Tables, Survey of Forensic Laboratories (Forensic Science Communications, January 2000)

January 2000 - Volume 2 - Number 1

Survey of Forensic Science Laboratories by the Technical Working Group for Fire and Explosions (TWGFEX)

Tables

Table 1
Education of the Survey Respondents
Educational Discipline	Number	Percent
None listed	72	33.3
Chemistry or subset of chemistry	94	43.5
Biology or subset of biology	13	6.0
Biology/chemistry combination	6	2.8
Forensic science and related	22	10.2
Engineering or physics	3	1.4
Other categories	6	2.8

Table 2
Percentages of Analysts Performing
Specific Investigative Activities
Investigative Activities Performed	Fire Debris Analysts	Explosion Debris Analysts	Fire and Explosion Debris Analysts
Investigative Activities Performed	Percentages of Analysts
Crime scene investigation	18.0	29.4	47.2
Rendering safe	NA	5.5	1.6
Incendiary device analysis	23.0	43.1	54.3
Intact explosives analysis	NA	46.8	47.6
Residue analysis	62.0	74.3	79.5
Component evaluation	38.0	51.4	54.3
Ignitable residue analysis	95.0	NA	93.8
Crime scene reconstruction	2.0	11.0	12.6
Fire modeling	0.0	NA	1.6
Executing search warrants	0.0	10.1	6.3

Table 3
Percentages of Analysts Performing Specific
Laboratory Procedures
Laboratory Procedures Performed	Percentage of Fire Debris Analysts	Percentage of Explosion Debris Analysts
Analysis of intact low explosives	NA	37.5
Analysis of intact high explosives	NA	25.5
Analysis of intact improvised explosives	NA	27.5
Analysis of post-blast low explosives	NA	43.0
Analysis of post-blast high-explosives	NA	23.0
Analysis of post-blast improvised explosives	NA	35.0
Analysis of post-blast device components	NA	28.0
Ignitable liquid analysis	85.0	NA
Ignitable liquid residue analysis	85.5	NA
Intact incendiary device analysis	34.2	NA
Analysis ofpost-ignition incendiary devices	40.2	NA

Table 4
Minimum On-the-Job Training
for Fire Debris Analysts
Minimum Length of Training	Number of Analysts in Favor	Percent of Analysts in Favor
Minimum Length of Training	Number of Analysts in Favor	Percent of Analysts in Favor
New Fire Debris Analysts
Two to six months	13	11.8
Six months to one year	61	55.5
One to two years	30	27.3
More than two years	6	5.5
Experienced Fire Debris Analysts
One to six months	52	47.3
Six months to one year	47	42.7
One to two years	10	9.1
More than two years	1	0.9

Table 5
Courses of Greatest Interest
to Fire Debris Analysts
Courses	Rating (1 - 7 scale)
General Training
Crime scene search	4.24
Instrumental analysis	6.35
Chemical analysis	6.20
Sample clean-up processes	5.51
Continuing Education
Training in electrical circuitry	3.87
Analytical methodology	4.48
Funded federal training	5.26
Training with NCFS	5.59
Collection and preservation of evidence	4.40
Course in fire dynamics and behavior	5.09
Course in petroleum refining	5.09
Computer fire modeling	4.23
Mass spectral interpretation	5.85
Fire scene search	4.82
Internet resources for fire debris analysis	5.20
Regional training by professional associations	5.67

Table 6
Courses Rated by Explosion Debris Analysts
Courses	Rating (1 - 7 scale)
General Training
Laboratory safety procedures	6.74
Rules of evidence	6.26
Understanding the judicial system	4.78
Legal terminology and definitions	5.04
Courtroom procedures	5.52
General crime scene investigation	5.59
Recognition of physical evidence	6.70
Preservation of physical evidence	6.85
Explosives Analysis
History of explosives	4.90
Different types of explosives	6.49
Terminology and vocabulary of explosives	6.27
Manufacturing of explosives	5.50
Composition of low explosive materials	6.64
Composition of high explosive materials	6.51
Construction of commercial pyrotechnic devices	5.88
Construction of improvised devices	6.05
Construction of military devices	5.56
Analytical examination of explosion debris residues	6.69
Range procedures	4.42
Recovery of improvised explosive device components	6.16

Table 7
Minimum On-the-Job Training
**for Explosion Debris Analysts**
Minimum Length of Training	Percentage of Analysts in Favor
New Explosion Debris Analysts
Two to six months	7.4
Six months to one year	37.0
One to two years	40.7
More than two years	14.8
Experienced Explosion Debris Analysts
One to six months	37.0
Six months to one year	37.0
One to two years	18.5
More than two years	7.4

Table 8
Training Courses and Continuing Education Courses Rated by Explosion Debris Analysts
Courses	Rating (1 - 7 scale)
Explosion Debris Analysis Training
Crime scene search	5.37
Instrumental analysis	6.07
Chemical analysis	5.96
Sample cleanup processes	5.37
Explosives workshops	6.04
Pyrotechnic devices	5.63
Explosives microscopy	6.15
Regional workshops on explosives analysis	6.07
Explosives Analysis Continuing Education
EOD range time	5.23
Training in electrical circuitry	4.92
Seminars by explosives manufacturers	5.73
Analytical methodology	5.65
Refresher courses in IED recognition	5.12
Funded federal training	5.81
Training with NCFS	5.73
Collection and preservation of evidence	5.04
Course in fire dynamics and behavior	4.25
Mass spectral interpretation	5.04
Internet resources for explosion debris analysis	4.92
Regional training by professional associations	5.62

Table 10
Interest in and Importance of Activities and Projects
as Rated by Survey Respondents
Activity or Project	Rating (1 - 7 scale)
Extent to which laboratory encourages continuing education	3.50
Examiner interest in continuing education via distance learning	5.17
TWG promotion of continuing education	6.10
TWG maintenance of an Internet library	6.13
Importance of national reporting of standards	4.11
Interest in a pyrolysis library	6.18
Importance of a national database of chromatography data	5.70
Importance of a national source of ignitable standards	6.10