FORENSIC DOCUMENTS: OVERVIEW

DEFINITION

FORENSIC DOCUMENT EXAMINATION is a branch of forensic science that

deals with documents having a suspicious authenticity. Also called as
Questioned Document Examination, it involves the application of scientific
methods and principals for document examination. This helps to produce
evidence about a questioned document that is admissible in the court of law to
prove its legitimacy.

The American Board of Forensic Document Examination defines forensic

document examination as the practice of the application of document
examination to the purposes of the law. It relates to the identification of:
handwriting, typewriting, authenticity of signatures, alterations in documents,
the significance of inks and papers, photocopying processes, writing
instruments, sequence of writings and other elements of a document in relation
to its authenticity or spuriousness.

In the Philippines, crime laboratories and popular media refer to it simply as

QD (short for questioned documents). It is also known by other names such as:
handwriting examination or handwriting analysis.

HISTORY

3rd CENTURY: The Time of Titus and Anthony

“Jurists established protocols for the determination of forgery and the
manner in which forgeries were to be detected.”

16th CENTURY: Justinian Code

“Established further guidelines for the using of handwriting comparisons
in the courts. A judge could in his discretion request persons with
special skill in writing to perform an examination of questioned writing
and give testimony as the authenticity of the text.”

1887: United States; Bell vs. Brewster (10 N.E. 679, 44 Ohio St. 690)
“The Ohio Supreme Court recognized the importance of handwriting as a
means of identifying a person.” Utilizing: Standards of comparison,
expert comparative analysis and opinion testimony regarding writing to
established questioned writing as prepared by a specific writer.
1900: Daniel T. Ames; “Ames on Forgery”
Founder and 20 years editor of the Penman’s Art Journal and examiner
of contested handwriting in Courts of Justice for 30 years.

:New York vs. R.B. Molineaux

Notable early criminal case involving the testimony of several
handwriting experts who examined the package and testified that it was
written by Molineux. Roland Molineaux, a chemist was tried for the
poisoning murder of a woman.

1903: Matter of Rice

Rice was the victim of one of the earliest sensational crimes of the 1900s.
He was presumed to have died in his sleep. Shortly thereafter, a bank
teller noticed a suspiciously large check bearing the late Rice's signature
and made out to Rice's New York City lawyer, Albert T. Patrick, but with
Albert's name misspelled as "Abert". Soon, Patrick made an
announcement that Rice had changed his will right before his death,
leaving the bulk of his fortune to Patrick rather than to his Institute.

1910: Albert Sherman Osborn "Questioned Documents"

A comprehensive text which established a greater focus on not only the

examination of handwriting and signatures, but of other types of
evidence appearing on documents including paper, ink, typewriting and
alterations.

Albert S. Osborn also, during the early part of the century, began to
invite other document examiners to his home in Upper Montclair, NJ.
These meetings were the beginnings of what would become the American
Society of Questioned Document Examiners.

1929: Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory

Because of the influence of Prof. John Wigmore, the laboratory was

modeled after multidisciplinary European laboratories and included a
questioned document section.

1942: American Society of Questioned Document Examiners

With Albert Osborn presiding, ASQDE was formally established.

Membership in organization was entirely by invitation. Its meetings were
completely educational in scope, and annual attendance as well as full
participation in the program were an absolute requirement for a
continuing invitation. The ASQDE is considered, by many, to be the
 primary national organization disseminating research in the United
States.

1977: American Board of Forensic Document Examiners - Official

Formation

The ABFDE’s stated objectives are two‐fold: to establish, maintain and

enhance standards of qualification for those who practice forensic
document examination, and to certify applicants who comply with
ABFDE requirements for this expertise.

FORENSIC DOCUMENTS 2: FORENSIC DOCUMENT EXAMINER

FORENSIC DOCUMENT EXAMINER refers to persons who study all aspects of

a document to determine its authenticity, origin, handwriting photocopies, inks
and papers.

o Forensic document examiners are basically laboratory

investigators.
o They do not conduct crime scene searches, street investigations,
interviews or interrogations.
o Their work does not involve face-to-face encounters with the street
reality of crime and its victims, witnesses and suspects.
o Document Examiners usually work their cases solo.

GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS: Must be of good moral character, high integrity

and good repute, and must possess high ethical and professional standing.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: Baccalaureate degree which does not have

to be a specific science area.

QUALITIES TO BE CONSIDERED:

o Must have good vision: Compares colors, sizes, shapes, and

inconspicuous microscopic items.
o Good at public speaking: Sometimes testifies in court
o Not an outdoor-type of person: Stays inside the laboratory for long
periods.

.
FORENSIC DOCUMENTS: PURPOSE OF DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

The goal of a forensic document examiner is to study and investigate

documents in order to determine the facts about their preparation and history.

A document may be examined for a number of purposes including:

1. Identity of the author.

2. True contents of the document.
3. Origin of the instrument of paper used in making the document.
4. Alterations or erasures which have been made.
5. Authenticity of the document or recognizing genuineness.
6. Analyzing color tone of inks, papers, and other substances that
comprise documents.

FORENSIC DOCUMENTS: DOCUMENTS

DOCUMENT is any material containing marks, symbols, or signs either visible,

partially visible that may present or ultimately convey a meaning to someone.
May be in the form of pencil, ink writing, typewriting, or printing on paper or
not.

It can be any object not only found on paper, it may be a writing left on
walls, mirrors, windows, plumbing pipes, the side of automobiles, or even
on the bodies of victims.

Plain paper or tablets that do not appear to have any writing on them are
also examined for indentations of writing.

Hence, Almost any type of document may become disputed in an investigation

or litigation.

EXAMPLES OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED FOR SUCH

EXAMINATIONS:

 Wills
 Checks
  Credit card receipts
 Business contracts
 Marriage contracts
 Birth certificates
 Mortgages, deeds of land, transfers, and leases
 Insurance applications
 Agreements
 Accounting ledgers and financial records
 Anonymous and threatening letters
 Suicide notes
 Tests and examinations
 Medical charts
 Diaries, agenda, and appointment books
 Legal files

FORENSIC DOCUMENTS: EXAMINATION TYPES

A. HANDWRITING is the result of a very complicated series of acts, being used

as whole, combination of certain forms of visible mental and muscular habits
acquired through a long, continued painstaking effort.

o NATURAL HANDWRITING – writing executed normally without

any attempt to control or alter its identifying habits and usual
quality of execution.

o DISGUISED WRITING – deliberately trying to alter his usual

writing habits in hope of hiding his identity, writing skill is poorer,
change in slant, size, altered of capital letters.

CLASSIFICATIONS OF WRITING CHARACTERISTICS: 

I. CLASS CHARACTERISTICS – common to a group of people . Learned

from school or from an individual’s parents

II. INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS – highly personal or peculiar to a

particular writer. They are characteristics which are the result of the
writer’s muscular control, coordination, age, health, and nervous
temperament, frequency of writing, personality and character. No two
persons write alike. They are found in the following:
Writing movement – the character of writing movement is a primary
determinant of writing speed. It makes more time to make a long one.
More time to form a small solid letter than a form a large “racy one”. A
short, steady line suggests a firmly controlled and purposeful
movement.

Form and design of letters – all differences in forms and design of

letter are indicative of non-identity. The writing patterns of letters has
three dimensions, width, depth, height.

Muscular control or motor control – is characterized by free

smooth, well-regulated movement produced without tension or
impulsive variation. Deviation from muscular control are:

i. Loose writing – there is too much freedom of

movement and lack of regularity. This is noticed
especially in tall letters forms.
ii. Restrained writing - there is lack of freedom and
inhibited movements. It gives you the impression that
every stroke was made with great difficulty.

Motor coordination – A writer with a good motor coordination writes

without mental strain, forming his letters without conscious
attention. The hand moves as soon as the mind conceives a word to
write and the word is there on the paper

Shading – In forearm movement where considerable speed is used,

there is ordinarily but slight shading if any. Some writers place the
greatest emphasis on the straight strokes, others on the curves.

Skill – legibility and symmetry are the basis upon which ones skill or
pictorial aspect is judged. Skill is classified as poor, medium and
good.

Alignment – Good alignment is obtained by a forearm movement in

which the elbow joint is used as the center or pivot of lateral motion
and arm is held at right angles to the line or writing. This set-up
allows the hand and forearm to swing left or right in an arc and also
permitting the forearm to rotate so that the palm may be turned
downward or upward.

Pen-pressure – one of the most reliable indication of naturalness in

handwriting is the rhythmical and fluent application of pressure and
release of pressure, this indicate that pressure is always in a state of
change moving form light to heavy or form to light.
Connection – the connective form determine the essential expression
of the writing pattern. It is the main indicator of his neuromuscular
function. Connections used may be rounded like the garland and the
arcade, angular and threads. They form the letter and ink them
within the words.

Rhythm – This characteristic is an important indicator of a natural

writing movement. It is caused by a contraction and relaxation of
group of muscles in full coordination. Pressure is always in a state of
change from light to heavy or vice – versa.

Disconnections or pen lifts between letters – this characteristic’s

may be due to lack of movement control or closely related to design of
letters and habits controlling this characteristics were acquired when
writing was learned. Many free writers don’t stop the notion of the pen
every time it is raised so that the notion itself may be learning to write
are taught to take up the pen before the small letters “a” , “c” ,’ “d” ,
“g” , “q” and “t” and the design of certain styles of the these small
letters requires that the pen be raised.

Speed - speed of writing which is correlated with naturalness of

handwriting is frequently shown by slurring of letter forms.

Slant as a writing habit- Slight divergence in the few strokes of

single signature may be very strong evidence of lack of genuineness
when such divergence is part of a combination of character pointing
to a writer of a difference system of writing from that imitated. A slight
but persistent difference in slant in two writings of considerable
length, may be evidence difference might be the result of intended
disguise.

Proportion of letters as an individual characteristic or habit.

Quality of stroke or line quality- the line or stroke itself in writing

shows the quality of speed and continuity of motion with which it is
made, the degree of muscular skill employed in the operation, the
relation of the pen point to the surface of the paper, the nature of the
movement employed in making the stokes as shown by its force and
freedom or its hesitation.

Variation – there are trivial or superficial differences which can be

observed when any two genuine signature or writings are compared
with each other. These writings will differ somewhat in size as well as
in certain unimportant particulars in design and execution because of
 the fact that the human writing mechanism is not an entirely
accurate reproducing instrument like a stamp print but produces and
inevitable variation within a certain filed. The degree of this variation
varies with different writers.

B. SIGNATURE is a name or a mark that a person puts at the end of a

document to attest that he is its author or that he ratifies its contents. Many
persons who done a lot of writing transform their name. Letters become
simplified or condensed, complex movement appears. This is now a signature.
It is mark but this mark is now personal. It is personal combination of stroke
in which it is possible to recognize the writer.

1. A signature is a word most practiced by many people and therefore

most fluently written.

2. A signature is written with little attention to spelling and some other

details.

3. A signature is word written without conscious thought about the

mechanics of its production and is written automatically.

4. A signature is the only word the illiterate can write with confidence.

KINDS OF FORGERY SIGNATURES:

1. SIMPLE - Does not try to copy a model but writes with something
resembling we ordinarily call a signature. For this he used a false name
and makes a rapid stroke, disturbing his usual writing by adopting a
camouflage called disguise.

2. SIMULATED SIGNATURE - Free hand drawing in imitation of model

signature.

(a) Simulated with the model before the forger – He makes an effort
to obtain a reproduction of the model signature. He works
slowly, strokes after stroke.

 Direct technique – Forger works directly with ink

 Indirect techniques – Forger work first with pencil and
afterwards covers the pencil strokes with ink.

(b) Simulated free hand forgery – Used by forgers who have a

certain skill in writing. After some practice, the forger tries to
write a copy of the model quickly.
3. TRACED SIGNATURE - Tracing of a genuine signature outline.

TYPES OF TRACES:

(a) Carbon Process:

The forger places the document to be forged on the bottom, inter-

leave a piece of carbon and places on top a document containing the
genuine signature. The forger then traces over the genuine signature
with pencil, pen stylus, or other pointed instrument.

The pressure of this over-tracing against the carbon paper imprints

the signature outline in carbon on the bottom document. This type could
be easily detected by the smattering of carbon remnants on the forged
document.

(b) Indentation Process:

The document containing the model signature is placed on top of

the forged document. The forger traces with considerable pressure, over
the genuine signature using a pencil, pen stylus or similar instrument
and creates an indented signature outline on the document being forged.
Alter this depression outline is overwritten using pencil, or foundation
pen.

(c) Transmitted light process:

The document to be forged is placed on top of the document

containing the genuine signature.

C. PRINTED DOCUMENTS

 TYPEWRITERS can be traced to manufacturer and model by examining

the font.

- If the typewriter cannot be submitted , it will be necessary to get the

complete set of all characters at all settings of pressure. It is also
advisable to type the exact questioned document on the typewriter so the
examiner can make direct comparisons.

- If possible, the ribbon should also be submitted for examination.

  LASER PRINTER AND COPIERS, it is not necessary for the examiner to
have the printer or copier.

- An adequate number, at least a dozen, of exemplars are taken to show

the degree of consistency of the extraneous markings

- If there are no reproducible extraneous markings on the paper, and the

source of the copy is not known, chemical analysis and comparison of
the toners with known samples may be done.

 INK-JET PRINTERS, if there are no reproducible imperfections from the

printer, it may still be possible to pinpoint the printer manufacturer from
chemical analysis of ink, determining the class characteristics such as
font type to associate a document with a computer and printer.

 FAX MACHINES, other than ink analysis, some characteristics of fax

may be looked into, such as the Transmitting Terminal Identifier (TTI), a
special header that is usually on a special font different from the text
font that contains originating and recipient fax numbers, date and time.

D. DOCUMENT ALTERATIONS

I. OBLITERATIONS is the overwriting of a sample of writing or printing

with another writing instrument

- It may be accidental or deliberate

- The document examiner may be called upon to discover what is

contained in the writing beneath the obliteration.

II. ERASURES virtually involve disturbance of paper coatings and fibers

at the point of the erasure that can be seen with a low-power
microscope.

It may occur in a number of ways:

 Abrasive erasure – removing writing (usually that made with a

pencil) with an abrasive eraser material.

 Chemical erasure – involves dissolving or bleaching ink so that it

is no longer visible.
 III. INDENTED WRITINGS is when a document is written on the top
sheet of a pad paper using a writing instrument that exerts pressure
on the paper.

- The simplest and most popular method used to view indented

writings is with oblique lighting. If a light is directed across the
surface of the page at an angle, the indentations may cast enough
shadow on the paper to reveal the contents of the writing.

IV. CHARRED DOCUMENTS when the documents are recovered before

being completely destroyed, there is a chance that some of the writing
can be identified. Although the paper may become charred, the ink or
pencil may not char as easily.

- One of the problems with charred documents is that they are very
fragile. Sometimes they can be strengthened by misting them with a
lacquer or alcohol or water.

E. INK ANALYSIS

- This type of analysis has been aided by research into the composition of
inks that has led to the development of easier methods of characterizing
and comparing inks. Understanding the composition of an ink sample
and the chemical changes that it undergoes as it dries can be very
important in several types of document cases.

F. DOCUMENT DATING

- Document examiners are sometimes called upon to determine if the age

of a document is consistent with what it is purported to be.

Example: A situation in which some writing on a document is not written

at the time it is dated. The most common way of doing this is by
determining the age of the ink on the document.

The most common method used is to examine the chemical changes to

the ink as it dries. When ink dries, a number of chemical processes are
going on at the same time; for example, the solvent in the ink is
constantly evaporating. As this happens, some of the components of the
 ink may form polymers. In addition the dyes in the ink will change in
chemical composition over time.

FORENSIC DOCUMENTS: PNP QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

DIVISION

The Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory Group includes the
Questioned Document Examination Division (QDED), which aims to provide
scientific support in forms of documentary and testimonial evidence. Their
function to examine questioned documents specifically including:

 Handwriting examination – including hand lettering (such as

anonymous letters, ransom notes and suicide notes) and signatures
(such as those appearing in deeds of absolute sale, receipts, marriage
contracts and land titles)

 Imprint examination – including those produced by manual devices

(rubber stamps, dater stamps and some cancellation stamps),
mechanical devices, and electronic printing devices; also those produced
by the manufacture of counterfeits (currencies, negotiable instruments,
travel documents, licenses, and various credentials and identification
documents)

 Writing media examination – including instruments, inks and papers

 Dating examination – includes absolute determinations (e.g., dates of

introduction of products) and relative determination (e.g., erasures or
alterations), changes, insertions and substitution

 Examination of falsification and alterations – including removals,

changes, insertions and substitutions

 Examination of invisible, faded and obscured writings and

impressions of writings
  Examination of preternatural paper characteristics – including
tears, fasteners, cuts and perforations

 Miscellaneous examination – such as envelope tampering, adhesives,

laminations, typist’s characteristics and linguistics

 Conduct lectures to PNP, AFP and other government agencies

 Conduct field laboratory works – questioned document examiners are

sent to agencies or offices to conduct examination and to photograph
original documents that cannot be submitted to the PNP Crime
Laboratory

 Attend court duties

Document examinations performed by the PNP-QDED are based on written

requests from government agencies, private investigating agencies, court
orders, as well as private requesting parties. Table 1.0 shows the requirement
for the conduct of examination based on the PNP Citizen’s Charter.
 Table 1.0: Fees and Duration Reflect Rates as of October 2013

REFERENCES:

Alvarez, M.G. (2013). Forensic Examination on Questioned Documents.

 Novaliches, Quezon City: ChapterHouse Publishing Incorporated.

ASQDE, American Society of Questioned Document Examiners: History and

Background, ASQDE, 1990

Leaver, W. (2007). Forensic Laboratory Handbook: Procedures and Practice.

Mozayani, A. and Noziglia, C. (Eds.).Totowa, NJ: Human Press Inc.

Storer, W. (1997). Introduction to Forensic Sciences (2nd Edition). Eckert, W (Ed.).

New York, NY: CRC Press LLC

Questioned Document Examination. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://questioneddocuments101.weebly.com/history.html