questioned documents

Question 1

intro

Answer 1

questioned document is one of the areas of pattern analysis
examiner must reach a conclusion based on expertise and experience
instrumentation cannot confirm
evolved over time
handwriting analysis
determine authorship and authenticity

Question 2

what is a questioned documetn

Answer 2

any object not just paper
must contain linguistic or numerical marking
handwriting typewriting copying computer printing
answering the questions
is it authentic
who is the author

Question 3

usual evidence

Answer 3

bills wills letters checks contracts passports lottery tickets drivers licenses

Question 4

unusual evidence

Answer 4

mirrors walls placards

Question 5

questioned document examiners

Answer 5

started off as photographers
up until 1913 only method of authenticating a document was to witness someone writing it
1913- document standards were admitted into court as evidence
no formal college based programs
similar to firearms and tool mark identification and fingerprint analysis
mostly on the job training
lengthy thorough
certification is available
american society of questioned document examiners, (ASQDE)

Question 6

handwriting comparisons

Answer 6

develops and becomes individual over time
becomes subconscious
individual characteristics develop
changes with time and condition
undergoes gradual changes that result in different characteristics
changes with physical and emotional conditions
injury (switch hands)
depression
drug abuse
changes with the type of writing instrument or medium
can be accounted for when a known writing sample is obtained

Question 7

comparisons

Answer 7

done by comparing an unknown (evidence) to known (exemplar)
dependent on two factors
must be sufficient individual characteristics present in ink sample
must be sufficient samples of the suspects authentic handwriting
however, you can use class or individual characteristics to eliminate a person
no minimum number characteristics necessary
looking for quality and quantity
if there are some unusual characteristics, may need less of them to identify
can not give a percentage ofcertainty
perceived weaknesses
no agreed upon standards
no probabilistic conclusions

Question 8

handwriting characteristics

Answer 8

spacing between letter
spacing between words
relative proportions between letters and within letter
individual letter formation
formations of letter combinations
overall slant
connecting strokes
pen lifts
beginning and ending strokes
unusual fluorishes
pen pressure

Question 9

changes

Answer 9

stress
physical and emotional condition
illness
drugs
alcohol
type of instrument, paper
level of comfort
lighting

Question 10

collection of exemplars

Answer 10

known writing exemplars are critical
full range of the suspects writing variation should be obtained
must be similarities between known and unknown writings in order to make meaningful comparisons

Question 11

two types of exemplars

Answer 11

requested
nonrequested

Question 12

requested writings

Answer 12

samples taken from someone for the purpose of comparison
multiple dictations of a passage that has similar words/phrases to the questioned document
minimizes chance that the subject is deliberately trying to alter their handwriting
examiner usually has control of content, paper, writing implement
can request enough samples to account for variation and minimize disguising the writing

Question 13

when collecting

Answer 13

sufficient amount of writing to ensure that variation is prepresented
each sample should be on a separate sheet and removed from the sight of the writer before collecting the next sample
samples should be collected by dictation
dictated passages should be long
requested writing should contain words present in the evidence document
subject should be supplied with same type of writing instrument and paper used in evidence document
subject should be comfortable and have adequate light

Question 14

non requested exemplars

Answer 14

examples of the subjects writings that are taken In the normal course of business/personal transactions
bills
checks
diary
deeds
before these are used, every effort should be made to obtain a requested exemplar

Question 15

problems with non requested

Answer 15

establishing authenticity
witness who saw the subject write the document
subject admitting to writing doument
exception under business records

Question 16

signatures

Answer 16

may not represent person’s typical handwriting
may not contain all of the same individual characteristics as the evidence print
one single signature may be the only evidence
different types of signatures
formal on a formal document
informal
casually so no one can recognize name
stylistic
highly stylistic, almost a scribble, due to volume of signatures needed and lack of recognition
often subject of forgeries
attempted in various ways
on the spot
practice from a copy of the authentic signature and try to duplicate it
free-hand info with no attempt to forge
not in anyone’s view
traced
most tracings have characteristics that make them look artificial to trained examiner

Question 17

printed documents

Answer 17

subject to different considerartions
mass production
can individualize if there is a defect in the mech
typewriters more likely to show defects

Question 18

typewriters

Answer 18

identify particular machine
make and model
requires examination within same time frame
no parts have been replaced
when producing exemplars, should have the suspect machine
need type of paper

Question 19

laser printers and copiers

Answer 19

do not use ink to make characteristics, use toner from fine carbon powders and binders and a laser
will not have deformed characters
may show extraneous marks and blotches in same locations
inkjet printers
look for extraneous reproducible marks
may have ID that prints onto paper, machine identification code (MIC)
microscopic on a color printer
can scan and use photoshop to emphasize

Question 20

other examinations

Answer 20

document alterations
obliterations
erasures
additional markings
indented writings charred documents
inks papers pencil leads
age

Question 21

obliterations

Answer 21

overwriting of a sample of writing or printing within another writing instrument
accidental or deliberate
made with pens pencils and other writing instruments
may be able to use a light source or dissolve all or part of the obliteration
may be able to use a transparent liquid to change the refractive index of the ink so the original writing can be viewed from back of document
use a light source

Question 22

erasures

Answer 22

three ways
abrasive erasures (removing writing)
chemical erasures (dissolving ink)
typewriter erasure (ribbon to remove the image)
abrasive are the easiest to detect
may ne easy to detect that an erasure has taken place
probably difficult to determine what was erased

Question 23

indented writings

Answer 23

document is written on the top sheet of paper and exerts pressure on the paper below
image of writing formed on one or more pages below
viewed by oblique lighting
instrumental method
electrostatic detection apparatus ESDA
toner deposited preferentially in indented writings so they can be visualized

Question 24

charred documents

Answer 24

if a document is charred ink or pencil may not be as easily charred as the paper
very fragile
can be stabilized with lacquer alcohol or water
visualize with similar methods as obliterations

Question 25

counterfeit documents

Answer 25

have security features imbedded into documents

Question 26

shredded torn documents

Answer 26

fracture match
torn cut edges of paper
lines or background design on paper
wording

Question 27

ink analysis

Answer 27

determine if documents were created using the same ink
determine if a particular writing instrument was used
alteration of a document using a different ink source
evidence samples for analysis must be very small to retain handwriting samples
üst TLC to analyze
also use IR and GC