Guide for Primer Gunshot Residue Analysis by Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry
The Scientific Working Group on Gunshot Residue (SWGGSR)
PREFACE
The Scientific Working Group for Gunshot Residue (SWGGSR) was established in 2007 and funded by the National Institute for Justice (NIJ). Currently, the group comprises 27 experienced gunshot residue analysts from the United States, as well as from Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Israel, and the United Kingdom.
The purpose of SWGGSR is to make recommendations for internationally accepted guidelines for the forensic examination of gunshot residue. This document is the product of input from subcommittees within the SWGGSR group. Its intended use is as a comprehensive guide to the forensic laboratory practitioner, the legal community, and academia. While no guide can address all issues in every specific situation, the guide represents the mutually agreed upon opinions of the expert group.
This guide covers the analysis of primer gunshot residue (GSR) by scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometry (SEM/EDS) by automated and manual methods. It makes recommendations concerning interpretation and report writing, contamination issues, expert witness testimony, and training. It provides detailed background information concerning ammunition and its contribution to gunshot residue particles. The guide also contains a glossary of SEM terms and a list of published reference materials.