Gun Crime Investigations: Investigator Insights on National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) Cases

• In Event: Perceptions of Investigators and the Evolving Landscape of Policing

Abstract

Gun crime is a pervasive issue threatening many places in the United States. Finding approaches to more effectively identify and deal with offenders of firearm crimes is a growing priority across the nation. One tool for assisting in accomplishing this is the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) Program. This allows for the automated evaluation of ballistics and the generation of investigative leads, with the aim of being able to close gun-related cases more effectively. While the program has been around for decades, it is important that it is consistently evaluated as its effectiveness has been questioned and it is essential to optimize its contributions. One way to better understand its impacts is by learning about the experiences of those directly using the system. This presentation focuses on interviews conducted with investigators from the Manchester Police Department working on cases that incorporated the use of NIBIN since 2019. These interviews sought to explore investigator understanding of NIBIN and their broader perspectives on it, as well as the challenges they have faced or opportunities they have identified for improving related processes within the department. Practical implications of these findings, limitations, and directions for future research will also be discussed.

Authors

• A. Johannes Bottema, Seattle University

• Matthew Barter, Manchester Police Department