12: Document Exam Flashcards
what does FDE stand for and what is it
- forensic document examination
- forensic science discipline
- in which expert examiners evaluate
- documents disputed in the legal system.
who makes standards for forensic document examiners
the american society for testing and materials
according to ASTM, what are the standards of practice for forensic document examiners
-
An examiner “makes scientific examinations, comparisons, and analyses of documents in order to”:
1. Establish genuineness or non-genuineness, or to expose forgery, or to reveal alterations, additions or deletions,
2. Identify or eliminate persons as the source of handwriting,
3. Identify or eliminate the source of typewriting or other impression, marks, or relative evidence, and
4. Write reports or give testimony, when needed, to aid the users of the examiner’s services in understanding the examiner’s findings
what is ASTM and what do they do
- American Society for Testing and Materials
- publishes standards for methods and procedures used by Forensic Document Examiners
describe physical document exams
- non-destructive methods
- use of instruments and diff light sources for the exam of the documents for diff purposes
describe chemical document exams
- destructive methods
- involves ink exam, paper exam etc
physical document exam is ____ (destructive/ non-destructive)
non-destructive
chemical document exam is ____ (destructive/ non-destructive)
destructive
in the visible light use cheque example, how was it altered
- the 1 to a 9
- adding a recipients name
in the visible light use cheque example, what changed when subjected to certain frequencies of infrared light
- the ink used to prepare the genuine cheque reacts differently than the ink used to alter the check
- makes the alteration obvious
what does FTIR stand for and what does it do
- Fourier-transform infrared microscope
- can be used to analyze inks and toners
how does FTIR microscopy work
- depending on the amount of ink present on the surface, the weaker the signal will be
- there will be peaks of calcium carbonate or carbonyl and stuff? idk?
what are some commonly used destructive equipment for ink analysis
- LC
- GC
- MS
- TLC
what does FISH stand for and what is it
- forensic information system for handwriting
- a database w handwriting samples from tens of thousands of writers
who maintains the international ink library
US secret service
what is the international ink library
has data on more than 15k inks that have been manufactured since 1920
who maintains FISH
US secret service
how does FISH work
- examiners scan and digitize an extended body of handwriting
- this is plotted as arithmatic and geometric values
- searches are made on images in the database, w a list of probable “hits”
- the document exam section confirm
at the end of FISH, what is submitted to the document exam section for confirmation
- questioned writings
- closest hits
how are samples analyzed in the international ink library
chemically
what info can you get from the international ink library
- type and brand of writing instrument
- determine the earliest possible date a document could have been produced
when will the US secret service provide assistance to law enforcement
on a case-by-case basis
what happens in the international ink library if a sample matches an ink on file
a notation is made in the database
what does CBSA stand for
canada border services agency
what is one of the main factors in illegal immigration and human trafficking
identity and travel document forgery
identity and travel document forgery is one of the main factors in what
- illegal immigration
- human trafficking
On average, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) each year interdicts more than _______ fraudulent travel documents presented by people seeking to travel to Canada. That’s in addition to the ________ or so cases annually of travellers presenting themselves at a port of entry.
- 5,000
- 2,000
what does Dial-Doc stand for and what is it
- Digital INTERPOL Alert Library Document
- A user-friendly, up-to-date searchable repository of information on travel document fraud
what was life like before Dial-Doc
agencies in diff countries couldn’t easily share info in cases
when did Dial-Doc first start
2013
what are some specifics about what Dial-Doc does
- countries can share alerts or tips on trends in document counterfeiting
- The alerts provide detailed technical information and high-resolution images of both fraudulent and real documents so officials can compare suspicious documents on the spot.
what are counterfeits
an unauthorized reproduction of a genuine document
what are forgeries
alteration of a genuine document
what are pseudo documents
documents which are not officially recognized
In 2019, ______ out of the _____ fraudulent passports were detected
- 3,582
- 7,536
most fraudulent passports are what type
- counterfeit
- 52.6%
what percent of fraudulent passports have altered data
19.5%
what percent of fraudulent passports have a fake biopage
27.5%
what percent of fraudulent passports are split and altered
0.3%
what percent of fraudulent passports are in the industry of employment
62.3%
what percent of fraudulent passports are in the industry of security
5.1%
what percent of fraudulent passports are in the industry of government
18.2%
what percent of fraudulent passports are in the industry of car rentals
0.3%
what percent of fraudulent passports are in the industry of financial
15.1%
true/false an international norm exists in regards to the classification of security features
false
what system is generally accepted as a suitable starting point for security feature evaluation
a three-tier system
describe the three-tier system of classifying security features
- level 1 checks can be made w human senses under natural daylight and without specialized tools. they will tilt, observe, or feel the feature to authenticate it
- level 2 controllable using a simple verification tool, which will be widely available
- level 3 verification demands a specific tool and/or forensic lab means
- level 4 * features that are kept secret by the manufacturer as an additional security level
what are the most common tools referred to in level 2 of classification of security features
- UV lamp (UV-A 365nm)
- magnifier (x10)
what are the most common tools referred to in level 3 of classification of security features
- microscope
- video spectral comparator
why is there a level 4 to the three tier
Some experts consider that a fourth level exists, pertaining to features that are kept secret by the document or component manufacturer as an additional security level.
what are the limitations of forensic document exam
- non-original evidence (like photocopies or faxes submitted for exam)
- insufficient quantity of questioned material
- insufficient quality
- lack of comparability between the questioned documents and the known samples
- insufficient known specimens submitted for comparison
- lack of contemporaneous writings submitted for comparison
- distortion or disguised writing
describe how non-original evidence limits forensic document exams
- Every time a document is subjected to a copying process, a small amount of information is lost.
- Original documents may bear defects, flaws or characteristics that are not reproduced in a copy.
- Multigenerational copies (i.e., copies of copies) may be of insufficient quality for examination and comparison.
- It may even result in the examiner being unable to render a conclusion
describe how insufficient quantity of questioned material limits forensic document exams
if there isn’t enough material for a full exam, the examiner likely won’t be able to render a definitive conclusion
describe how insufficient qualitylimits forensic document exams
if either the questioned or known sample is not sufficient, the examiner wont be able to render a definitive conclusion
what are some examples of documents being insufficient quality
- burned to ashes
- cross cut shredded
- multi-generation copies or faxes
- containing writing that is too distorted or disguised
describe how lack of comparability between the questioned documents and the known samples limits forensic document exams
- The examiner must be able to compare “apples to apples” as the saying goes.
- For instance, the specimen material must be of the same type of writing as the questioned material; uppercase entries can only be compared to uppercase, and cursive writing can only be compared to cursive writing.
true/false an examiner can determine the counterfeiting process by looking at only a photocopy of the suspected counterfeit
false
true/false an examiner can determine if an identification card is fraudulent without a known standard
false need the standard
describe how insufficient known specimens submitted for comparison limits forensic document exams
- where there is not enough known writing
- or the samples are inadequate, poor-quality or machine-printed and not suitable for comparison
describe how a lack of contemporaneous writings submitted for comparison limits forensic document exams
It is important to obtain known writing that is prepared around the same time frame as the questioned writing
describe how distortion or disguised writing limits forensic document exams
- The writing on the questioned document or the known sample may be too distorted or disguised.
- For example, graffiti on a wall may be considered distorted and cannot be compared to a suspect’s normal handwriting.
true/false Considerable changes have occurred since the publication of “Questioned Documents” book (50s) - theory and practice
true
what changes have occurred since the publication of “Questioned Documents” book (50s) - theory and practice
- Forensic Document Examiner Training
- Standards in Forensic Document Examination
- Cognitive bias and handwriting examination
- Technological advancements
- NAS report
what developments came out of the NAS report
- Terminology has been developed for expressing the subjective conclusions of handwriting comparison and identification, taking into account that there are an infinite number of gradations or opinions toward an identification or elimination
- Several scales, such as a five-point scale and a ninepoint scale, are used by questioned document examiners worldwide.
describe the nine-point scale as outlined in the NAS report
- Identification (a definite conclusion that the questioned writing matches another sample)
- Strong probability (evidence is persuasive, yet some critical quality is missing)
- Probable (points strongly towards identification)
- Indications [that the same person] did [create both samples (there are a few significant features)
- No conclusion (used when there are limiting factors such as disguise, or lack of comparable writing)
- Indications [that the same person] did not [create both samples (same weight as indications with a weak opinion)
- Probably did not (evidence is quite strong)
- Strong probably did not (virtual certainty)
- Elimination (highest degree of confidence)
what are the NAS report recommendations
- The scientific basis for handwriting comparisons needs to be strengthened
- there may be a scientific basis for handwriting comparison, at least in the absence of intentional obfuscation or forgery
- there has been only limited research to quantify the reliability and replicability of the practices used by trained document examiners
true/false the NAS report committee agrees that there may be some value in handwriting analysis
true
why might analysis of inks and paper be more scientific according to the NAs report
cause theyre based on well-understood chemistry
describe the R v Dobis 2002 case
- accused stole 286,636 from his employer and defrauded employer of 1.9 million over a 3 year period while employed as an accounting manager
- wrote 21 company cheques made payable to himself, his corporation, or his stock brokerage accounts
what was the time frame of the forgeries in R v Dobis 2002
Jan 30 1995- Dec 24 1997
how did Dobis forge the checks in R v DObis 2002
- he forged Christie’s signature
- cause Christie was the only person in the company with signing authority
what was the appellant charged with in R v Fairburn 2020
- 2 counts of uttering a forged prescription for fentanyl
- 1 count of possession of fentantyl for the purpose of trafficking
- 1 count of possession of stolen property
what is the story in R v Fairburn 2020
- crown alleged Vickerson and Lambie had a scheme letting people (mostly addicts) to use forged prescriptions to get fentanyl patches
- Vickerson created the forged prescriptions
- Lambie got people to try and fill the presctiptions at various pharmacies
- they used the name Tracy Hunter to get 15 patches
- the doctor whose name appeared on the prescription testified they did not write it, and Tracy Hunter was not his patient
what day did the crime take place in R v Fairburn 2020
Sep 26 2013
