TY - JOUR
T1 - Forensic Evidence and Criminal Investigations
T2 - The Impact of Ballistics Information on the Investigation of Violent Crime in Nine Cities,
AU - King, William R.
AU - Campbell, Bradley A.
AU - Matusiak, Matthew C.
AU - Katz, Charles M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 American Academy of Forensic Sciences
PY - 2017/7
Y1 - 2017/7
N2 - We explore the impact of information from ballistics imaging hit reports on the investigation into violent crimes. Ballistics imaging hits link two crimes involving the same firearm by forensically matching tool marks on the fired bullets or cartridge cases. Interview data collected from detectives who received a hit report were used to explore the relationship between the presence of a hit report and outcomes in 65 gun-related violent crime investigations in nine U.S. police agencies. Findings indicate hit reports rarely contribute to identification, arrest, charging, or sentencing of suspects, because of delays in producing hit reports. On average, hit reports were completed 181.4 days after the focal crime. This delay forces investigations to proceed without the benefit of information from ballistics analysis. Additionally, hit reports rarely contained detailed information that was immediately useful to investigators. Instead, hit reports required additional research by the investigator to unlock useful information.
AB - We explore the impact of information from ballistics imaging hit reports on the investigation into violent crimes. Ballistics imaging hits link two crimes involving the same firearm by forensically matching tool marks on the fired bullets or cartridge cases. Interview data collected from detectives who received a hit report were used to explore the relationship between the presence of a hit report and outcomes in 65 gun-related violent crime investigations in nine U.S. police agencies. Findings indicate hit reports rarely contribute to identification, arrest, charging, or sentencing of suspects, because of delays in producing hit reports. On average, hit reports were completed 181.4 days after the focal crime. This delay forces investigations to proceed without the benefit of information from ballistics analysis. Additionally, hit reports rarely contained detailed information that was immediately useful to investigators. Instead, hit reports required additional research by the investigator to unlock useful information.
KW - ballistic
KW - evidence
KW - forensic science
KW - gun crime
KW - homicide
KW - investigation
KW - National Integrated Ballistics Information Network
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85021723672&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.13380
U2 - 10.1111/1556-4029.13380
DO - 10.1111/1556-4029.13380
M3 - Article
C2 - 28111739
AN - SCOPUS:85021723672
SN - 0022-1198
VL - 62
SP - 874
EP - 880
JO - Journal of Forensic Sciences
JF - Journal of Forensic Sciences
IS - 4
ER -