NCJ Number
215145
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 51 Issue: 4 Dated: July 2006 Pages: 812-814
Date Published
July 2006
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This study examined whether gunshot residue (GSR) on dark and multicolored fabrics could be visually enhanced by treating the fabric with a solution of sodium hypochlorite in order to bleach it.
Abstract
The authors advise that if the dye in the fabric cannot be bleached, then infrared or infrared-enhanced photography and MGT can be used for enhancing the GSR pattern. After the fabric was treated with sodium hypochlorite, there was an increased contrast in GSR patterns that allowed routine photography of the fabric. Ten of the 12 samples treated with a 5.25-percent solution of sodium hypochlorite to bleach the dye from the fabric produced enhanced GSR patterns. Two sample fabrics, the black 100-percent wool and the fabric that contained 70-percent triacetate and 30-percent polyester, did not have a visible GSR pattern before testing with sodium hypochlorite. The sodium hypochlorite had no effect on the GSR on wool and the fabric with triacetate and polyester. The fabrics changed from black to olive green, but with no visual GSR pattern produced. Although sodium hypochlorite quickly revealed GSR patterns in the 10 samples, the destructive and nondestructive effects on GSR were not tested. The collection of stain evidence on the fabric should be done prior to conducting the sodium hypochlorite test. In order to assess the results of sodium hypochlorite treatment for GSR visualization, the Modified Griess Test (MGT) was used as a reference pattern. 3 figures and 7 references