Handwriting/Forgery Unit Forensics

Questioned Document

Any signature, handwriting, typewriting, or other written mark whose source or authenticity is in dispute or uncertain

Document Analysis

examination and comparison of questioned documents with known material

handwriting is _______ to each individual

"unique"

12 major characteristics of handwriting

line quality, spacing, size consistency, continious, connecting letters, completion of letters, cursive/printed letters, pen pressure, slant, line habits, fancy curls or loops, crosses on t's, dots on i's

Exemplar

a known sample of the suspect's writing, which can be compared to the questioned document

What do handwriting analyists do?

examine the questionable document for detectable traits and record them, compare and draw conclusions about who wrote the questionable document

Two writings come from the same person if...

their similarities are unique and no unexplainable differences are found

What can cause shortcomings in handwriting analysis?

not enough samples, writing is deliberately disguised, drugs or alcohol, questioned writing is short

What can help overcome shortcomings in handwriting analysis?

several pages of required writing, writing from dictation, not showing the suspect the questioned document, writing text 3 times, and combine signature with other writing

tools used for the initial comparison of texts

the naked eye, a handheld lens, or microscope

infrared spectroscopes

used to determine if more than one type of ink was used, based on wavelengths of light absorbed and reflected by each type of ink

Biometric Signature Pads

programmed to evaluate the speed, pressure, and rhythm of a person's signature and are able to recognize how a person writes so that it can easily detect differences and recognize forgeries

FISH (Forensic Information System for Handwriting)

computerized database maintained by the Secret Service, where a sample can be scanned and compared

Forgery

process used by criminals to falsify a person's signature/document with the intent to deceive another person

Fraudulence

When material gain accompanies a forgery

Commonly forged documents: Checks

criminals will order someone else's checks from a deposit slip, alter checks, intercept someone else's check to alter and cash, and can even create forged checks from scratch

Commonly forged documents: Literary Documents

letters from famous world figures, scientists, and authors that are faked by criminals and the fakes are treated with different things to make them look accurate to the original

Types of forgery

freehand simulation, tracing, disguised writing, alteration,

Freehand simulation (type of forgery)

attempt to copy a signature or handwriting sample

Tracing (type of forgery)

placing a new document over the original and tracing it

Disguised writing (type of forgery)

Attempting to alter writing so it cannot be traced back (Ex. Ransom note or threat)

Alteration (type of forgery)

Removing, adding, or changing a portion of the original.

Four ways to alter text:

Erasures, obliterations, alterations, overwriting

Erasures

using an eraser, knife, sandpaper, or sharp tool to erase part of a document

Obliterations

burning, bleaching, or using a laser to get rid of a document

Alterations

Adding or changing words, dates, and numbers

Overwriting

Overwrites a portion of the document, for example changing a 4 to a 9

Video Spectral Comparator

used to analyze inks and see whether they are the same or different, can uncover layers in documents where words have been scribbled out or written over

Infrared Reflectance

used to show the residue of pencil marks

Thin Layered Chromatography

used to separate and leave a unique pattern for each ink for identification

Electrostatic Detection Device

can detect indented impressions that can't be seen with the naked eye

Counterfeiting

the production of an imitation of currency, artwork, documents, and name-brand knock-off items for the purpose of deception

Common counterfeited items

currency, traveler's checks, food stamps, bonds, postage stamps, and birth certificates

The Secret Service

in charge of investigating counterfeit US currency, a crime that is punishable with up to 15 years in prison

How can counterfeit currency be detected?

iodine pens can test the materials, security feautures on bills prevent them from scanning (security threads, color shifting ink in bell and number, watermark of portrait