QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS Forensic Science Course

What is a document? Any fixed method of communication between one individual and another.

EXAMPLES OF DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE QUESTIONED: A will A check A ransom note A threatening letter

Handwriting Analysis Handwriting is an acquired skill. By the late teenage years, the writing style has matured and become unique.

Characteristics of Handwriting Placement on the paper Overall size of words or letters Slant Loops- present or absent; size; location Line Quality- shaky or smooth Placement of bar on 't' crossings; dotted “i” Beginning and end strokes

INK CHROMATOGRAPHY A technique used to examine the various pigments found in an ink sample. It is used to detect possible alterations made using a pen different from the one that originally created the document.

Chromatography of Black Ink

Typed Alterations A document examiner may collect old typewriters of various brands and models to use for comparison to questioned documents.

PHOTOCOPIES AND FAKES Copiers and scanners are now frequently used for document alterations. Signs Of a Fake: Trash Marks- those little black dots that appear from nowhere on copied pages Misaligned Type- words that just don’t line up with the rest of the text

A Final Note on Paper A watermark is an area of translucent design built into the paper. It is usually visible only when held to a light. ****This can identify the manufacturer, the recipient, and the date of production. Watch out for the staple holes…if they do not line up, it could be a fake!

Resources James, Stuart H. and Nordby, Jon J. Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques. CRC Press; Boca Raton, umb/9/93/200px-TLC_black_ink.jpg