Ballistics System Links Crime Evidence With Weapons
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms has begun offering a ballistics-analysis system for use by local law enforcement so law enforcement can check confiscated weapons and see if they match evidence from crime scenes.
The ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network uses computerized imaging to record, digitize, and then compare unique markings of bullets and casings ejected from fired guns.
Santa Ana, Calif., recently used the ATF system to match 500 confiscated weapons to crimes, and the analysis can be used to link a gun on a suspect to a crime after the suspect has fled the scene.
Sgt. Lorenzo Carrillo of the Santa Ana police department says local labs often take as long as 24 months to process ballistic evidence.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the City News Service (12/01/05) .