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Winter 2021, Forensic Science > Document analysis > Flashcards

Document analysis Flashcards

1
Q

Who is responsible for the acceptance of document analysis as scientific evidence in court?

A

Albert S. Osborn

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2
Q

Forensic document examiner determines the source or authenticity of documents such as:

A 
1- wills
2- company's book
3- altered checks
4- lottery tickets
5- medical malpractice
6- art forgeries
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3
Q

Forensic document examiner examines documents and other written/printed materials to determine:

A 
authenticity 
age
authorship
alterations
age and source of paper/ink
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4
Q

Forensic examiners will compare _____ (4) and expose _____ or _____ writing.

A

handwriting, signature, typewritten or photocopied

damaged or obliterated

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5
Q

An individuals writing is _____, ______ and ______.

A

personal, unique and automatic/unconscious

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6
Q

true or false: an individual always writes the exam same way. Explan.

A

False

never write the exact same way twice

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7
Q

Handwriting is affected by many factors, name 3:

A

Positions: desk or wall
writing instrument
time (changes as you age)

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8
Q

Who is responsible for determining the writer’s personality type? Is it accepted in FS?

A

graphologist

no

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9
Q

What is the name given to a document whose authenticity is questioned?

A

questioned document

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10
Q

What is a standard?

A

writing sample

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11
Q

What is needed to perform an analysis?

A

several standards

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12
Q

The writing sample would ideally have been written:

A

1- the approximate same time as the questioned document
2- similar type of paper
3- the similar writing instrument

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13
Q

What is the name of a sample that already exists?

A

nonrequested sample

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14
Q

What is the name of a sample that is asked of a suspect? What are the 5 things that must be done in this case?

A

requested sample
similar writing instrument
similar paper
words found on the questioned document( dictation)
words written in cursive/not depending on questioned document
upper and lower case letters

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15
Q

What are the advantages of a requested writing sample?

A

authenticity and authorship are established automatically

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16
Q

What are the disadvantages of requested writing samples?

A

changes can be done in the writing because of nervousness or on purpose to alter.

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17
Q

When comparing the overall form of the letters, what are we comparing? 5

A 
size
shape
slant
proportion
beginning and ending stroke
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18
Q

When comparing the line features, what are we comparing? 5

A 
writing speed
fluidity
amount of pen pressure
spacing between letters and words 
how are letters connected
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19
Q

When comparing the margins and format, what are we comparing? 4

A

width of the margins
consistency of the spacing
slant between lines
overall form and layout of the document

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20
Q

When comparing the content, what are we comparing?

How does this help us?

A

grammar
punctuation
word-choice
Help find consistent errors, repeated phrases: ethnicity and education

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21
Q

What are the 2 handwriting databases?

A

FBI and FISH (forensic information system for handwriting)

22
Q

What is a forgery? What is the role of the forensic document examiner v. judge or jury in a case like this?

A

intent to alter or writing a document to defraud.
FDE= determining if altered
Judge jury= intent

23
Q

What are the 3 most common methods of forgery?

A

1- freehand simulation (copy)
2- Tracing (Décalquer)
3- disguised writing (camouflage or change writing)

24
Q

Instruments used for document examination? 6

A 
microscopes
digital imaging instrumentation
infrared
ultraviolet light source
ESDA 
analytical chemistry (ink)
25
Clues that give away forged writing? 7
``` 1- evidence of previous drawing 2- forgers tremors 3- uneven writing speed or pen pressure 4-hesitation 5- unusual pen lifts to check handiwork 6- patching or retouching 7- blunt beginnings and endings ```
26
What are the 2 main reasons people alter documents?
alibi or profit
27
What are the ways to erase parts of documents?
rubber eraser knife point or other sharp instrument sandpaper fingernail
28
What are the ways of unveiling erasures?
naked eye magnifying glass microscope UV or IR light will show fragments or eraser or ink Lycopodium powder (exposes tiny rubber particles)
29
What are the two ways of obliterating documents?
chemicals (oxidizing or bleach) | fire
30
If the document burns completely, what happens to document analysis? What can we do if paper only charred?
writing gone forever. | reflecting light - expose the contrast between paper and charred paper. Then photograph
31
What is an alteration?
When perpetrator replaces word or changes thing.
32
What are the two ways we can see alterations?
1- Microscope: subtle color difference in ink, line thickness, pen pressure and double lines. 2- UV or IR light: presence of different inks.
33
What is the other way of forging a document?
Overwriting.
34
What is "indentation"?
When writing over two or more sheets of paper. Latent writing impressions.
35
Name a reason why Indentation is helpful (other than having info didn't have before)?
Can see parts of the document that have been added
36
What are the two ways of recovering indentation?
Photographically using oblique light | ESDA
37
How does photographically using oblique light works?
oblique light - sends light at an angle to reveal furrows of indented writing. We can move the source to have all the information.
38
What are the disadvantages of photographically oblique light?
1- doesn't work if writing is microscopic | 2- long process.
39
What does ESDA stand for? | ESDA is a ____ way of recording writing?
electrostatic detection apparatus | permanent
40
What are the 3 situations in which we cannot use ESDA?
1- documents processed for fingerprints 2- thick cardboard 3- saturated with fluids
41
What are the steps to use ESDA?
1- cover the page with cellophane and make it stick the paper with a vacuum. 2- send high voltage in paper and high charges will go inside the indent (even micro ones) 3- black toner is put on the cellophane. 4- the black toner will go in a higher charged indent. 5- photograph and place in an adhesive plastic sheet.
42
What are the advantages of ESDA?
very sensitive so works with micro | non-descriptive
43
Why would the forensic document examiner analyze the paper and the ink?
see if pages have been added | know if the document was created at a specific time.
44
paper is made of ____ and ____ and often have _____ that affects: (5)
wood and cotton chemical additives opacity, colour, brightness, strength, durability
45
What are the 3 chemical additives and their use?
Coatings: appearance and surface properties. Fillers: colour, strength and surface texture Sizings: surface less porous to ink.
46
What are the two things a forensic document examiner would like to know about ink?
1- same ink for each page/word | 2- particular ink existed when document was written
47
What are the 2 ways of analyzing ink?
1- microspectrophotometry: light transmission, absorption, reflection 2- Thin-Layer chromatography (TLC) small cuttings from documents placed in a solvent and analyzed.
48
When the document is made with technology and not by hand, the examiner will examine:
make, model of machine known standards available accessories machine itself
49
Other documents can be questioned such as:
rubber stamps embossed seals watermarks mechanically printed marks
50
The device suspected will need to produce sample of other documents such as:
``` writing instruments paper rubber stamps sealing device printing device ```

Winter 2021, Forensic Science (16 decks)

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