2018
Ronald Nichols
Charleston, WV
This presentation will discuss summaries of research that has focused on each of these premises individually. First to be addressed will be machine-based studies that have demonstrated that different tools will produce different toolmarks and that the same tool will produce similar toolmarks independent of a human examiner needing to make that determination. Second to be addressed will be validation studies that have demonstrated that examiners can sufficiently assess similarities and differences in toolmarks to reliably render common source determinations. While earlier studies may not have been ideal in their approach, these later studies help to affirm that the earlier research does hold value in supporting the scientific reliability of firearm and toolmark identification.