Document Analysis Catch me if you can Hotel Scene

What is a Questioned Document? 1. 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. Any signature, handwriting, typewriting, or other marks whose source or authenticity is in dispute or is doubtful.

Determine identity of writer In ransom notes Lindburg Ransom Note/ Ford Signature In document forgery In death threats In suicide notes Can you think of others? 2.Uses of Handwriting Analysis

3. Most Common Questioned Documents Letters Checks Drivers Licenses* Contracts Wills Voter registration* Passports* Petitions Threatening letters Suicide notes Lottery tickets * These are all personal identification documents. They are among the most altered and forged documents in the world.

4. Cases Involving Questioned Documents Forgery Counterfeiting Mail fraud Kidnapping Con games Embezzlement Gambling Organized crime White collar crime Art crimes Theft Robbery Arson Burglary Homicide Serial murder Psychological profiling QDE

5. Questioned Document Examiner QDE (the person who looks at the document in question) Studies scientifically, the whole document, in order to recognize the source, or other evidence that can determine authenticity of the document in question. Mickey Mantle Book Babe Ruth

6. Handwriting Analysis Handwriting is the oldest and most challenging type of evidence to be examined Eventhough it is considered unique to individuals Admissibility of handwriting in court has been successfully challenged in court. In other words, the evidence was thrown out.

7. What must examiners be aware of? No two people have identical handwriting - Interestingly, by adulthood, handwriting is exclusive to an individual. Even though we all learned the same techniques to begin writing in grade school! -Even disguised handwriting will exhibit some of the person’s individual characteristics

No two people have identical handwriting There is natural variation in a person’s writing There is no one – single writing characteristic that is so unique by itself that it will individualize the handwriting. There is no set number of characteristics that must be present for an examiner to identify the author of a “questioned document” 8. What must examiners be aware of?

What must examiners be aware of? Natural variation in a person’s writing There is no one single writing characteristic that is so unique by itself it will individualize handwriting No set number of characteristics that must be present for an examiner to identify author of a questioned document

9.Characteristics of Handwriting Handwriting contains class and individual characteristics Class: a general characteristic that depends on place and time learned Individual: characteristics developed by an individual over time

Individual 10. Characteristics of Handwriting – SLANT cont’d Slant of handwriting is generally a class characteristic, as is skill level of penmanship Unusual flourishes at ends of words or ornate capital letters are individual characteristics

Individual Characteristics of Handwriting – SLANT cont’d This is the angle of writing and can be forward or backward. This alone is not a good basis for judgment. Forwards and backward slants are not indicative to handedness. What does handedness mean?

Why do you think people say “put your john hancock right there…”

Example of: Low Skill Level

11.More types of individual characteristics: Form Movement Proportions Height “i” Dot “t” Crossing Loops Pressure Baseline Alignment Pen Lifts Speed Embellishments Entry/Exit Strokes Retracing Spelling/Spacing Format Case Rolling Stone Signatures

12.Form Most basic individual characteristic, and is very important to QDE. Form is the way a writer makes a letter or movement of letters.

13.Movement and Pressure Movement is the way a pen moves in order to make a mark or form a letter This can help distinguish the difference in form. 2 letters can be the same, but made in a different way. Pressure is the difference in ink or pencil in width or shade. Helps show direction of movement.

14. Proportions, Height, & Loops Proportions is the symmetry of an individual letter Loops are similar to proportions Height is the comparing the height of one letter to another Height, proportions are usually habits found in a specific writer.

15.Pen Lifts and Embellishments Pen lifts are when the pen or pencil is lifted from the paper and reapplied to finish a word or sentence. Most people have pen lifts that are likely in their writing. Embellishments decorate writing. Usually found in the beginning of word, but can be seen other places.

The “i” dot and “t” crossing (examples…)

16. Speed The speed of a writer is a key indicator for QDE in the examination process. Fast and slow speeds are difficult to duplicate leaving behind inconsistencies in the writing.

17. Entry/Exit Strokes Entry/Exit Strokes is the way a writer begins certain letter or words and can be very specific to an individual. Also includes the idea of connecting strokes.

18. Retracing Retracing is considered fixing a portion of writing that is not readable or pleasing to the writer. In some cases, this can indicate forgery but is very common in normal handwriting to retrace letters or words.

19. Spelling/Spacing Spelling is an individual characteristic because of education or habits and can be an easy fix to eliminate or pin point suspects. Spacing is the area between letters or words and is usually specific to the writer.

20.Format and Case Format is the habit in which a writer uses to depict simple things like; Dates, numbers, abbreviations, etc … Example: The way people write checks Case is a characteristic of a writer who might use upper case letters where a lower case should be present.

A word about: Baseline Alignment The value of this show the questioned writing in correlation to the baseline Helps QDE examiners determine whether the writing was altered or is consistent with the rest of the writing or other examples

Standard Comparisons: Did the suspect write the “questioned document”? 21. EXEMPLAR : document w/ known author (the suspect)

Standard comparisons Samples from an individual include Collected writing comes from prior to the beginning of the investigation (helps prevent or indicate when a person is disguising their handwriting)

Standard Comparisons Requested writing is a dictated text using the same exact wording as the questioned document DO NOT tell writer how to spell anything or how to punctuate DO NOT tell them when to use upper/lower case Dictate AT LEAST three times Start slow, then speed the dictation – less time to contemplate penmanship Same type of ink/paper as the sample to be analyzed

22. Three things you can’t determine from handwriting: 1)"handedness" of the writer. 2) gender 3) age

A note about… Comparison of Handwritings Simulation (when someone is trying to copy another’s handwriting) it makes accurate analysis more difficult (sometimes impossible) professional analysts determine simulation by looking at: shaky lines dark and thick starts and finishes for words a lot of pen lifts All come from carefully, slowly forming letters instead of natural writing.

23. Fraud and Forgery There are two basic ways people attempt to forge another’s signature 1. Forgers obtain another person’s signature and then practice freehand copying of it 2. Tracing is forging by placing paper over writing and then copying it – line quality often suffers and appears uneven Signs of forgery include; differences in line quality, connecting strokes, pen lifts, starts, stops and retouching

24. Typical Document Examination Questions Obama signatureObama signature Are there erasures on the document? Are there alterations or obliterations on the document? What was originally written before the alteration or under the obliteration? Are there perforations, folds, staple holes, or other physical clues on the document ? Was the entire document rewritten, or was it prepared sequentially, over a period of time?

Abignale interview

25. Erasures, Obliterations and Alterations Large number of questioned document cases involve alteration of document Types of alterations include Erasures Obliterations (crossing out) Additions Charring

26. Erasures Removing writing from a document through mechanical or chemical means Mechanical erasures, * rubber eraser, sandpaper, razor blade, knife -disturbs fibers in paper, can be seen with stereomicroscope or side lighting (light hits paper at angle from one side) Chemical erasures involve bleaching, paper may be discolored where chemical was applied * (UV & infrared light may reveal chemically treated areas)

27. Obliterations Writing is crossed out or completely written over with another writing instrument Solvents, such as methyl alcohol, or mineral spirits may be applied Document is exposed to light and penetration of light allows original image to be seen

28. Additions Lindburg Ransom Note/ Ford Signature Lindburg Ransom Note/ Ford Signature Document is altered by writing on document after it was initially completed Chemical characteristics of ink, changes in writing pattern, or minute differences in writing style can be determined by a competent examiner Some inks exposed to Blue green light may reradiate infrared light

29. Charring Infrared photography might reveal contents of document Reflect light at angle to contrast writing against charred background Image can be digitized and stored

30. Paper Examination Different types of papers may have varying degrees of chemical or physical qualities UV light can distinguish between types of papers. Differences in thickness in paper can be determined Types of fibers and arrangement of fibers can be differentiated under a microscope

31. Ink examination May be used to identify writing instrument or determine how old a document is Analysis of ink dyes allows this Chromatography separates ink components Mass spectrometry analyzes chemical components

Paper Chromatography

32. Typescript Comparisons Can examine documents from computer printers, photocopiers, fax machines, typewriters Photocopiers: leave transitory defect marks that can be traced to machine

Typescript Comparisons Fax Machines: header (transmitting terminal identifier (TTI) at top of fax page Can examine w/ low power microscope, draw conclusions about printer type and type of toner used Also of interest… Computer printers leave different evidence Nonimpact printers: ink-jet/laser Impact printers: thermal/dot matrix

33. Indented Writings Examine under oblique/side lighting ESDA (electrostatic detection apparatus)

Authenticating JFK Signature JFK