For Immediate Release
September 1, 2005
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Washington D.C.
FBI National Press Office
(202) 324-3691
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FBI LABORATORY ANNOUNCES
DISCONTINUATION OF
BULLET LEAD EXAMINATIONS
Washington, D.C. -- The FBI Laboratory today
announced that, after extensive study and consideration, it will no longer
conduct the examination of bullet lead. Bullet lead examinations have historically
been performed in limited circumstances, typically when a firearm has not
been recovered or when a fired bullet is too mutilated for comparison of
physical markings. Bullet lead examinations use analytical chemistry to determine
the amounts of trace elements (such as copper, arsenic, antimony, tin, etc.)
found within bullets. The result of that analysis allows crime-scene bullets
to be compared to bullets associated with a suspect. Since the early 1980's
the FBI Laboratory has conducted bullet lead examinations in approximately
2,500 cases submitted by federal, state, local, and foreign law enforcement
agencies. In less than 20% of those cases was the result introduced into
evidence at trial.
In 2002, the FBI asked the National Research
Council (NRC) of the National Academy of Science to have an independent committee
of experts evaluate the scientific basis of comparative bullet lead analysis.
Specifically, the FBI divided the bullet lead examination into three parts
(the scientific method, the data analysis, and the interpretation of the
results) and asked the NRC for an impartial review of each area. The
technology reviewed by the NRC had been used by the FBI Laboratory since
1996. The NRC's recommendations, following the study, were set forth in a
report entitled "Forensic Analysis: Weighing Bullet Lead Evidence."
The NRC found that the FBI Laboratory's analytical
instrumentation is appropriate and the best available technology with respect
to precision and accuracy for the elements analyzed. It also found that the
elements selected by the FBI for this analysis are appropriate. The NRC expressed
concerns, however, relating to the interpretation of the results of bullet
lead examinations.
Following the issuance of the report the FBI
Laboratory embarked on an exhaustive 14-month review to study the recommendations,
offered by the NRC, including an evaluation of statistical methodologies.
Although the NRC stated that the FBI Laboratory did not need to suspend bullet
lead examinations while undertaking this review, the FBI elected to do so
while the review was pending.
One factor significantly influenced the Laboratory's
decision to no longer conduct the examination of bullet lead: neither scientists
nor bullet manufacturers are able to definitively attest to the significance
of an association made between bullets in the course of a bullet lead examination.
While the FBI Laboratory still firmly supports the scientific foundation
of bullet lead analysis, given the costs of maintaining the equipment, the
resources necessary to do the examination, and its relative probative value,
the FBI Laboratory has decided that it will no longer conduct this exam.
Letters outlining the FBI Laboratory's decision
to discontinue these examinations are being sent to approximately 300 agencies
that received laboratory reports indicating positive results since 1996.
The letters are being sent so that these agencies may take whatever steps
they deem appropriate, if any, given the facts of their particular case.
It is important to note that the FBI Laboratory has not determined that previously
issued bullet lead reports were in error.
The NRC's report is available through the National
Academies Press website at (www.nap.edu).
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