Nature of Questioned Document

Module No. 1
Total Study Hours: 6hrs
Module Writer: PROF. RIZALINO D. FLORES III
Registered Criminologist
Master of Arts in Criminology

Module and Learning Facilitator Contacts: FB Messanger: Rizalino Flores

rizalinoflores3@gmail.com

Module Learning Outcomes:

• Apply Locard’s Exchange Principle in the concept of forensic document examination

• Identify the role of forensic document examination in crime detection and administration of
justice
• Recognize the expertise of document examiner, handwriting expert and grapho – analyst
• Specify the significant contributions of forensic document examination proponents
• Trace the evolution of documents and the role it plays to man’s life

CONTENT

Introduction

• “Document” is an inseparable part of man’s life. Literally, from womb to tomb. It is define as
“any material, which contains, marks, symbol or sign either visible, partially visible that may
presently or ultimately convey meaning or message to someone”. It may come in many forms
such as digital/electronic or the traditional one like those printed or written on papers.
• Document serves as reliable and valid recordings of man’s professional and personal affairs. The
identity of a person is established and his possessions are secured through documents. This
heavy reliance and dependency have attracted criminal minded personalities to take advantage
and make profits from documents. Hence giving birth to crimes such as forgery, counterfeiting
and falsifications

The “Locard Exchange Principle”

• It was Locard’s belief that when a criminal came in contact with an object or person, a cross –
transfer of evidence occurred.
• By analogy, if a person performed a crime on a document, traces of the commission might have
been left for a “criminalist” to examine, discover and analyze. In the case of questioned
document examinations such criminalist is the “document examiner”.

Note: Criminalist is a man trained in the science of application of instruments and methods to the detection of crime

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The Document Examiner

• Studies scientifically the details and elements of document in order to identify their source or
discover other facts concerning them (an expert witness who by virtue of his knowledge,
qualifications, trainings and skills were allowed by the court to provide opinion on matters
covering his specialization).

Questioned Document

• Any documents about which some issue has been raised or which is under scrutiny

Graphologist/Grapho – analyst

• Examines handwriting and interpret the character and personality of the writer by the traits left
behind in the written line.

History of Documents and Scientific Document Examination

• Development of Writing System

➢ The desire to produce documents can be traced back at the time man learned to
communicate. It was believed to begin or evolved from verbal communication. To preserve
culture and traditions, common rituals and stories are passed - on from one generation to
another. Verbal communications were later transformed to visual forms through crude
drawings called “Pictographs” which can be considered as pre – historic version of
documents. Consistency in the usage of signs and images had later evolved into “codified
system of standard symbols” or “ideographs” from which signs and symbols were given
“agreed” meanings or ideas (ex. Cuneiforms of Summerians and Heliographs of Egyptians).
Combining ideographs can be a systematic way of expressing thoughts through written
record. From these the “formal writing” has begun.

• Development of Writing surface

➢ The following are the materials used as writing surfaces throughout the history

o Petrograms – Written or printed on the surface of the rock

o Parchment – Skin of animals like sheep, calves and goats
o Papyrus – Obtained from the plant Cyperus Papyrus that are commonly found in
Egypt, Palestine and Syria. It is where the word “paper” was derived
o Paper – Obtained from wood pulp, the substance that is left after the liquid has
been squeezed from the wood chips, done by the action of calcium sulphite

• Development of Writing Instrument

➢ Pen is a handheld instrument used to apply ink in the writing surface. The first ink is Indian
Ink or Carbon Ink.
➢ The following are the various instruments used as pen
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 o Reeds – Used by Egyptians, made from hollow piece of bamboo
o Rat’s Hair – Used by the Chinese
o Metal Styli – Used by the Greeks
o Quill Pen – Made from feather of goose and swan
o Steel Nibs – Those equipped with metal pen points
o Fountain Pen – Those equipped with ink reservoir. Its creation is credited to Lewis
Waterman
o Ball Point Pen – Designed by John H. Loud while Lazlo Biro created a ball point pen
that wrote easily on paper.
o Pencil – Those that uses lead substance as its ink

• Development of Science of Handwriting Identification

➢ Earliest law that gives reference to application of science of questioned document

examination to court litigation is the Code of Justinian (539 AD), in the Roman law. It allows
the comparison of Handwriting both on public and private instrument. The Code likewise
requires experts to be sworn.
➢ The development of forensic document examination both in the professional and legal field
is largely due to the efforts of an American named Albert S. Osborn and an Englishman
Wilson Harrison. Their books “Questioned Documents” and “Suspects Documents” is still
considered as definitive works on the subject.
➢ Ordway Hilton emphasizes the scientific nature of document examination in his book
“Scientific Examination of Document”. He further stresses that a document examiner must
be a “scientist” and trained in the discovery of facts.

Online Study Support

MUST Watch!

History of the Questioned Document Examination and Classification of Documents

BY: Vidya-mitra
https://youtu.be/AxubbuQJ9Lu

The History of Writing - Where the Story Begins – Extra History

BY: Extra Credits
https://youtu.be/HyjLt_RGEww

The History of Writing

BY: Museum of the Bible
https://youtu.be/z3TKNR0kUAk

History of Paper
BY: Roving Eyes
https://youtu.be/dT4FwLaYD6k
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History of Pen
Sutasinee Fongsakorn
htpps://youtu.be/gnUbzg0PxsY

Note: If the given link is not properly working, please search according to title and author/source

Assessment Methods

1. Recitation
2. 15 item quiz

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