1. Document Examination

2. The Document Examiner
Questioned Document: any document about which some issue has been raised or that is the subject of an investigation
Examines handwriting and typescript comparison
Writing reconstruction
Discovering alterations of documents

3. Handwriting Comparisons
General Style
Standard form of handwriting
Palmer method or the Zaner-Bloser Method
Many children have handwriting samples follow a standard form but as they grow older individual characteristics begin to form

4. Palmer Method

5. Zaner-Bloser Method

6. Handwriting Comparisons
Variations
Angularity, slope, speed, pressure, letter and word spacings, relative dimensions of letters, connections, pen movements, writing skills, and finger dexterity
Margins, spacing, crowing, insertions, and alignments
Spelling, punctuation, phraseology, and grammar

7. Handwriting Comparisons
Similar to fingerprinting no set rule for number of characteristics needed to produce a evidence for authorship
Insufficient number of known writings are available
Samples are carefully crafted
Handwriting exemplars—an authentic sample used for comparison purposes

8. Importance of Exemplars
Adequate number
Known writings need to contain characteristics words, grammar, and letters for comparison
Age of the document
Realization no two signatures are the same
Collected either voluntarily or via court order

9. Court
Gilbert vs. California– upheld taking of handwriting exemplars before the appointment of council
United States vs. Mara—taking a handwriting sample did not constitute an unreasonable search and seizure

10. Clifford Irving
Lines 1 and 3 as compared to 6…terminal stroke of the r has a curve at the baseline of the Irvings writing and the forgery
Bridge of the W dropping in lines 1 and 6
Formation of the letter g on line 1 as compared to second signature on line 5

12. Typescript Comparisons
Photocopiers
Difficult to link documents to suspect copiers
Random debris, glass scratches, etc.
Fax Machines
TTI (Transmitting Terminal Identifier) should be at the top of the fax page
Computer Printers
Printer technology and ink type can be compared

13. Alterations, Erasures, and Obliterations
Erasure- the removal of writing, typewriting, or printing from a document, normally accomplished by chemical means or abrasive tools
Chemical—examine with microscope, ultraviolet, infrared light
Abrasive tools– eraser, sand paper, razor
Disturb fibers of paper which can be seen under microscope or by side lighting

14. Infrared Luminescence
A property exhibited by some dyes that emit infrared light when exposed to blue-green light
Used in protecting documents
Also can reveal writing that has been erased

16. Other forms of alteration
Obliteration– blotting out or smearing over writing or printing to make the original unreadable
Charred documents—any document that has become darkened and brittle through exposure to fire or excessive heat
Indented writings– impressions left on paper positioned under a piece of paper that has been written on

21. Document Examiners tools
Microscope
Infrared light
Digitized imaging
ESDA (Electrostatic Detection Apparatus)
Chromatography of ink

22. Document Examiners Role