Questioned Documents Flashcards
Memorize
Diacritrics
The crossing of t’s or dotting of i’s or j’s
Exemplar
a known sample that is used for comparison; also referred to as a
specimen
Questioned Documents
the examination of handwriting, ink, paper, etc. to
ascertain the source or authenticity
What are the two phases of Handwriting?
Hardware (ink, paper, etc); and visual examination of mechanics (flourishes, length of long letters, etc)
What does the “A” in “ACE” stand for?
Analyze both the known and unknown writing separately
What does the “C” in “ACE” stand for?
Compare the known writing and unknown writing
What does the “E” in “ACE” stand for?
Evaluate the evidence of the known and unknown writing. Are they the from the same source?
Does asking for your handwriting violate your rights?
Nope! (the 5th amendment [ Right to not self incriminate] and 4th amendment [search and seizure] DO NOT cover handwriting!)
Forgery
writing or altering a document with
intent to defraud
What is the role of the judge/jury in the context of QD?
Was the INTENT of the writer to defraud?
What is the role of the forensic examiner?
Was the document altered/is the document authentic?
What are the two ways to forge?
Freehand and Tracing
Disguised Handwriting
A deception in which the writer attempts
to camouflage his/her handwriting
Erasures
using an eraser to hide writing…
How can erasures be revealed?
ultraviolet light, microscope, lycopodium powder
Obliterations
destroy document or
obliterate the writing….
How can obliterations be revealed?
(Even writing on
burned paper can be sprayed, treated with
chemicals, photographed and read!)
Alterations
Overwriting (E —-> B)
How can you show an alteration?
UV light
Chromatography
process which
physically separate mixtures of
gases, liquids or dissolved pigments
Step 1 of spotting a fake painting
Visual observation and low level magnification (describe what you’re looking at; style, paint materials, etc)
Step 2 of spotting a fake painting
use cameras to observe layers of the electromagnetic spectrum (UV, xray, black light, harsh light)
Step 3 of spotting a fake painting
Use xray flourescence to examine the elements of the paints used
step 4 of spotting a fake painting
cut a small sample of the artwork, no bigger than the length of a hair
step 5. of spotting a fake painting
Analyze sample in electron microscopy lab
Step 6 of spotting a fake painting
Analyze sample using laser dispersive raman spectrometer
Cipher
A message in which the letters/symbols replace the actual letters in the message based on algorithms
What is a famous cipher?
Pig pen
Code
Letter combinations or symbols used to replace words or concepts
Steganography
Technique of hiding secret data within plain sight (w/in ordinary non secret files or messages to avoid detection)
Cryptography
The art of writing/solving codes
Decode/decipher
Read
Graphology
Analysis of handwriting w/ an attempt at determining someone’s personality traits (not backed up w/ physical evidence)
solubility
one factor which dictates how far a pigment will travel up a paper column
laser dispersive raman spectrometer
A tool that will detect SYNTHETIC pigments in fake paintings
Obliterations
destroyed writing
RF value
a number; represents how far a compound moves in a solvent
mobile phase
the solvent itself
xray flourescence
detects elements comprising a pigment
baseline
starting point of ink
Chromatography
process that separates pigment into its components
Xray fluorescence
detects the elements comprising a pigment
Laser dispersive Raman spectrometer
a tool that will detect synthetic pigments in fake paintings
Exemplar
A known writing sample
Steganography
The science of sending concealed messages
Xrays
Shows any metals in the pigments
