- 01: Introduction
- 02: History
- 03: Propellants, Firearms, and Ammunition Development
- 04: Modern Firearms Manufacture
- 05: Small Arms Ammunition
- 06: Evidence Handling Procedures
- 07: Equipment and Instrumentation
- 08: Examination of Firearms
- 09: Cartridge and Shotshell Examination
- 10: Characterization and Evaluation of Fired Projectiles
- 11: Bullet Comparison and Identification
- 12: Gunshot Residue and Distance Determination
- 13: Toolmark Identification
- 14: Communicating Results
- Resources
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice ProgramsNational Institute of JusticeThe Research, Development, and Evaluation Agency of the U.S. Department of Justice
Objectives
Home > Toolmark Identification > Objectives
At the conclusion of this module the student should be able to do the following:
- Identify the common metal shaping operations used in the manufacture of tools, including
- common cutting operations based on the formation of metal chips,
- common metal forming operations not involving cutting,
- modern metal machining techniques.
- Describe the following concepts as they relate to the formulation of conclusions relating to toolmark examination and comparison:
- Class characteristics
- Individual characteristics
- Subclass characteristics
- AFTE Theory of Identification
- Pattern matching
- Sufficient agreement
- Best known nonmatch
- Consecutive matching striae (CMS)
- AFTE Range of Conclusions
- Explain the differences between the terms
- identification,
- inconclusive,
- elimination,
- unsuitable.
- Itemize the essential items of equipment necessary to carry out the comparison microscopy of toolmarks.
- Summarize the prerequisites that must be addressed prior to initiating any examination or comparison of toolmarked evidence.
- Describe the examination protocol for the microscopic comparison of the class and individual characteristics represented by toolmarks.
- Describe the examination protocol for the examination and comparison of fracture marks.
