NCJ Number
59962
Date Published
1978
Length
178 pages
Annotation
THE COMBINED IDENTIFICATION AND DETECTION PROGRAMS OF EXPLOSIVES TAGGING ARE WORTHWHILE BECAUSE THE FAVORABLE COST BENEFITS OF IDENTIFICATION TAGGING OUTWEIGH THE MARGINAL ECONOMICS OF DETECTION TAGGING.
Abstract
THE FINAL REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS ON THE EXPLOSIVES TAGGING PROGRAM INDICATES THAT TAGGING SHOULD BE USED TO COMBAT THE CRIMINAL USE OF EXPLOSIVES. PROGRAMS FOR PREEXPLOSION DETECTION, AND POSTEXPLOSION IDENTIFICATION OF EXPLOSIVES ARE BEING CONDUCTED IN COOPERATION WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND INDUSTRY. AS PART OF THE EVALUATION PROCESS, A STUDY WAS PERFORMED TO DETERMINE THE COST BENEFITS THAT CAN BE REALIZED BY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TWO TAGGING PROGRAMS. THE STUDY ASSESSED THE THREAT POSED TO SOCIETY BY THE USE OF EXPLOSIVES IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, ESTIMATED THE POTENTIAL EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TAGGING PROGRAM, AND ANALYZED OVERALL COST BENEFITS. THE CRIMINAL THREAT OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS IS SEEN AS REMAINING CONSTANT AT THE LEVEL HELD IN THE PREVIOUS 5 YEARS, BUT FLUCTUATIONS ARE POSSIBLE. DYNAMITE, WHICH IS USED IN 25 PERCENT OF ALL BOMBINGS, ACCOUNTS FOR OVER 60 PERCENT OF ALL BOMBING CASUALTIES AND ABOUT 75 PERCENT OF ALL BOMB DAMAGE. THERE IS A TREND TOWARDS 'HOME-MADE' BOMBS, BUT THESE DO NOT HAVE AS GREAT A CAPACITY FOR DESTRUCTION AS CAP-SENSITIVE EXPLOSIVES. ESTIMATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TAGGING PROGRAMS IS DIFFICULT, BUT IDENTIFICATION IS ECONOMICALLY WORTHWHILE. TAGGING FOR DETECTION IS OF BORDERLINE ECONOMIC VIABILITY. THE STUDY METHODOLOGY AND BOMBING SCENARIOS ARE PRESENTED, WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER STUDIES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--TWK)