Questioned Documents

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Questioned Documents

• A questioned document is one in which a document
  in its entirety, or in part, is subject to
  question as to authenticity and/or origin OR any
  signature, handwriting, typewriting, OR other
  marks whose source or authenticity is in dispute
  or is doubtful.

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Whats a forgery?

• A person creates a document or alters an existing
  document in an attempt to deceive people

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Most Common Questioned Documents

• Letters
• Checks
• Drivers Licenses
• Contracts
• Wills

• Voter registration
• Passports
• Petitions
• Threatening letters
• Suicide notes
• Lottery tickets

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• Can you describe an individual's personality from
  examining handwriting?

No, forensic document examination does not
develop information about personality. There is a
separate field of study called "Graphology" which
deals with personality and handwriting.
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Graphologist VS QD Examiner

• Graphologist
• Profiles character or personality by drawing
  conclusions from certain types of characteristics
  in the handwriting sample.
• They do not compare handwriting to determine
  authenticity or origin. Remember, most of
  graphology lacks scientific proof.

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Graphology Examples
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Questioned Documents

• What pen wrote this?
• What type of paper is it written on?
• Has it been altered?

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Comparisons Are Useful Because
Forensic Document Examiner

• No two people have identical handwriting
• By adulthood, it is exclusive to an individual
• Even disguised handwriting will exhibit some of
  the persons individual characteristics

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Questioned Documents

• Ink Analysis

• Reveal a document was written with a specific
  writing instrument

• Reveal alterations words added/removed from a
  document

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Ink

• All commercial inks have been catalogued in a
  database by the US Treasury Dept.
• Many ink manufacturers tag their inks annually
  to aid investigations.

• Inks can be separated into parts unique to each
  manufacturer by thin layer chromatography

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Questioned Documents gt Ink Analysis

• Ink Analysis (matching pens, etc.)

• An ink will have specific chemical components.

• The same ink can be used in many pens. (even
  different brands)

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Questioned Documents gt Ink Analysis

• Ink Analysis (matching pens, etc.)

• Look at under alternative light (different
  wavelengths)

• UV and Infrared light

• Glow, Transparent, Nothing

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Questioned Documents gt Ink Analysis

• Ink Analysis (matching pens, etc.)

• Look at under alternative light (different
  wavelengths)

• UV and Infrared light

• Glow, Transparent, Nothing

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Questioned Documents gt Ink Analysis

• Ink Analysis (matching pens, etc.)

• Look at under alternative light (different
  wavelengths)

• UV and Infrared light

• Glow, Transparent, Nothing

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Questioned Documents gt Ink Analysis
Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)

• Place punch of ink in solvent

• Drop on paper (stationary phase)

• Put in liquid (mobile phase)

• Liquid travels up paper separates components of
  ink

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Thin Layer Chromatography
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Questioned Documents
Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)
Stationary Phase
Paper
Separated Ink
Start Dot
Mobile Phase
Solvent
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Alterations

• Erasures are removals of writings by chemical
  means, razor blades or abrasives such as
  sandpaper
• Erasures are discovered through microscopic views
  of the damaged paper fibers. They cannot be
  readily reversed.

• Obliterations (blotting out and smearing over)
  and alterations using ink different from the
  original, can often be discovered by alternate
  light sources like UV, IR, and blue-green.

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Questioned Documents gt Ink Analysis

• Ink Analysis (alterations)

Alternative lighting may indicate alterations
with different ink.
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Questioned Documents gt Ink Analysis

• Ink Analysis (alterations)

Alternative lighting may indicate alterations
with different ink.
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PAPER ANALYSIS

• Class characteristics compared

• Different types of paper receive different
  additives during manufacturing

• Paper size and thickness

• Opacity, Color, Brightness (additives affect)

• Watermarks

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Charred Documents

• Charred documents should be packaged in airtight
  containers that will not damage paper.
• Revealing the contents of the documents often
  uses infrared (IR) photography and light
  reflected at various angles.

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Indented Writings

• Indented writings are impressions left on paper
  under the original document that is missing.
• Oblique or side lighting often allows these
  impressions to be read.

• A technique from London involves stretching a
  thin polymer film over paper and inducing an
  electrostatic charge. A fine toner powder is
  then poured over paper and attaches to
  indentations.

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Questioned Documents

• Machine Analysis

• Typewriters/printers/
• photocopiers can leave individual markings

• Can be class characteristics or individual
  characteristics

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Typescript Comparisons

• Make and model of typewriters and printers may be
  determined by type, toner, and paper
  characteristics.
• Alignment, slant, and wear and tear on ribbon can
  individualize a particular machine.

• Copiers can be identified by comparing
  distinctive patterns formed by debris and
  imperfections on mechanical parts.
• Faxes can be identified by TTI
• Printers can be IDd by ink composition.

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Handwriting How does it work?

• Handwriting originates in the brain when a mental
  picture of letters and words is formed. The
  signal to try to duplicate the mental picture is
  sent to the arm and hand through the muscles and
  nervous system. The actual output is almost never
  an exact match of the original mental picture.

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Is handwriting specific to an individual?

• Handwriting is different among individuals.

• Handwriting style and basic characteristics do
  not change over time.

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Handwriting Analysis
When is handwriting style set?

• Coordination and visual perception affect
  development.

• Handwriting style usually set by late teenage
  years.

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Collecting Exemplars

• Exemplars are handwriting samples of known
  suspects to match document.
• Similar utensils (pens, pencil), type of paper,
  ink, words, letters, and phrases
• At least one page long.
• Make writer comfortable.
• Suspect should never see document.
• Repetition!

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Types of Exemplars

• Unrequested specimen author had no idea it would
  be used for a comparison
• Requested specimen suspect is asked to produce a
  specimen

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Handwriting Comparisons

• Line Quality (flow)
• Spacing (word and letter)
• Size (height, width of letters)
• Lifting Pen (words)
• Connecting Strokes (capital to lower)
• Margins

• Unusual Letters (cursive, print habits)
• Pen Pressure
• Slant
• Baseline
• Fancy Writing (curly, loops, unique styles)
• Diacritics (ts crossed and Is dotted)

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