Document Analysis Mrs Toth 1 What is document

Document Analysis Mrs. Toth 1

What is document examination? Definition: - the analysis of documents for authenticity - Examines paper type, ink, machine used, or person who wrote the document 2

Common Document Analysis Questions • Signature genuine, “helped” or forged? • Machine document typed on? • Document forged and • Document created all at by who? one time or prepared sequentially? • Document altered at a later date? 3

Services Provided By a Document Laboratory • Authenticates and compares handwriting • Analysis of indented writings, obliterations, and alterations • Provides court testimony • Ink and paper analysis Did you know the 1 st document examiners were photographers? • Reconstruction of charred or burned paper 4

Analysis Service Example Looking for “match” evidence; notice that this photo shows a stamp perforation match 5

Education • No formal college-based education programs on D. E. in the U. S. - must pass tests and exercises - apprentice, journeyman, professional - as a professional, must be certified by the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners http: //www. asqde. org/ 6

Albert S. Osborn • Made document examination admissible evidence in court 7

Learning to Write • Handwriting involves fine motor skills • Develops based on grip of writing utensil, pressure, and dexterity of muscles • Muscles/nerves of the shoulder, arm, hand, and fingers affect the appearance of handwriting 8

Learning to Write cont… • Most public schools teach Palmer or the Zaner-Blosser method (imitating the letter style) • However, no two people write exactly alike Palmer Method 9

Writing Analysis • Experts study the variations in writing samples • Individual characteristics in handwriting are key to identification • Changes over time with emotion, physique, depression 10

Writing Analysis Cont… • Documents whose authenticity is in doubt are called questioned documents • A known specimen written by an identified person is called the “standard” or exemplar • Exemplars are used to compare with questioned documents 11

Writing Analysis cont… • What is a document? • Anything that contains linguistic or numerical markings that are put there by handwriting, typewriting, copying, or computer printing Ex. A wall with writing on it could be considered a document; place cards, mirrors 12

Writing Analysis Cont… • Comparing exemplars with questioned documents can be timely and a lot of effort (uncooperative participants) • Gilbert v. California - supreme court upheld taking of exemplars • United States v. Mara - samples do not violate Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizure 13

Writing Analysis Cont… • The exemplar # should be many so that one sees the wide range of natural variation in a suspect’s writing • Natural variation - normal deviations found between repeated specimens of an individual’s handwriting or any printing device 14

Writing Analysis cont… • Signatures can be difficult to authenticate • Can contain characteristics not normally present in handwriting 15

Types of Signatures Formal Informal -signature to an official document -signature used in routine correspondence Ex. Will Ex. Personal letters Abbreviated or Stylistic -signature used to sign checks, credit card receipts Ex. Physicians signature (messy) 16

How authentic? • NEVER attach a percent of certainty of authenticity Ex. 95% sure • Instead say “With reasonable scientific certainty” • Why? No required minimum # of characters to reach a conclusion of authenticity; broad guidelines 17

Four Primary Factors for Analysis 1. 2. 3. 4. Form - refers to elements that comprise writing; slant, angles, lines, curves, connections Line quality - the type of writing instrument used and the pressure exerted along with the flow and continuity of the script Arrangement - spacing, alignment, formatting, and distinctive punctuation Content - spelling, phrasing, punctuation, and grammar 18

Requested vs. Nonrequested Samples • Samples taken from someone for purpose of comparison • Obtained through dictation • Ideal because examiner has control over paper, ink, and content • Time disadvantage • Samples taken as a normal part of business • Ex. Checks, bills, diaries, deeds • Problem: authenticity? ? • Must prove suspect wrote these Ex. Witness saw suspect 19 write document

Obtaining Writing Samples • Subject should not be shown questioned document • Subject should not be told how to spell certain words or use certain punctuation • Subject should use materials similar to those of the document • The dictated text should match some parts of the document; long passages 20

Obtaining Writing Samples • The dictation should be repeated at least three times; have subject produce 10 -20 samples • The subject should be asked to sign the text • Make sure an objective witness observes 21 the procedure

Special Techniques for Analysis • UV/IR spectral comparator: uses electromagnetic wavelengths to differentiate inks and reveal hidden material on Notice that the UV light documents helps sort the two different kinds of paper 22

Special Techniques for Analysis • Stereomicroscopeuses two images that create one in the brain to see variations in style the naked eye can’t see 23

Special Techniques for Analysis • 3 D imaging of a printcomputer program that shows the push and pull of the writing utensil, pressure marks, energy levels, and grasp of a writing utensil 24

Special Techniques for Analysis • Electrostatic detection - use of metal plate on top of a document; create static charge; use a toner powder on document and toner goes into the grooves of the paper to charged areas • Infrared Luminescence exposing ink to bluegreen light so that it will absorb radiation and reradiate infrared light (detects ink over ink) 25

Special Techniques for Analysis • TL Chromatography ink analysis by separating it into its different components; ink obtained with a blunt needle that is stuck into paper and extracted • Means “color writing” 26

Analyzing Date • Document dating can tell WHEN a document was written • Determining age of ink is most reliable • Watch how ink behaves; has the solvent dissolved and formed resins? ? ? • Disadvantage: Timely! • Artificial aging can be done in an oven at 100ºC for a few minutes or hours 27

Ways Documents are Altered Alterations - changing part or all of the document 1. Erasures - removal of writings from a document using chemical means or an abrasive instrument (eraser, sandpaper, razor blade, knife) 2. Obliterations - blotting out or smearing over of writing or printing to make the original unreadable 28

Ways Documents Are Altered cont… 3. Indented writings - pressure points left on paper exerted by a writing utensil 4. Charred documents - documents not completely destroyed by fire 29

Document Analysis Technique Examples 30

Document Analysis Technique Examples 31

Problems With Analysis • Drugs, alcohol, and other factors can alter writing habits • Hard to analyze writing that has been purposefully disguised • Hard to find imperfections in documents made on mass produced equipment (like 32 computers)