Untitled Flashcards Set
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 is fraud investigation?
money trail and criminal intent
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 do typewriting analysts do?
determine origin, make, and models of a doc.
what do computer crime investigators do?
investigate cybercrime
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. education
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?
carefully prepared sample of handwriting
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
how can you reveal art fraud?
1. microscope
2. electromagnetic radiation
3. chemicals
what is contract fraud?
altering a contract such as medical records
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 is graphology?
an attempt to predict character traits from handwriting examination-- NOT SCIENCE
what are stylistics?
word choice, spelling, and style of writing (TEXTING)
what are semantics?
the meaning of the words used (NOT RECEIVED WHILE TEXTING)
what are our voices controlled by?
1. brain- processes speech
2. vocal cavities- used to resonate sounds
3. articulators (lips, tongue, teeth)
4. vocal chords- used to regulate breath
5. lower respiratory tract (lungs, diaphragm)- provides air
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