Introduction
Forensic science is a discipline in science and law. It involves scientific studies to provide a solution to crime and civil cases (Blackburn 1). Forensic science cuts across all disciplines to include forensic engineering, forensic psychology, pathology and forensic biology.Forensic biology involves living organisms’ studies in criminal cases. The world of justice has been shaped by forensic science taking crime investigations to another level and signifying the progress of modern technology and today the today it covers modern computing, clay fascial reconstruction, autopsy techniques, forensic anthropology, DNA fingerprinting, toxicology and much more (Blackburn 1).
This science also depends upon other physical techniques of identification such as analysis of finger prints (finger print developing, identification and finger print comparison) tool mark and firearm identification. In case a forensic investigation has involved shoot outs then the investigation involves ballistic type of investigation. This is the study of the flight pathway of a bullet or the projectile of a bullet, this is called ballistics. This study is mostly applied in crimes. It involves the analysis of the weapons especially those that have been used in firearms. It involves the analysis of bullets and bullet impacts in the crime in question (Craft 20-23). The bullet trajectory includes the progress of the bullet through the barrel of the gun following discharge or detonation and its pathway both through the air and the aim. Tracing the bullet path reveals from what direction the bullet could have been fired, it is an important stage in forensic science investigation (Craft 27). This can be important in investigating route of actions in the crime or catastrophe.
History of on Ballistics in Forensic Science
The science of firearms and tool mark has evolved over the past 165 years. One of the first references made concerning firearms dates back to 1493 and 1508 where Harold Peterson discusses firearms rifling by Maximillan of Germany. Although here some firearms were riffled –what were of more value in identifying a projectile which had been fired were the helical grooves that were inside the bore which did not occur until the late 19th century.
Between 1835 and 1899 events occurred that were ultimately associated with firearms and tool mark identification. The processes included physical typing, simple observation and determination of sizes and shapes of a projectile (Herrick 55). There were also slots for carrying out experiments. During the period between 1930 and1970, forensic ballistic identification continued to evolve. In USA the scientific crime Detection Laboratory (SCDL) had its operation beginning in Northwest University in the late 1929 till 1930 followed by FBI in 1932. Many other countries also recognized the need to integrate this into their system. This was to be implemented in the existing laboratories or as novel laboratories, hence over the following few years many such laboratories were established and began operation in major cities like Canada, UK, USA and Europe.
In the last part of the century (1970-1999) forensic ballistic has continued to evolve with many forensic firearms experts employed, many of these examiners have continued to conduct research and experiments into the various aspects in this ground and have publicized their results in various leading forensic publications (Herrick 55).
The science has benefitted immensely from the various technological advances that have occurred in the last century, which include innovation the firearm tool mark examiner- the binocular comparison microscopes which have been equipped with digital cameras and closed circuit televisions. This allows the direct viewing on an instant documentation using digital photomicrography (Hatcher 67). Side by side viewing of images on the monitor is also very helpful for use instructional work while digital photographs are used in inclusion in the cases filed.
This period has also seen the invention of computers which are inexpensive which has allowed forensic science take full advantage in the development of very significant weapons especially guns in laboratories (Craig 1). In the US Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS) units in the forensic laboratories are linked to a national system to form the National Integrated Ballistics Identification Network (NIBIN).
Due modernity and advancement in computer technology, IBIS systems has allowed the capturing of images that are digital in nature of fired up bullets and cartridges casings. These are then analyzed to give available information to the examiner. The information is formed of hits that can be forwarded for examination. This gives the examiner evidence related to a particular fired bullet in the lab throughout the NIBIN system. In 1998 FBI established a scientific collection; the purpose was to develop a series of consensus guidelines. This was formed to grant validation of the testing method to be exploited during certification study process (Craig 1).
Ballistics in Forensic Science and Crime Investigation Systems
As already been described ballistics uses the flight path of a bullet to be able to investigate the details of a crime scene. Forensic scientists carry to investigations by collecting and carrying out analysis using physical evidence. They have specialized in areas such analysis of the DNA or firearm examination, performing tests on weapons or on substances such as glass, fiber, hair, tissue, and body fluids to determine their significance to the investigation. The collected samples must be kept properly and stored well to protect the evidence (Inbau 1). They consider the specific features of firearm that relate to the bullet fired up. Cartridges and cartridge cases are also examined for marks of breech, impressions of firing pin, extractor mark, the rifling pattern and ejector mark.
The distance from which a bullet was fired is considered and also the speed at which it was fired. The distance a bullet moves depends on its velocity, a higher velocity has much more impact on the bullet. The gravitational pull and the frictional resistance caused by the air provide slow resistance to the movement of the bullet hence reduced speed. It also able to detects whether a bullet has been fired from a riffle or a handgun, as the stronger fire chambers of a rifle can with stand the increased explosive power of large quantity of powder that is likely to rapture the gun’s barrel. In a rifle, powder ignition supplies the thrust to propel the bullet (Inbau 1).
Other principles in consideration in ballistics include the yaw, which causes a bullet to tumble while in motion. More damage is caused when a bullet tumbles compared to that which moves in a tight spiral. Bullet composition is also considered as one that contains copper as a jacket to the inner core while some bullets are do not have these jackets, but they have a tip made of lead or one that is hollow or blunt. Such bullets deform and break apart on impact and in that they produce more damage to the target compared to a single piece of metal (Saferstein 250-455).
Forensic and medical examiner are able to access the characteristic of the damage of a tissue in a victim and have a clue and an understanding of the nature of the kind of bullet used. Tissue damage by a bullet results into different forms of injury; a bullet can crush a tissue or bone, as seen in bullets that move at slow speed. Fragmented bones causes further damage as the bones shards to become missiles. Secondly bullets causes’ damage by citation.This is a damage caused when there is a forward tissue or air movement. This effect of tissue and air movement by the bullet results into a broadened wound. This produces further structural damage (Hatcher 50).
The air on the sides of a very fast moving bullet becomes compressed; this is due to several hundreds of atmospheric pressure that can generate a shock wave that causes extreme damages on the tissues of the body. This causes organs that are fluid filled like bladder, heart and bowel to burst due to this high pressure. One of the most crucial tools in forensic ballistics is the use of comparison microscope, here the marked tools are compared side by side and similar components are analyzed and afterwards eliminations are done (Hatcher 60).
Once the firearms have been recovered, they are surrendered to the fire arm Toolmarks Unit, a division of FBI laboratory that is devoted in identification of these gargets. They use gunfire which is a computerized, shot shell and bullet analysis and electronic firearm on a single computer platform. Success is achieved when a system user matches between a specimen added into the data base and a previously filed specimen.
Works Cited
Blackburn, Gregory. “Firearms Scandal”. AFTE Journal. 21.2. (1989). Print.
Craft, Benjamin. Ballistics and Firearms. Texas: John Wiley & Sons Publisher, 2003.
Craig, Arnold. “Technology for Criminal Justice”. National institute for Justice. Spec. Issue of Miterek Technical Journal (2002): 2-7. Print
Hatcher, George. Investigation of Firearms. California: Small Arms Technical Publishing Co., 1995.
Herrick, Evans. Firearms and Crime. West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons, 1997.
Inbau, Fredrick. “Scientific Evidence of Criminal Justice”. AFTE Journal. 13.2. (1981). Print.2010. Print
Saferstein, Richard (10th Ed.). Criminalistics: Forensic Science Introduction. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2010.