentations and panel discussions on topics relevant to recent advances in firearm and toolmark examination with a focus on the future. 

Firearm and Toolmarks Policy and Practice Forum - Welcome and Keynote

January 2022

This video is one of 12 from the recorded at the Firearm and Toolmarks Policy and Practice Forum hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence January 11–14, 2022.  Included are welcome message and keynote presentation "A Review of Scientific Foundations of Firearm Examination and Related Research," Theodore Vorburger, National Institute of Standards and Technology. The symposium included presentations and panel discussions on topics relevant to recent advances in firearm and toolmark examination with a focus on the future. 

Scientific Foundation and the State of Firearms and Toolmark Research: Presentations & Expert Panel

January 2022

This video is one of 12 from the recorded at the Firearm and Toolmarks Policy and Practice Forum hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence January 11–14, 2022. Day 1 focused on Scientific Foundation and the State of Firearms and Toolmark Research. 

Presentations include:

Firearm and Toolmarks Policy and Practice Forum

The symposium included presentations and panel discussions on topics relevant to recent advances in firearm and toolmark examination with a focus on the future. The symposium brought together 685 criminal justice professionals to explore implementation of three-dimensional (3D) imaging technologies, best practices for forensic examination of firearm and toolmark evidence, federal initiatives, gun crime intelligence, black box studies on firearm and toolmark examination, legal challenges...

FBI Laboratory Decision Analysis Studies in Pattern Evidence Examinations

March 2024

This presentation explores a series of research studies aimed at assessing the accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility of forensic pattern evidence examination decisions across various disciplines, including latent prints, firearms, shoeprints, and handwriting.  Key topics covered include a comprehensive overview of the design factors in these four large-scale research studies, as well as a response to common critical observations regarding the experimental design and the interpretation of results.

Impression, Pattern, & Trace, 2025 NIJ Forensic Research and Development Symposium

February 2025

The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence assisted the National Institute of Justice in hosting the annual NIJ Forensic Science Research and Development Symposium on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at the 77th Annual American Academy of Forensic Sciences meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. This video is one of five recorded sessions from the event. 

Presentations include - 

Physical Characteristics of Spatter Stains on Textiles Compressed

December 2023

It is well-known that bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) on textiles is difficult and subject to many errors or misinterpretations. In this webinar, we probe the reason for this and suggest useful information that a bloodstain pattern analyst may be able to extract from the observed bloodstains. The data set demonstrates the roles of drop volume and impact speed in bloodstain formation on textiles.

This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on December 12, 2023. 

U S National Footwear Database System Feasibility Study

February 2022

The FBI Laboratory conducted a comprehensive study known as the National Footwear Database Evaluation. The purpose of the study was to determine the feasibility of developing and implementing a national footwear database system to generate criminal intelligence for law enforcement and serve as a tool for forensic science researchers. This webinar will highlight the team's findings, conclusions, and recommendations. T

his webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on February 15, 2022.

FITS—Functional Implementation of Thorough and Systematic Approaches for Fracture Examinations

June 2024

This webinar describes a simple and systematic method for comparing fracture fits using standardized qualitative and quantitative criteria. An extensive database of nearly 9,000 samples of duct tapes, automotive polymers, and textiles is used to estimate performance rates and strengthen the scientific foundations of fracture fit determinations. Also, the consistency of results from inter-laboratory studies shows the utility and reliability of the proposed approach.