FORENSICS: Document Analysis Test Review

what is document analysis?

the application and analytical techniques to questions concerning documents

why would you need document examination?

1. to determine age of doc.

2. order in which writing was entered on a doc.

3. paper/ink comparison to determine manufacturer

4. disclose the presence of alterations, erasures, elimination, or obliterations

5. identify printer, photocopying device, stamp, or printing press

6. identify authorship of doc. (walls at crime scene, often in blood)

what is historical dating?

age and value of a doc.

what do paper and ink specialists do?

date, type, and source types of paper, watermarks, ink, or printed copies

what do forgery specialists do?

analyze altered, obliterated, changes, or doctored docs and photos

what are examples of questioned documents?

wills, deeds, medical records, income tax records, contracts, loan agreements, checks, anonymous letters

what is the hardware phase of handwriting?

the pen, pencil, paper, etc. used

what are factors that influence handwriting?

1. age

2. physical and mental conditions

3. habitual patterns that are individual to one person

what are variations in handwriting?

angularity, slope, speed, pressure, letter and word spacing, size of letters, connections, pen/pencil movement, writing skill, and finger dexterity

what are other characteristics of handwriting?

margins, spacing, crowding, insertions, alignment, spelling, punctuation, and grammar

what are some things that make handwriting comparison difficult?

1. if the document only contains a few words

2. comparing subconscious writing with writing that is carefully prepared

3. drugs/alcohol

4. note: it is relatively simple to change writing for a few words, but difficult to keep it up

what is an exemplar?

A handwriting example obtained by a suspect

how do you prepare an exemplar?

1. writer should be sitting comfortably without the questioned doc.

2. pen and paper should be similar to the questioned doc.

3. suspect should not see questioned doc.

4. dictation should be made at least 3 times without any instruction

5. signature exemplars should be repeated 20-30 times

what are the three methods of forgery?

1. simulated

2. traced

3. blind

what's a simulated forgery?

one made by copying a signature

what's a traced forgery?

one made by tracing a signature

what's a blind forgery?

one made without a model of the signature

what are the two steps of handwriting forgery?

1. discard handwriting habits

2. assume someone else's writing characteristics

what does an attempted forgery always produce?

-hesitation

-unnatural pen-lifts

-tremor or uncertainty of movement

-drawn quality to the writing

what are types of forgeries?

-check fraud

-paper money

-identity

-credit card

-art

-contracts

what are types of check fraud?

forgery, counterfeit, and alterations

what are types of identity fraud?

social security, driver's license

what is art fraud?

imitation of art with intent to deceive

what are characteristics that vary with different papers?

material, weight, thickness, fibers, color, watermarks, age, fluorescence, opacity

what are trash marks?

transitory patterns from debris and other material left on copiers and printers

how should you collect document evidence?

-avoid excess handling

-do not fold or crease

-multiple documents should be stapled together

-do not write on the paper over the document

-label information on the back of the document

-place in a clear envelope and seal

what should you do with charred documents?

1. place them in containers used in arson investigation

2. if brittle, use cardboard to lift

what should you do with writing on walls?

1. photograph

2. cut out section of wall if possible

when did the government start adding new security features to our paper money?

1996

what are voiceprints?

the visual representation of the voice that is created by using a spectrograph

what does a spectrograph do?

it changes sound waves into visual and displays time, frequency, and volume

how are voices analyzed?

1. auditory and visual examination must be made

2. background noise must be removed

3. text must be identical

4. voice is classified into 7 categories

what are security features on US paper money?

1. MICRO PRINTING- tiny writing that is hard to replicate

2. SECURITY THREAD- a thin ribbon threaded through the paper

3. FIBERS- tiny red and blue fibers throughout the paper

4. WATERMARKS

5. FINE LINE PRINTING PATTERNS- the lines found behind the portrait

What is US currency printed on?

25% cotton, 75% linen

What decodes milk?

Heat

What decodes laundry detergent

UV

What decodes Sodium Hydroxide?

Phenolphataline