Documents Analysis

Documents as evidence Document examiners verify handwriting and signatures; authenticate documents; characterize papers, pigments and inks used in writing utensils, instruments and copying machines; restore erased and obliterated writing; and even determine the relative age of documents and inks.

Documents as Evidence Questioned documents- any object with hand/type written marks whose source or authenticity is in doubt. Ex: ransom note, business records, and receipt for car rental.

Is handwriting really unique? Class Characteristics- writing habits learned as kids by copying examples of letters. These habits carry over into adulthood. Individual Characteristics- unique features due to nerve and motor skills that develop when writing becomes subconscious

Analysis of Handwriting Exemplar- a known sample that is used for comparison. Exemplars should be as similar as possible to the questioned document. - same pencil/pen, paper (lined/unlined) - should contain same word or letter combinations natural variations- normal deviations found between repeated specimens of an individuals handwriting

What steps can be taken to minimize deception? Require many pages of writing Writing a set dictation Suspect should sit in a comfortable chair without distractions. Never aid the writing of a suspect Suspect given a pen and paper similar to the questioned document Dictated text should contain similar word and letter combinations Dictated text should be written at least 3 times Signatures should be requested on about 20-30 checks

Analysis of Handwriting If enough samples for comparison are available an expert can make a positive id using 12 characteristics. 1. Line quality: are the lines smooth, free flowing and rhythmic, or shaky, nervous, and wavering

2. Spacing of words and letters: examine the average amount of space between words and letter formation. Is the spacing between words and letters consistent in the questioned and known documents?

3. Ratio of relative height, width, and size of letters: what are the overall height, width, and size of the letters in both the known and questioned documents? Are they consistent?

4. Pen lifts and separations: check how the writer stops to form new letters and begins words. Forgeries may have pen lifts or separation in unusual places, for instance in the writing of a single letter.

Connecting strokes: compare how capital letters are connected to lowercase letters and how strokes connect between letters and between words.

Beginning and ending strokes: compare how the writer begins a word, number, or letter and how the writer ends a word, number, or letter.

Unusual letter formation: look for unusual letter formation; for instance, letters written backward, letters with a tail, or unusual capitals.

Shading or pen pressure: Individuals use different amounts of pressure with a pen or pencil, making the lines darker or wider. Check for pressure on the downward and upward strokes

Slant: Does the writing slant to the left or right, or is it straight up and down? Are some letters consistently slanted more or less than others?

Baseline habits: Does the writing tend to follow a straight line, move downward, or move upward? Is it above or below the line?

Flourishes or embellishments: Are there any fancy letters, curls, loops, circles, double loops, or underlines?

Placement of diacritics: (diacritics- the crossing of t’s or dotting of i's and j’s) Check the crossing of t’s or dotting of i's and j’s, or any other letters or punctuation marks. Is the line on the t long in proportion to the stem? Is it located to the left or right? Are the i's dotted above or to the right or left?

What are some difficulties in handwriting comparison? Insuficient number of known writing are available Questioned document only contains a few words Questioned document is written in a crude manner Questioend document is written in an unnatural form Natural writing is disguised Handwriting is not an exact science since it is based on the expert analyzers opinion

Types of Forgeries Forgery- an item prepared with the intent to deceive or defraud. Blind forgery- one made without a model of the signature Simulated forgery- one made by copying a genuine signature Traced forgery- one made by tracing a genuine signature using a light box, carbon paper, tracing hard over a genuine signature and tracing the indentation

Obliterations Obliteration- the removal of writing by physical or chemical means Method of Removal Method of Detection Erasing with rubber eraser or scraping ink off Upper layer of fibers look disturbed when viewed under a microscope Chemical method- ink eradicator which discolors the ink or makes it invisible Can be seen using a microscope, UV or IR light Cross outs or overwriting Ink is a mixture of dyes or pigments that can be separated using chromatography.   Chromatography- separation of mixtures by different absorbencies

Infrared Luminescence- when inks are exposed to blue-green light it absorbs the light and reradiates infrared light. It can be used to detect is two inks are present, erasures, read letters or words that have been crossed out.

Indentations An indented impression is left on paper beneath the primary writing because of the pressure of the writing utensil

Since indentions increase a papers capacity to hold an electrostatic charge the images can be developed using an electrostatic detection apparatus (ESDA). Toner powder is poured over a charged sheet of plastic covering the paper will create an image.