ballistic examination

Judicial and Ballistic Examination Information Support	Introduction. Weapons are widely used in crimes. Firearms, firearms of limited destruction seized by law enforcement agencies, gas, pneumatic weapons, cartridges for the specified types of weapons, traces of a shot on various obstacles, fired bullets and other shells, fired cartridges are among the main objects of forensic ballistic examination. Theoretical analysis. Forensic ballistic expertise is carried out strictly in accordance with the expert methods. The effectiveness of solving diagnostic and identification problems depends on the relevance, reliability, availability of reference information on firearms and other weapons, ammunition for these weapons, and other objects. In the process of expert research, various information systems of identification and non-identification (reference) purposes are used. Empirical analysis. The potential capabilities of information systems are not fully utilized due to various circumstances, including: fragmentation, special access to information resources, limited functionality of existing identification ballistic systems, insufficiently effective search algorithms, etc. Results. In order to eliminate these and other circumstances, it is proposed to combine the most relevant and sought-after arrays of information about firearms and other weapons, ammunition to it, and other data relevant to forensic ballistics into a single information system based on automated search tools with the prospect of introducing artificial intelligence technologies expertise.	Izv. Saratov Univ. (N. S.), Ser. Economics. Management. Law, 2020, vol. 20, iss. 2
International Association of Firearms Examiners (AFTE): Review of Published Articles	Introduction. In every kind of professional activities, and especially in the fields based on research, the exchange of information plays an important role. This article reviews publications in the journal and presentations at the conferences of Association of Firearms and Toolmarks Examiners (AFTE). AFTE – general information. Contains information about one of the leading professional associations of firearms examiners, speaks about the structure of the association and its professional activity. Review of recent publications. This part reviews the most important materials which have been published for the past two years. Among them publications discussing the results of the examination of historical cases such as the assassination of President J.F. Kennedy. Articles about scientific justification of methods applied to forensic examination of firearms, cartridge cases and bullets, and gunshot residues. Articles discuss PCAST (US President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology) report on Forensic Science in Criminal Courts. Review of articles dedicated to methods of ballistic examination, examination of gunshot residue and restoration of obliterated serial numbers. Review of articles about the development of methods of computer analysis of toolmarks observed on cartridge cases and bullets. Review of articles and presentations on the equipment and computer programs which can b e used by forensic investigators; databases used for determination of the weapon type based on toolmarks on the examined bullets. Conclution. Summarizes the review and describes the scientific work of AFTE.	IZVESTIYA OF SARATOV UNIVERSITY. NEW SERIES. SERIES: ECONOMICS. MANAGEMENT. LAW. 2018. vol. 18, iss. 2