Chapter 17: Questioned Documents

Alterations

Change of a written or printed portion of a document, usually accomplished after obliterating or masking the original information.

Beginning stroke

initial stroke of a letter

blunt starts

Lack of one continuous movement of a writing instrument as it touches paper in the initial writing stroke.

connecting strokes

Joining the ending stroke of one letter to the beginning stroke of another letter.

copybook

instruction manual for learning penmanship

disguised writing

alteration of handwriting for the purpose of concealment

electrostatic detection apparatus (ESDA)

device used to detect electrostatic levels in grooves of handwriting

ending stroke

terminal stroke of a letter

exemplars

writing produced upon request

freehand simulations

Attempt to copy or draw a signature without the use of mechanical aids.

grabbers

Mechanical "fingers" in a copy machine or printer that draw the paper through the machine.

height ratio

ratios of heights of letters compared to others

indented writing

Writing on a page that is captured on the second sheet of paper below the one that contains the original writing.

line quality

Appearance of a written stroke determined by a combination of factors, such as speed, shading, pen position, and skill; ranges from smooth and legible to tremulous and awkward.

micrometer

A device utilizing a scale calibrated with stage micrometer for measurement of the physical dimensions of material viewed with a microscope.

non-request writing

Normal writing, done without attention to the writing process.

normal hand forgery

A type of forgery in which the individual does not attempt to copy the victim's signature or writing but rather uses his or her own handwriting style.

oblique lighting

Lighting cast across a page of writing at an angle almost parallel with the page.

obliterations

Marking over or through existing writing in an attempt to destroy or remove it.

patching

Addition of a written stroke to improve a defect in a written line.

pen lifts

Break in a written line.

pen pressure

Amount of force applied to a pen or pencil while writing.

questioned document (QD)

Document whose authenticity or origin is suspect.

requested writing

Handwritten standards issued in the presence of an investigator or examiner.

retouching

Going back over a written line to correct a defect or improve its appearance; synonymous with patching.

shading

contrast between written upstroke and downstroke of a line

sizings

Material added to paper to change its smoothness, finish, absorbency, and appearance.

slant

Angle of writing with respect to a baseline.

terminal stroke

The ending or last stroke made when writing a letter.

tracings

Fraudulent signature produced by following the outline of a genuine signature.

trash marks

Mark left on a finished copy during photocopying; results from imperfections or dirt on the cover glass, cover sheet, drum, or camera lens of a photocopy machine.

video spectral comparison (VSC)

Comparison and differentiation of inks by analyzing the infrared reflecting and luminescing qualities inherent to the ink; most often accomplished using a device made by Foster & Freeman, Ltd.

watermark

Translucent design impressed into paper during manufacture. The design becomes visible when the paper is subjected to transmitted light and helps date a document.

No

Is it possible for a document examiner to tell the personality of an individual from his or her handwriting?

No

Can you determine the sex and age of the writer from his or her handwriting?

Non-requested tend to be more accurate to the writer’s actual writing characteristics and are spontaneous, while requested are specifically requested by law enforcement and tend to not be as accurate to the writer’s actual writing characteristics

What is the difference between requested handwriting standards and non-requested standards?

they are writing attributes observed in a group of writers that are probably derived from a penmanship system they learned

Explain the meaning of the term "class characteristics" in relation to handwriting.

Sometimes it could be difficult to identify certain ways of writing due to sloppiness or the way it is written or if they have nothing to compare it to

Can a document examiner identify all types of writing?

Using a microscope to reveal subtle differences such as slight chance in shading or hue

Name one of the methods of ink differentiation for similar appearing inks.

use of electrostatic detection apparatus

Name one of the methods for the recovery of indented writing.

they are made by dirt marks, scratchesm and other extraneous marks on the surfaces of the drum, cover, glass plate, or camera lens of the photocopy machine

What is a photocopy trash mark and how does it occur?

a micrometer

What instrumentation is used to test paper thickness?