Document Analysis

1. Document Analysis Guided Note Packet Mrs. Toth IRP 4

2. What is document examination? (aka Questioned Documents) Definition: • the analysis of documents for authenticity • Can refer to the original type of paper, ink, machine, or person who wrote the document

3. Signature genuine? Document forged and if so, by who? Document altered at a later date? Signature look like it was “helped”? Machine document typed on? Any erasures on the document? Document created all at one time or prepared sequentially? Common Document Analysis Questions

4. Services Provided By a Document Laboratory • Authenticates and compares handwriting • Detects forgery, indented writings, obliterations, and alterations • Provides court testimony • Ink and paper analysis • Reconstruction of charred or burned paper

5. Who and What of Document Analysis • Job Title: Document examiner • Job: (First ones were photographers!) 1. Handwriting/handprinting analysis 2. Typewriter comparison, 3. Looks at erasures, impressions, alterations, obliterations 4. What data is within the paper (watermarks, fibers, perforated edges, tears, stamps)

6. Document Analysis Example Example Notice that this photo shows a stamp perforation match

7. Education • No formal college-based education programs on D.E. in the U.S. - work as an apprentice - then advance to a professional - 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/

8. Review: Albert S. Osborn • Made document examination admissible evidence in court

9. 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

10. Learning to Write cont… • Most public schools teach the handwriting methods of either Palmer or the Zaner-Blosser method (imitating the letter style) • No two people write exactly alike Palmer Method

11. Writing Analysis • Experts study the variations in writing samples and the authenticity of the document • Individual characteristics in handwriting are key to identification; changes over time with emotion, physique, depression

12. 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

13. 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 Writing Analysis cont…

14. 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

15. 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

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

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

18. 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

19. Four Primary Factors for Analysis • 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

20. 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 write document Requested vs. Nonrequested Samples

21. 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

22. 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 the procedure

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

24. Special Techniques for Analysis • Stereomicroscope- uses two images that create one in the brain to see variations in style the naked eye can’t see

25. Special Techniques for Analysis • 3D imaging of a print- computer program that shows the push and pull of the writing utensil, pressure marks, energy levels, and grasp of a writing utensil

26. 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 blue-green light so that it will absorb radiation and reradiate infrared light (detects ink over ink) Special Techniques for Analysis

27. 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”

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. Document Analysis Technique Examples

32. Document Analysis Technique Examples

33. 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 computers)