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Eric Law, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

University of Central Oklahoma
elaw@uco.edu (405) 974-6923 Forensic Science Institute STEM 211 ,

About

Eric Law is an assistant professor in the Forensic Science Institute (FSI) at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO). Prior to joining the faculty at UCO in 2021, Eric earned a B.S. in Forensic and Investigative Science from West Virginia University (WVU) in 2014 and an M.S. in Forensic and Investigative Science from WVU in 2016. He was awarded a Ruby Distinguished Doctoral Fellowship to pursue a doctoral degree in Forensic Science at WVU and earned his Ph.D. in 2020.

Eric’s research while at WVU focused on interpretation of firearm-related evidence. During his tenure there he had the opportunity to work on two grant-funded projects. The first project was funded by the Defense Forensic Science Center relating to interpretation of automated cartridge case comparison results from an Integrated Ballistic Identification System. The second project was funded by the National Institute of Justice to analyze the relationship between firearm chamber pressure and the markings reproduced onto fired cartridge cases. He has authored and co-authored numerous publications in journals such as the Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners (AFTE) Journal, Forensic Science International (FSI), and the Journal of Forensic Sciences (JFS). Eric’s continued research interests broadly include statistical methods for the interpretation of evidence in the feature comparison areas of forensic science. More specifically, he is interested in applications of emerging three-dimensional surface profiling instruments for firearm evidence and the performance of automated comparison systems.

Education and Certifications

Ph.D. in Forensic Science

West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Dissertation title: Evaluating the accuracy of firearm examiner conclusions using cartridge case reproductions

M.S. in Forensic and Investigative Science

West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Thesis title: Determining the number of test fires needed to represent the variability present within a firearm

B.S. in Forensic and Investigative Science

West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

 

Research, Published Work, and Scholarly Activities

Forensic Science International

  • E. F. Law, K. B. Morris, and C. M. Jelsema, Determining the number of test fires needed to represent the variability present within firearms of various calibers, Forensic Science International 290 (2018) 56-61. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.06.010.
  • K. B. Morris, E. F. Law, R. L. Jefferys, E. Dearth, and E. Fabyanic, An evaluation of an Integrated Ballistics Identification System Heritage System with the NIST Standard Cartridge Case (Standard Reference Material 2461), Forensic Science International 280 (2017) 188-193. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.09.004.
  • J. N. Kirk, E. F. Law, and K. B. Morris, Estimation of changes in breech face and firing pin marks over consecutive discharges and its impact on an IBIS Heritage System, Forensic Science International 278 (2017) 47-51. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.06.021.
  • E. F. Law, K. B. Morris, and C. M. Jelsema, Determining the number of test fires needed to represent the variability present within 9 mm Luger firearms, Forensic Science International 276 (2017) 126-133. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.04.019.

AFTE Journal

  • E. F. Law, K. B. Morris, The utility of double-casting for creating cartridge case reproductions, AFTE Journal 52 (2020) 26-39.
  • K. B. Morris, E. F. Law, and R. L. Jefferys, Performance comparison of an IBIS Heritage System with an IBIS TRAX-HD3D System, AFTE Journal 50 (2018) 50-55.

Journal of Forensic Sciences

  • Law, E.F. and Morris, K.B. (2020), Three‐Dimensional Analysis of Cartridge Case Double‐Casts. J Forensic Sci, 65: 1945-1953. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.14549.

Grant Reports

  • K. B. Morris, E. F. Law, R. L. Jefferys, and E. C. Dearth. Interpretation of cartridge case evidence using IBIS and Bayesian networks. NCJRS Technical report, Department of Forensic and Investigative Science, West Virginia University, 2016. Available as of 13-Jan-2021 at https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/250387.pdf.

Classes Taught

Spring 2021

  • Forensic Science Analysis and Lab
  • Advanced Firearms
Portrait

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