Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners
Advancing firearm and tool mark identification since 1969.
The Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners (AFTE) is an international non-profit organization that advances the forensic science of firearm and tool mark identification. It was formed in 1969 by examiners from the United States and Canada and has since grown to include members from over 40 countries.
Quick Facts
- Formation
- 1969
- Founding location
- Chicago, Illinois
Facts from the source article.
Organizational history
Before 1969, firearm and tool mark examiners met during annual American Academy of Forensic Sciences meetings. In 1969, 35 examiners from the United States and Canada gathered at the Chicago Police Department Crime Laboratory to form the Association. The first official publication, AFTE Newsletter Number 1, appeared on May 15, 1969, and was renamed the AFTE Journal in 1972. Annual training seminars have been held each year since 1969 across the United States and Canada, primarily to exchange information on all aspects of firearm and tool mark identification. In 1980, AFTE published the AFTE Glossary, with a second edition in 1982 and a third in 1994 that added definitions for computer terminology, fingernail examinations, knives, machining terms, gunshot wound terminology, and shooting scene reconstruction terminology. An official training manual was released in 1982. The 20th anniversary seminar in Virginia Beach, VA in 1989 attracted 210 individuals from twelve countries; the 1994 seminar in Indianapolis, Indiana had over 300 attendees from 21 countries. The 2012 seminar in Buffalo, New York had 388 attendees from 28 countries.
Corporate structure
AFTE is governed by a board of directors operating under corporate bylaws and a code of ethics, with board elections held annually during the training seminar. The association's primary objectives include exchanging information and developments, standardizing theory and practice, disseminating knowledge through seminar presentations, and publishing a journal on firearm and tool mark examination. Membership is limited to persons of integrity with suitable education, training, and experience, and includes Provisional, Regular, Distinguished, and Emeritus levels, ranging from non-voting trainees to those who have furthered the organization's work. Honorary Membership recognizes distinguished service, while Technical Advisor status is given to designated employees of relevant manufacturers or specialists in closely related fields. The official website provides news, forums, and member resources. The AFTE Journal is a quarterly, peer-reviewed publication containing scholarly articles, case reports, technical reports, and occasional reprints. Standing committees include Advisory, Board of Admissions, Bylaws, Certification, Editorial, Ethics, Historical, Research and Development, Scholarship, Standardization/Training, Technical Advisors, and Website. AFTE administers a certification program for qualified members in Firearm Evidence Examination and Identification, Tool Mark Evidence Examination and Identification, and Gunshot Residue Evidence Examination and Identification, requiring both written and practical examinations.
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