Questioned Documents Flashcards
Questioned Document
An object that contains typewritten or handwritten information but whose authenticity has not yet been definitively proven. Authenticity must be demonstrated by a document examiner.
Forgery
A person creates a document or alters an existing document in an attempt to deceive people
Handwriting
- No two individuals can produce identical writing
- Each writing sample from a given individual is itself unique
- Handwriting can be used as a means of identification of enough samples are provided
- Known writings (exemplars) should be as similar as possible to the questioned document
Children’s handwriting
- Very similar
- Young children begin the development of handwriting skills be copying block letters
- Their handwriting has only class characteristics at this point
Development of handwriting
- Handwriting requires fine motor skills; as an individual develops these skills certain aspects become individualized
- Once a person reaches adulthood their handwriting basically stays the same
- A decline in motor skills as one becomes elderly can alter handwriting
- Use of drugs and medication can affect persons handwriting
3 Types of handwriting
- Block capitals: uppercase I joined letters
- Cursive: lowercase letters joined together within a word
- Script: lowercase unjoined letters
•normal handwriting is a combinations of cursive and script writing
Comparison of handwriting
- examination is usually carried out using a low-power stereo microscope or magnifying glass
- reticle: eyepiece for a magnifying glass that contains a grid of fine lines to measure the slant, slope, spacing
2 types of exemplars for collection
- Unrequited specimen: author had no idea it would be used for a comparison
- Requested specimen: suspect is asked to produce a specimen•should be created within 2 years of questioned document
How to lower risk of staged exemplars
- Furnish suspect with pen and paper similar to those used to create QD
- Never show suspect QD
- Don’t provide help with spelling, grammar etc
- Dictate text that contains as many of the same words/phrases that are in QD
- Dictate text 3 times
Methods of forging signatures
- Freehand method
- Trace-over method
- Light-box method
- Lifting
Freehand method
Practice making a persons signature until the forget can recreate it
Trace-over method
Trace over the authentic signatures so that an indentation is made in the document below
Light-box method
An authentic signature with a light box or window, trace it over using a pencil, and ink over the trace later
Lifting
Lift an authentic signature created with erasable ink using frosted scotch tape
Obliterations
A forget may use chemical treatment to remove writing or black out an area to conceal original writing
