Degree Name
MA (Master of Arts)
Program
Criminal Justice and Criminology
Date of Award
12-2007
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Larry S. Miller
Committee Members
Dennis Hamm, Michael C. Braswell
Abstract
In many cases of crimes involving a firearm, police investigators need to know how far the firearm was held from the victim when it was discharged. Knowing this distance, vital questions regarding the re-construction of the crime scene can be known. Often, the original firearm used in commission of a suspected crime is not available for testing or is damaged. Crime laboratories require the original firearm in order to conduct distance determination tests. However, no empirical research has ever been conducted to determine if same make and model firearms produce different results in distance determination testing. It was the purpose of this study to determine if there are significant differences between the same make and model of firearms in distance determination testing. The findings indicate no significant differences; furthermore they imply that if the original firearm is not available, another firearm of the same make and model may be used.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Lewey, Heather, "Examining Significant Differences of Gunshot Residue Patterns Using Same Make and Model of Firearms in Forensic Distance Determination Tests." (2007). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 2064. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/2064
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.