Press Releases

New Service Puts Ballistics Analysis on the Fast Track

TAMPA - October 31, 2007

Forensic Technology is proud to announce that the Institute of Forensic Science, San Juan, Puerto Rico is the first client to use our new FastTRAX™:IBIS Data Services.  

Under the current FastTRAX agreement, the Institute of Forensic Science will be sending a number of test-fired cartridge cases from suspected crime guns which were taken into police custody for investigation to Forensic Technology for processing through the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN).

The core technology used by NIBIN is Forensic Technology’s Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS).  The IBIS technology can find the “needle in the haystack” as it sorts through the NIBIN database with lightning speed.  It greatly increases the productivity of the human in the lab by ranking the exhibits in order of the most likely match.  A firearms expert then needs only to compare a manageable number of potentially matching candidates in order to find the right one.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) administers the NIBIN network connecting IBIS systems in over 200 crime labs across the country – resulting in over 22,000 hits or ballistics matches linking over 44,000 shooting incidents.  The investigative leads provided by NIBIN help police solve open murder cases within their own jurisdictions and across others as well.  It has been especially effective in cases involving urban gang violence.

Such NIBIN checks are critical in order for police to determine if the gun that they have seized has been previously used in a crime.  Sometimes it can mean the difference between solving a murder and having to send it to the cold case file.  The NIBIN database contains over one million ballistics images of fired bullets and cartridge cases associated with police investigations.

According to Robert A. Walsh, President of Forensic Technology Inc. (WAI); “Our in-house IBIS technicians are some of the most experienced and skillful IBIS operators in the world - they can provide a valuable service to any police agency needing help reducing their ballistics backlogs or simply needing fast and easy access to the NIBIN network in order to check their seized crime guns.”   

As part of the FastTRAX service, any potential matches identified are immediately referred back to the submitting agency for confirmation by their own forensic services provider.   

Stacy Stern, Regional Account Director, for Forensic Technology said ” The Institute of Forensic Science has been an outstanding partner to NIBIN - the FastTRAX project would not have been possible if it were not for the ATF Miami Field Division which provided the Project Safe Neighborhoods funds to make it all happen.”

FastTRAX saves precious time for both the lab and the police agency investigating a murder.  With the pre-work done up front by Forensic Technology, the lab can focus its resources on more important tasks like confirming the matches for use in furthering police investigations and as evidence in judicial proceedings.

Walsh added: “By speeding up the processing of ballistics evidence, armed criminals may be stopped before they have the opportunity to shoot and kill again and this is something we are honored to be a part of.”

Over the past 15 years, IBIS has been field-proven to help police link crimes, guns, and suspects; and while IBIS is a very valuable tool – Forensic Technology recognizes that it takes people and sustainable processes to use it most effectively.  We commend and support the men and women who work hard everyday on the front lines and in the forensic labs to help make our communities safer places in which to live. 

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