SWGGUN Systemic Requirements and Recommendations for the Forensic Firearm and Toolmark Laboratory
The Scientific Working Groups have been tasked by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in the report entitled Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward with directing the forensic science communities in the establishment of standardized procedures and protocols. The following document is in response to this request... Read this document by clicking here.
The purpose of SWGGUN is to develop a series of consensus guidelines for the firearm and toolmark discipline and to disseminate SWGGUN guidelines, studies, and other findings that may be of benefit to the forensic community. The SWG meets twice annually.
Orlando, FL- April 2012
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| Past Meetings - 2012 |
Scientific Working Group for Firearms and Toolmarks (SWGGUN)
April 16-19, 2012
Orlando, Florida
The SWGGUN met in Orlando, Florida, for their semi-annual meeting from April 16-19, 2012. Nineteen members of the Board were present for the meeting with three absent.
The SWGGUN Chair reported the following contacts and actions since the last meeting:
- CTS requested the assistance of SWGGUN to review sample sets for a potential research test they are proposing. Two members of SWGGUN reviewed the sample sets and relayed the results back to CTS for consideration. This evaluation was not in relation to proficiency testing.
- A representative from SWGGUN, Doug Murphy, was appointed to the planning committee for the upcoming Measurement Science and Standards in Firearms Analysis conference on July 10-11, 2012 hosted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). http://www.nist.gov/oles/forensics_firearms_2012.cfm This conference has the potential to be a significant collaboration opportunity between practitioners and researchers as well as to focus future research in the field of firearm and toolmark identification. SWGGUN is pleased to help support this very important endeavor.
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SWGGUN was contacted by the Dimensional Metrology Group at NIST on potential involvement with a project that differs from the two day conference listed above. The Dimensional Metrology Group was putting forward a grant proposal for developing and implementing traceability for dimensional measurements in forensics. The Dimensional Metrology group works with both contact and non-contact dimensional measurement systems, such as coordinate measurement machines, photogrammetry systems, laser trackers, and laser scanners. Although this grant did not ultimately get funded, various areas of potential research were identified and provided to the metrology group. If this research is funded in the future, SWGGUN looks forward to working with this group further on the project.
Impression and Pattern Evidence Symposium | |
The National Institute of Justice(NIJ) Office of Justice Programs and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Laboratory Division are co-sponsoring the Impression and Pattern Evidence Symposium to be held August 6–9, 2012, in Clearwater Beach, Florida. Registration is now open. Registration is free to all attendees; however you will need to provide for your own travel to and from the symposium. If you are unable to attend the conference in person there will be full access to the meeting via the Internet. Registration will be required and will open in the near future. Make plans to attend the Impression & Pattern Evidence Symposium 2012, either in person or through the Internet, as it is sure to be a week full of pertinent and useful information for all the impression evidence forensic disciplines. The symposium is specifically designed to bring together practitioners and researchers to enhance information-sharing and promote collaboration among the impression and pattern evidence, law enforcement, and legal communities. The symposium will also provide unique educational opportunities for impression and pattern evidence examiners. For more information go to https://www.forensiccoe.org/ipes/default.aspx. |
Measurement Science and Standards in Forensic Firearms Analysis 2012 | |
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in collaboration with The Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners (AFTE) and the Scientific Working Group for Firearms and Toolmarks (SWGGUN) is hosting a two-day conference exploring measurement science and standards in the forensic discipline of firearms analysis. Click here for conference information. |