Services

SFC’s firearm and toolmark experts deliver comprehensive forensic consulting services backed by extensive laboratory experience and courtroom testimony. Our specialized capabilities encompass the full spectrum of firearms examination and analysis.

Our microscopic comparison services include detailed examination of bullets, cartridge cases, fired primers, and other ammunition components to determine whether they were fired from a specific firearm. Using comparison microscopy and advanced imaging technology, we analyze the unique toolmark signatures—including rifling characteristics, breech face impressions, firing pin impressions, ejector marks, and extractor marks—that can link evidence to a particular weapon.

We conduct thorough firearm function testing and operability assessments to determine whether weapons operate as designed, evaluate trigger pull weights, assess safety mechanisms, and identify any modifications or defects that may be relevant to your case. Our serial number restoration services employ chemical etching and other specialized techniques to recover obliterated, altered, or damaged serial numbers on firearms and other metal objects.

Muzzle-to-target distance determination is performed through gunshot residue pattern analysis, including stippling, soot deposition, and powder particle distribution. These examinations help establish the proximity of the firearm to the target at the time of discharge, which can be critical in distinguishing between contact wounds, close-range shots, and distant firing.

Our toolmark examination services extend beyond firearms to include the analysis of pry marks, cut marks, drill marks, and other impression evidence. We compare questioned toolmarks with test impressions from suspected tools to determine whether a particular implement created the marks found at a crime scene.

Shooting incident reconstruction represents one of our most comprehensive service offerings. Our experts analyze bullet trajectories, projectile damage, blood spatter patterns, gunshot residue distribution, and the positions of victims, witnesses, and physical evidence. We integrate this physical evidence with witness statements, autopsy findings, and scene documentation to develop scientifically supported conclusions about the sequence of events, shooter positions, number of shots fired, and the dynamics of the incident. We create detailed reports, diagrams, and demonstrative exhibits that clearly communicate complex ballistic evidence to judges and juries.

SFC's DNA experts deliver comprehensive consultation across all aspects of forensic serology and DNA analysis. Our services span presumptive and confirmatory testing of biological evidence—including blood, semen, saliva, skin cells, and touch DNA—as well as criminal and civil paternity cases. We provide expert guidance on advanced DNA techniques, from extraction and quantification to PCR, capillary electrophoresis, and automated robotics. Our team specializes in interpreting complex mixtures, determining inclusion and exclusion of individuals, and performing rigorous statistical calculations.

We conduct thorough reviews of case documentation from external laboratories, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of DNA evidence while recommending additional testing when warranted. With decades of combined experience as DNA analysts, we assist with court preparation, testimony support, and strategic case consultation. At SFC, we transform complex genetic evidence into clear, actionable insights for legal professionals.

SFC’s crime scene experts provide comprehensive consultation services covering every phase of forensic evidence management, from initial scene assessment through final laboratory submission. Our expertise ensures that critical evidence is properly recognized, documented, collected, and preserved, maintaining its integrity and evidentiary value.

Our identification services help investigators recognize the full range of physical evidence present at crime scenes, including biological materials (blood, semen, saliva, tissue, hair), trace evidence (fibers, glass, paint, soil), impression evidence (fingerprints, footwear, tire tracks, toolmarks), firearms evidence (cartridge cases, bullets, shot pellets, wadding, gunshot residue), digital evidence, and questioned documents. We provide guidance on recognizing subtle or easily overlooked evidence that may prove crucial to case resolution.

Proper collection methodology is essential to maintaining the integrity and admissibility of evidence. Our experts advise on appropriate collection techniques for each evidence type, including selecting appropriate packaging materials, preventing cross-contamination, maintaining the chain of custody, and documenting requirements. We provide protocols for collecting touch DNA from handled objects, recovering biological fluids from various substrates, lifting latent prints, casting impression evidence, and securing firearms and ammunition.

Evidence preservation consultation addresses the specific storage conditions, handling procedures, and time-sensitive considerations required for different evidence types. We advise on refrigeration requirements for biological evidence, preventing degradation of DNA samples, proper drying techniques for bloodstained items, and long-term storage protocols that maintain evidentiary value for months or years.

Our specialized services include bullet trajectory analysis, utilizing laser trajectory rods, photogrammetry, and three-dimensional scene documentation to determine projectile paths, establish shooter positions, and correlate physical evidence with witness accounts. We employ advanced detection techniques, including alternative light sources for biological fluid detection, chemical enhancement methods for latent print development, gunshot residue visualization, and specialized photography to document evidence that may be invisible under normal lighting.

We also provide training for law enforcement agencies, conduct crime scene reviews to identify potential issues in evidence recovery, and offer expert testimony on proper crime scene protocols and whether established procedures were followed in specific cases.