Impressions/Document analysis

questioned document

A document in which the document in its entirety, or in part is subject to question as its authenticity and/or origin

Most common questioned documents

• Letters

• checks

• driver licenses

• contracts

• will

• petitions

• voter registration

• passports

• threatening letters

• sucide notes

• lottery tickets

Common cases involving questioned documents

• Forgery

• Counterfeiting

• Mail fraud

• theft

• robbery

• arson

• con games

• gambling

• Kidnapping/ransom

The handwriting learning process

1. A child learns a model of the alphabet

2. They progress to drawing letter blocks

3. Then typically learn cursive using cursive writing guides

4. Child gets better at remembering letter formations and now draws them from memory

Individual

Individual or class? Skill level

Individual

Individual or class? proportions

Individual

Individual or class? Loops

individual

Individual or class? speed

Individual

Individual or class? Format

Individual

Individual or class? Slant

Individual

Individual or class? Form

Individual

Individual or class? Movement

Individual

Individual or class? Height

Individual

Individual or class? Pressure

Individual

Individual or class? Embellishment

Individual

Individual or class? Case

Individual

Individual or class? “I” dot

Individual

Individual or class? “T” cross

Individual

Individual or class? Alignment

Individual

Individual or class? Pen lifts

Individual

Individual or class? Spelling

Individual

Individual or class? Spacing

Slants

• Angle of writing

• Can be forward or backward

• This alone is not good judgment

• Right handed=typically forward

• Left handed=typically backwards

Format

• Most basic individual characteristic

• The way a writer makes a letter or movement

Movement

• The way a pen moves in order to make a mark or form a letter

• Helps to distinguish the difference in form, 2 letters can be the same but made in a different way

Pressure

The difference in ink or pencil in width or shade

Proportion

Symmetry of an individual letter

Pen lifts

When the pen or pencil is lifted from the paper and reapplied to finish a word or sentence

Embellishments

• decorate writing

• usually found at the beginning of words, but can be seen other places

Spelling

An individual characteristic because of education or habits and can be an easy way to eliminate or pin point suspects

Spacing

The area between letters and words

Factors that can affect handwriting samples

• Writing instruments (pens, pencils, crayons, etc.)

• Writing surface (paper, wall, napkin, etc.)

• Underlying surface (smooth or rough)

• Mood of the writer (happy, depressed, angry)

• Age of the writer (Undeveloped or shaky handwriting)

• Writing speed (slow or quick)

Exemplar

Handwriting used as a standard for comparison with the document in question

2 types of exemplars

• Dictated or requested

• Undictated or collected

Known writings (exemplar)

• Collected for comparison with the suspected document

• Known writing should contain some of the words and combination of letters present in the questioned document and be adequate in number to show the range of natural variations in a suspects writing

• The writing implement and paper should also be alike

• The writing of dictation and several pages may serve to minimize attempts at deceiption

Collecting questioned documents

• No single handwriting characteristic can in itself be taken as the basis for a positive comparison

• The final conclusion must be based on a sufficient number of common characteristics between the known and questioned writing samples

• There are no hard and fast rules for sufficient number of personal characteristics

Ink analysis

• The US secret service has an ink analysis program and maintains a library of over 6,000 inks

• Handwritten notes as well as printed documents can be analyzed for the chemical composition of the ink or the paper itself

• Chemical tests of ink can be performed or printed on written material

Video spectral comparator

Uses infrared and ultraviolet waves to distinguish different inks, reveal text that has been overwritten, discover additions, etc.

Electrostatic detection apparatus

Detects indented writing by applying an electrostatic powder that is drawn into identations

Lottery ticket fraud

• Take losing tickets and modify them to appear to be winners

• Some people collect winning tickets from customers and then cash them in

• Avoid this by signing tickets before getting them checked

Steps for the QD examiner

• Analyze the handwriting, ink. and paper of the suspect document

• Collect exemplars from the suspect either handwritten or from the printer/copier used

• Compare the suspect document and the exemplars

Impression

Objects or materials that have retained the characteristics of other objects through direct contact

Examples of impression evidence

• Shoeprints

• Tool tracks

• Tire tracks

• Bite marks

• Marks on a fired bullet

2-D collection method

• Type of impression documented through photography

• Some impressions may be dusted with fingerprint powder to be photographed or lifted with tape

• May be collected using an electrostatic dust lifting process

3-D collection method

Can be documented using photography and by casting

Features of tires to analyze

• Tread pattern

• Width and depth of the tread pattern

• Unique characteristics due to wear pattern or defects

Impressions of tool marks

As a tool hits a softer surface, the shape of the tool and imperfections in its surface may be left behind as an impression

Scratches on tool marks

As a tool moves across a surface, it may leave ridges or striations behind

Features of tool marks to analyze

• Dimensions of the impression

• Ridges or striation patterns

• Defects, such as nicks and chips

• Paint chips or metal shards left on a tool

Individual characteristics of shoes

• Wear patterns

• Specific damage or defects

Class characteristics of shoes

• Type of shoe

• Brand of shoe

Features of shoes to analyze

• Tread patterns, size, and depth

• Wear patterns caused by the way a person walks

• Material defects or damage

• Other trace materials such as soil, tar, rocks, and paint that would indicate where a person has been

Features of bite marks to analyze

• Type of bite mark

• Characteristics of the teeth

• Color of area to estimate how long ago the bite occured

• Swab for bodily fluids for DNA tests

Infrared radiation

Frequently used to uncover the original writing of words that have been crossed out with the aid of

What not to let the suspect do in document examination

Allow the suspect to view the questioned document before dictating it

What you should do for document examination

• Use paper and pen similar to that of the questioned document

• Dictate the contents of the test at least three times

• Use the same letter and word grouping as used in the questioned document

Procedures for typewriters

• Partial copies of the text are typed in light, medium, and heavy touches

• Prepare at least one copy of the text in full word-for-word order

• Each character should be typed without the ribbon

• Examine the type of impression left on the ribbon

thin-layer chromatography

Inks on handwritten documents may be compared for their chemical composition by the technique of