Research Objectives: Every day in the United States 110 people are killed with firearms, and more than 230 are shot and survive. Survivors of community-based gun violence encounter complex challenges, including increased mental health risks and re-victimization, amidst societal stigma and weakened trust in support systems. The fear of community-based gun violence substantially distorts the way that millions of people live their lives producing detrimental mental repercussions not only for survivors but for their family members as well. Research shows that parents and other family members of child and adolescent gunshot survivors experience an increase in mental health disorders. Typically, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a concept used to understand the traumatic aftermath and symptomatology of this type of violence. However, it overlooks the anticipatory threat of community-based gun violence, which continually influences future decisions and behaviors while lacking the historical context that accounts for the disproportionate nature of community-based gun violence (e.g. race and socioeconomic status). Continuous Traumatic Stress (CTS) focuses on the ongoing anticipation of future threats and traumas, rather than those from the past. CTS has mainly been utilized within the international literature in war-torn countries and highlights how persistent poverty, racial and gender-based violence, as well as violence committed by institutional actors (e.g. law enforcement), continuously traumatizes vulnerable populations. Understanding community-based gun violence through CTS may provide a new perspective of its psychological and social impact. As a result, a CTS pilot scale was developed to focus on how often participants have experienced community violence and the frequency in which it consumed their thought process. Moreover, little research has investigated the impact of gun violence on the family system. This study seeks to help fill these gaps by applying CTS and family systems theory (FST) to understand the continuous traumatic stressors that community-based gun violence and their families experience post injury and how is this violence perceived to impact on the family system. Methods: This qualitative study used a hermeneutic phenomenological approach to conduct 21 separate qualitative interviews between November 2022 and March 2024 with survivors of gun violence and their chosen family members from Brooklyn, NY. Participants were first asked questions pertaining to CTS and were then administered the CTS pilot scale. The pilot scale gathered lifetime data about their exposure to direct and indirect violence as context for the present and future based threats that have been highlighted within the CTS literature. They were then asked questions pertaining to FST. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and then analyzed by a team of three researchers. Given that the hermeneutic phenomenology is not restricted to a set of analytical techniques, a deductive thematic analysis approach was first used to utilize a predefined set of codes, rooted in the foundational components of family systems theory and CTS to begin the analysis. Then an inductive thematic analysis approach was then used to analyze the data to derive concepts and themes that were not apparent in the FST or CTS literature. Results: Qualitative analysis from interviews with gunshot survivors and their chosen family members yielded three key thematic findings pertaining to FST. 1) Alterations in Communication 2) Reconstructing Masculinity and 3) Identity and Support Changes. Qualitative analysis pertaining to CTS with gunshot survivors and their chosen family members yielded three key thematic findings: 4) Absence of protection 5) Present and Anticipated Trauma and 6) Post Traumatic Growth. Conclusion: Specific implications for the field of social work, including those who work with survivors of community violence are outlined. Additionally, this chapter details modifications to social work practices and policies aimed to reduce gun violence that may improve outcomes for social workers and participants. The chapter closing by addressing the theoretical implications for CTS and FST, implications for future research, and finally, disclosing limitations.

The study was conducted with the intention of identifying the current procedure employed by investigators for processing firearms evidence at a crime scene. The researcher identified shortcomings which prevent firearm evidence being found to be inadmissible in criminal proceedings. The researcher also analysed other aspects relating to the processing of firearm evidence at a crime scene, namely: Locard principle, identification, individualisation and physical integrity. In order for investigators to be successful in their investigation of cases involving firearms, it is imperative for investigators to have a clear understanding of the basic concepts surrounding firearm evidence processing. It is the strong belief of the researcher that because of improper handling, contamination and lack of integrity pertaining to firearm evidence, such evidence is being found to be inadmissible in criminal proceedings. This negative impact has a roll over effect on the conviction rate for serious crime. / Criminology / M. Tech. (Forensic Invesigation)

The study was conducted with the intention of identifying the current procedure employed by investigators for processing firearms evidence at a crime scene. The researcher identified shortcomings which prevent firearm evidence being found to be inadmissible in criminal proceedings. The researcher also analysed other aspects relating to the processing of firearm evidence at a crime scene, namely: Locard principle, identification, individualisation and physical integrity. In order for investigators to be successful in their investigation of cases involving firearms, it is imperative for investigators to have a clear understanding of the basic concepts surrounding firearm evidence processing. It is the strong belief of the researcher that because of improper handling, contamination and lack of integrity pertaining to firearm evidence, such evidence is being found to be inadmissible in criminal proceedings. This negative impact has a roll over effect on the conviction rate for serious crime. / Criminology and Security Science / M. Tech. (Forensic Invesigation)

This dissertation consists of five chapters, each of which focuses on various aspects of the forensic discipline of Firearms and Toolmarks. This dissertation for the most part attempts to highlight the exposure of projectiles to blood and the degradation over time of the fine detail, which is necessary for microscopic examination. This study should be of interest to students and qualified role-players in forensic science, the criminal justice system, the law community and the general population globally. Chapter 1 identifies the research problem and the necessary steps that were taken to ensure that the research methodol.ogy applied is relevant and reliable. Chapter 2 focuses on various factors that have to be considered in damage to bullets and investigation procedures that should be followed to ensure that physical evidence is preserved for submitting to a forensic science laboratory. Chapter 3 investigates the degradation effects of fired bullets exposed to various materials in a laboratory environment and the timelines associated with the degradation effects. Chapter 4 evaluates the examination procedures for fired bullets and the contributing factors that may influence the striation marks on bullets needed for microscopic examination. It also examines the scientific method used for firearm identification, and explores the admissibility of physical evidence in a court of law. The final chapter, Chapter 5 discusses the findings and recommendation of this research study. / Criminology / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

Title of thesis: Ballistic cavity origin characterisation; auxiliary materials of a standardised or a special military ammunition. Aim of thesis: The goal of this work is to provide a regularising framework suggesting structural changes of the auxiliary materials in the impact zone of the various ammunition. Methods: A ballistic experiment based upon the piercing test of various ammunition types. For these tests different barrier materials were used (e.g. glycerine, soap, ballistic gel). A comparative study of the various physical aspects of the cavities was exercised. Several diagnostic methods such as dimensions verification, water volume measurement, projectile speed radar check, computer tomography or the high speed camera were used to determine the secondary cavity specifics. Results: This thesis identified several key parameters determining projectile behaviour in the auxiliary materials. The major determinants were: speed, position or homogeneity of the projectile on the impact. However the major parameter defining the "injury level" was the concluded that the highest Injury level has the prohibited "fragmentation effect ammunition". On the other hand it was pointed out that so called "Black Mamba" projectiles have lower injury effect, although manufactore claims otherwise. Key words:...

O objetivo deste trabalho é estabelecer indicadores do Método de Rorschach, avaliado segundo a proposta de Aníbal Silveira (1964/1985), para a avaliação psicológica exigida na lei para a concessão do porte de arma de fogo. A amostra foi composta por 150 sujeitos do sexo masculino, de 19 a 51 anos, divididos em três grupos: um grupo controle (GC) extraído da pesquisa de Coelho (2000), um grupo normativo. O segundo grupo (GPA) constituiu-se de 50 candidatos ao porte de arma de fogo para o exercício da função na Guarda Civil de um município de São Paulo e o terceiro, por 50 presidiários (GPR) com histórico de violência e crimes praticados com o uso de arma de fogo e que fizeram parte da pesquisa de Morana (2003). Os protocolos de Rorschach destes três grupos foram comparados quanto aos índices: Impulsividade (IMP), Adaptação à Realidade (RMI), Índice Conativo (Con), Resposta de Movimento (RM) e Resposta de Cor (RC). Para IMP o grupo controle apresentou valores próximos ao esperado, enquanto que GPA e GPR apresentaram esse índice diferente e acima do GC. O RMI não apresentou diferenças significantes entre os três grupos, mas sim nos índices que o compõem (%F+, %V e %A), tanto no total das respostas quanto para as respostas às pranchas monocromáticas e coloridas. O Índice Conativo não diferenciou nenhum dos três grupos, seja no total como nos conjuntos mono e color. Para a RM não foram encontradas diferenças significantes entre GPA e GRP porém houve diferença entre o grupo controle e os outros dois grupos. Quanto a RC, não houve diferenças entre o GC e o GPA, sendo que ambos apresentaram diferenças significantes com o GPR. Concluiu-se que tais indicadores, exceto o índice Conativo, podem discriminar sujeitos mais violentos os quais, por questões emocionais, poderiam ser contra-indicados para a concessão do porte de arma de fogo, contribuindo assim para a avaliação psicológica exigida daqueles que buscam o porte de arma. / The purpose of this work is to establish Rorschach Method\'s indicators, evaluated as proposed by Anibal Silveira (1964/1985), for psychological evaluation, a law requirement to a handgun license. The sample was composed by 150 men, aged between 19 and 51 years old, divided in three groups: one control group (GC) extracted from Coelho (2000) research with normal men. The second group (GPA) was composed by 50 candidates to a handgun license as Civil Guards of a town in São Paulo State and the third (GPR), composed by 50 prisoners who committed armed crimes studied in Morana\'s (2003) research. The Rorschach protocols of these three groups were compared regarding the following indexes: Impulsivity (IMP), Adaptation to Reality (RMI), Conative Index (Con), Movement responses (RM) and Color responses (RC). The control group presented expected values for the IMP, while GPA and GPR\'s were higher. There were no significant differences between the three groups regarding RMI index, but they were found in the indexes that compose it (% F, % V and % A), either in total responses, as in responses to monochromatic and colored cards. There were no differences between the three groups in the conative index, in total and in mono and color sets. To RM, no significant differences were obtained between GPA and GPR, but a difference was found between the Control Group and the two other groups. There were no differences between GC and GPA in the RC, but both presented significant differences related to GPR. We concluded that these indicators, except for the conative index, can discriminate violent individuals, who should not be approved to obtain a handgun license for emotional reasons. We conclude also that these indicators can contribute to psychological evaluation of handgun license candidates.

The determination of how far a firearm was from a victim or target when it was discharged is a frequent request to crime laboratories. This determination requires test firing the firearm at various distances to compare gunshot residue patterns made during the test with patterns on the victim or target. Crime laboratories stipulate that the same firearm and ammunition used in commission of the crime must be used for this testing; however, little empirical evidence exists supporting this requirement. It was the purpose of this study to determine if there were any significant differences using different firearms and different ammunition in distance determination testing. The findings indicated that no significant differences occurred with different firearms but there were significant differences with different brands of ammunition.

Gun violence on college campuses has gained the attention of campus leaders, leading to an active shooter policy and procedure development and implementation. There was little awareness within the campus leadership of a college in the Southeast United States on the college's active shooter policy and procedures. Guided by Coomb's crisis management plan model, the purpose of this case study was to explore how information was provided to students, faculty, and staff regarding how to respond to an active shooter on campus. Purposeful sampling was used to identify 16 participants (6 students, 5 faculty, and 5 administrator/staff) who were interviewed in person. Data analysis included content analysis for the documents and open and axial coding for the interview data, followed by identification of emergent themes. The outcomes included significant variations and inconsistencies among students, faculty, and staff regarding awareness and understanding of how to respond to an active shooter crisis. Overall, students demonstrated the least awareness and understanding. Based on the findings, a project was developed consisting of recommendations to augment the current active shooter procedures and to develop a comprehensive active shooter policy. The results of the study could promote increased awareness, understanding, and preparation for students and employees of technical and community colleges regarding an active shooter policy and procedures, thus increasing safety and confidence on campus.

Univ., Diss.--Bielefeld, 2000. / Literaturverz. S. 263 - 276.

This dissertation consists of five chapters, each of which focuses on various aspects of the forensic discipline of Firearms and Toolmarks. This dissertation for the most part attempts to highlight the exposure of projectiles to blood and the degradation over time of the fine detail, which is necessary for microscopic examination. This study should be of interest to students and qualified role-players in forensic science, the criminal justice system, the law community and the general population globally. Chapter 1 identifies the research problem and the necessary steps that were taken to ensure that the research methodol.ogy applied is relevant and reliable. Chapter 2 focuses on various factors that have to be considered in damage to bullets and investigation procedures that should be followed to ensure that physical evidence is preserved for submitting to a forensic science laboratory. Chapter 3 investigates the degradation effects of fired bullets exposed to various materials in a laboratory environment and the timelines associated with the degradation effects. Chapter 4 evaluates the examination procedures for fired bullets and the contributing factors that may influence the striation marks on bullets needed for microscopic examination. It also examines the scientific method used for firearm identification, and explores the admissibility of physical evidence in a court of law. The final chapter, Chapter 5 discusses the findings and recommendation of this research study. / Criminology and Security Science / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)