Forensics Chapter 10 (Finals)

Exemplar

an authentic sample used for comparison purposes, such as handwriting

Forgery

any deliberate alteration or production of an object or document made with intent to deceive

Exemplar

an authentic sample used for comparison purposes, such as handwriting

Forgery

any deliberate alteration or production of an object or document made with intent to deceive

Fraud

wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial gain

Questioned Document

a document whose authenticity is in doubt

Document analyst

a professional who examines documents to determine their authenticity and origin

Counterfeiting

to illegally make something look like the original of something else (eg currency)

Literary forgery

the act of creating false literary works (ex. fake manuscripts and altered texts)

Factors that can affect handwriting

• writing instrument
• surface
• mood
• age
• speed
• standing or sitting
• position of document
• drugs or alcohol
• injury or illness

What is the most common thing people counterfeit and how long can you go to prison for it?

currency; 15 years

What is our paper currency made of and why is the paper such an important security feature?

composed of 25% linen and 75% cotton; red and blue fibers distributed randomly throughout to make imitation more difficult

What does an Iodine-containing pen do? How?

catches counterfeit money; if the money is fake and made out of common paper, the iodine reacts with the starch and turns a dark color

Ink chromatography

Technique to separate ink components for analysis

Eluent

the solvent that carries the mixture to be separate (water)

Adsorbent

solid material that will absorb and bind the components in a mixture (paper)

In the ink chromatography experiment, what principle is responsible for when the black inks separate into different pigments?

ink chromatography

In the ink chromatography experiment, what factor caused the ink to travel to the outer edge of the filter paper?

the eluent (water)

F.I.S.H

Forensic Information System for Handwriting

Describe the possible conclusions in handwriting analysis.

Highly Likely
Inconclusive
Elimination

Be familiar with the Features found on authentic currency

a. How does the portrait look?
b. Serial Number?
c. Watermark characteristics?
d. Background details/lines?
e. Red and Blue Fibers?

a. clear printing of president
b. green set of combined numbers and letters at top left
c. stamps and watermarks throughout: lady liberty, bird, leaves
d. intricate background and lines
e. security thread and red and blue fibers woven throughout

Which feature of US currency will shine when exposed to UV light?

security thread

Evaluate a $100 bill.
a. What president is on the cover?
b. List 4 security features on the $100 bill, be able to explain each one.

a. Benjamin Franklin
b. security thread

3D security ribbon

colorshifting ink (100, shifts from copper to green)

faint watermark of Benjamin Franklin to the right of the portrait

What are some shortcomings in handwriting analysis?

it's subjective

What does the B.F.D.E. offer?

a training program in handwriting analysis.

12 characteristics of handwriting

1) line quality (flow/ shaky and erratic)
2) Spacing
3) Size consistency (small letters to capital letters/ ratio of height to width)
4) Continuous (does pen lift?)
5) Connecting letters (capital to lower connection)
6) Letters complete
7) Cursive and printed letters
8) Pen pressure
9) Slant
10) Line habits
11) Fancy curls/loops
12) Placement of crosses on t's and dots on i's