Examination of Firearms Review: 2007 to 2010 - Interpol

calcium, strontium, and zinc as active ingredients in antifouling coatings.
Hydrogen peroxide and highly water-soluble ions would form when the coating is
exposed to water, with the hydrogen peroxide then serving as the biocide.[136]
The next section in this paint literature review discusses forensic paint analysis in
the traditional sense, in that the topics include frequency of occurrence studies,
discrimination by various analytical techniques, and the conclusions that can be
drawn from each.
7. The National Academies’ Report on Forensic Science (NAS Report)
Arguably the most significant development that occurred during this review
period was issuance of the report “Strengthening Forensic Science in the United
States: A Path Forward” by the National Academies based in Washington,
DC.[137] This organization assembled a panel of subject matter experts to
review the status of forensic science in America through the use of interviews
and research by the panel’s sub-groups. Paint analysis was one of the areas
studied and discussed in the final report.
The major recommendation for paint examinations was repeated for all
disciplines. Overall, the panel stressed the need for better standardization of
definitions across laboratories in report writing, interpretation of results, and
significance assessments. The need to include sources of uncertainty was also
stated. The basic recommendation seems to suggest that forensic scientists
should seek the development of laboratory reports in which the findings would be
clear and thorough without the need for testimony to interpret the results. To that
end, the Bundeskriminalamt, the FBI Laboratory, and several state laboratories in
North America have begun to include an interpretation of results section in their
reports of examinations. For example, the BKA and the FBI Laboratory’s Paint
group have each developed associative scales that are included for interpretation
of their reports. These models were based in part on presentations and
discussions with Christopher Bommarito of the Michigan State Police Laboratory
system in Lansing, Michigan.
Further, the Scientific Working Group for Materials Analysis (SWGMAT) has
formed a working group to determine if a standard format for interpretation
assessments can be developed to encompass the various sub-disciplines that
are part of trace evidence analysis (e.g., fibers, glass, hair, paint, and tape). If a
single format is approved, SWGMAT members would determine if an
interpretation of results guideline for trace evidence analysis could be issued, or
whether an interpretation section would be added to the guidelines published by
each sub-discipline.
Other recommendations relevant to forensic paint analysis from the NAS report
included the need for laboratory accreditation, annual discipline-specific
proficiency testing, and certification of individual trace evidence examiners by an
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