Questioned Documents

A questioned document is one in which a document in its entirety, or in part, is subject to question as to authenticity and/or origin OR any signature, handwriting, typewriting, OR other marks whose source or authenticity is in dispute or is doubtful.

What’s a forgery?

A person creates a document or alters an existing document in an attempt to deceive people

Most Common Questioned Documents Letters Checks Drivers Licenses Contracts Wills

Voter registration Passports Petitions Threatening letters Suicide notes Lottery tickets

Can you describe an individual's personality from

examining handwriting?

No, forensic document examination does not develop information about personality. There is a separate field of study called "Graphology" which deals with personality and handwriting.

Graphologist VS QD Examiner Graphologist:

Profiles character or personality by drawing conclusions from certain types of characteristics in the handwriting sample.

They do not compare handwriting to determine authenticity or origin. Remember, most of graphology lacks scientific proof.

Graphology ExamplesGraphology Examples

What pen wrote this?

What type of paper is it written on?

Has it been altered?

Questioned Documents

Comparisons Are Useful Because:

No two people have identical handwriting By adulthood, it is exclusive to an individual Even disguised handwriting will exhibit some

of the person’s individual characteristics

Forensic Document Examiner

Ink Analysis

Reveal a document was written with a specific writing instrument

Reveal alterations: words added/removed from a document


Ink Inks can be separated

into parts unique to each manufacturer by thin layer chromatography

All commercial inks have been catalogued in a database by the US Treasury Dept.

Many ink manufacturers “tag” their inks annually to aid investigations.

Ink Analysis (matching pens, etc.)

An ink will have specific chemical components.

The same ink can be used in many pens. (even different brands)

Questioned Documents > Ink Analysis

Ink Analysis (matching pens, etc.)

Look at under alternative light (different wavelengths)

UV and Infrared light

Glow, Transparent, Nothing


Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)

Place “punch” of ink in solvent

Drop on paper (stationary phase)

Put in liquid (mobile phase)

Liquid travels up paper; separates components of ink


Thin Layer Chromatography

Paper

Separated Ink

Start Dot

Solvent Mobile Phase

Stationary Phase


Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)

Alterations

Erasures are removals of writings by chemical means, razor blades or abrasives such as sandpaper

Erasures are discovered through microscopic views of the damaged paper fibers. They cannot be readily reversed.

Obliterations (blotting out and smearing over) and alterations using ink different from the original, can often be discovered by alternate light sources like UV, IR, and blue-green.

Ink Analysis (alterations)

Alternative lighting may indicate alterations with different ink.


Class characteristics compared:

Different types of paper receive different additives during manufacturing

Paper size and thickness

Opacity, Color, Brightness (additives affect)

Watermarks

PAPER ANALYSIS:

Charred Documents

Charred documents should be packaged in airtight containers that will not damage paper.

Revealing the contents of the documents often uses infrared (IR) photography and light reflected at various angles.

Indented Writings

Indented writings are impressions left on paper under the original document that is missing.

Oblique or side lighting often allows these impressions to be read.

A technique from London involves stretching a thin polymer film over paper and inducing an electrostatic charge. A fine toner powder is then poured over paper and attaches to indentations.

Machine Analysis

Typewriters/printers/

photocopiers can leave individual markings

Can be class characteristics or individual characteristics


Typescript Comparisons Make and model of

typewriters and printers may be determined by type, toner, and paper characteristics.

Alignment, slant, and wear and tear on ribbon can individualize a particular machine.

Copiers can be identified by comparing distinctive patterns formed by debris and imperfections on mechanical parts.

Faxes can be identified by TTI

Printers can be ID’d by ink composition.

Handwriting …How does it work?

Handwriting originates in the brain when a mental picture of letters and words is formed. The signal to try to duplicate the mental picture is sent to the arm and hand through the muscles and nervous system. The actual output is almost never an exact match of the original mental picture.

Handwriting is different among individuals.

Is handwriting specific to an individual?

Handwriting style and basic characteristics do not change over time.

Coordination and visual perception affect development.

When is handwriting style set?

Handwriting style usually set by late teenage years.

Handwriting Analysis

Collecting Exemplars

Exemplars are handwriting samples of known suspects to match document.

Similar utensils (pens, pencil), type of paper, ink, words, letters, and phrases

At least one page long. Make writer comfortable. Suspect should never see document. Repetition!

Types of Exemplars:

Unrequested specimen: author had no idea it would be used for a comparison

Requested specimen: suspect is asked to produce a specimen

Handwriting Comparisons

Line Quality (flow) Spacing (word and

letter) Size (height, width of

letters) Lifting Pen (words) Connecting Strokes

(capital to lower) Margins

Unusual Letters (cursive, print habits)

Pen Pressure Slant Baseline Fancy Writing (curly,

loops, unique styles) Diacritics (t’s crossed

and I’s dotted)

Questioned Documents

Documents

Transcript of Questioned Documents