GAPAN CITY COLLEGE

City Hall Compound, Bayanihan, Gapan City,

Nueva Ecija, Philippines 3105
Department of Criminal Justice
Education
Week 4 Module in
QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

Name: ______________________________________ Score: ___________/

Course, Year & Sec.: ___________________________ Date: ____________

INSTRUMENT AND APPARATUS USED IN QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

1. Magnifying Lens bank personnel and other people involved in currency examination usually use and
ordinary hand-lens; the maximum diameter of which is four inches and this appears big with its wide
frame it has magnifying power of two times the original only. Magnifying lenses of five times or more
magnifying power, with built in lighting are more useful.

2. Shadowgraph a pictorial image formed by casting a shadow, usually of the hands, upon a rightful
surface or screen.
3. Stereoscopic binocular microscope tri-dimensional (3D) enlargement is possible. A binocular or stereo
microscope is comfortable to use because there are two binocular eyepiece and the viewer focuses with
both eyes.

4. Measures and Test plates (transparent glass) those used for signatures and type writings.

5. Table Lamps with adjustable shades (Goose Neck Lamps) - used for illumination; needed in sidelight
examination where light is placed at a low-angle in a position oblique to plane or document.
 6. Transmitted Light Table An opaque or clear glass mounted to a frame wherein a strong light source is
installed underneath.

7. Ultraviolet Lamp this is used in the detection of counterfeited bills but can actually be used to detect
security features of qualified document.

8. Infrared Viewer - primarily used to decipher writings in charred document.

 9. Comparison microscope similar to that of the bullet comparison microscope. It allows side by side
simultaneous comparison of questioned and known under study.

10. Video Spectral Comparator (VCS) it is used in the examination of masked or obliterated text, watermarks,
visible fluorescence, paper fluorescence and oblique illumination of indented writing and embossing.

11. Electrostatic Detection analysis (ESDA) the device that can detect indention/indented writings can records
transparencies of any indention.
12. Handwriting Protractor - it is a special ruled protractor designed for the easy and accurate measuring of
the slant of writing.

TECHNIQUE IN THE EXAMINATION OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS;

A. Microscopic Examination any examination or study which is made with microscope in order to discover
minute physical details. Stereoscopic examination with low and power objectives is used to detect
retouching, patching and unnatural pen-lift in signature analysis. With proper angle and intensity or
illumination, it aids in decipherment of erasures, some minute manipulations not perfectly pictured to the
unaided eye the sequence of entries done by different writing instrument.
B. Transmitted Light Examination in this examination, the document is viewed with the source of
illumination behind it and the light passing through the paper. Documents are subjected to this type of
examination to determine the presence of erasures, matching of serrations and some other types of
alteration.

C. Oblique Light Examination an examination with the illumination so controlled that it grazes or strikes the
surface of the document from one side at every low angle. Decipherment of faded handwriting,
determination of outlines in traced forgery, embossed impressions, etc are subjected to this of examination.

D. Photographic examination this type of examination is very essential in every document examination.
Actual observations are recorded in the photograph.
E. Ultra-violet Examination - This type of examination is done in a darkroom after the lamp has been warned
up in order to give a maximum output of the ultra violet light. Exposure to the ultra violet light should be the
minimum duration in order to avoid fading of some writing ink and typewriter ribbon. Mechanical and chemical
erasures will certainly change the reflectivity and fluorescence of the area affected.

F. Infrared Examination the examination of documents employs invisible radiation beyond the red portion of
the visible spectrum (rainbow) which is usually recorded on a specially sensitized photographic emulsion.

In this instance a letter written with pen and ink also suffered water damage to the point that it was quite
illegible. By photographing it with the light transmitted by the blue-green infrared blocking filter the residual
ink in the paper fluoresced in the infrared and this was recorded by the camera looking at the document through
a visually opaque Wraten 87 filter. While not exactly easy to read this is mostly due to the handwriting
character or style and not so much to the fact textual information was lost.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

Purposes and Photographs in QDE:

1. Serve as a record of the initial condition of a disputed document;

2. Make clear what otherwise may be hidden or indistinct;

3. Enlarge writing in question so that every quality and characteristics of it can be clearly and properly
interpreted whether the facts so shown point to genuineness or to forgery;

4. Enable many number of accurate reproduction of document thus affording unlimited opportunity for study,
comparison and evaluation by any number of examiners, which the document alone; would not be possible by
using

5. Allow cutting apart as may be desired and the various parts classified for comparisons:

6. Can show delicate discolorations due to chemical erasures or other fraudulent changes, which may otherwise
be overlooked, or misinterpreted:

7. Can show very clearly any erasures by abrasions made by ordinary rubber eraser and it can record in
permanent form with the paper placed obliquely to the plane of the lens and plate and inclined at just right of
reflection so as to show differences in the reflected light from different portions of the paper surface; and

8. With transmitted light, photograph is useful in:

 Examination of watermarks

 Determining the identity or the differences in paper by showing arrangement of the fibers and the
markings of the gauze and dandy roll.

 Showing the continuity of strokes and

 Determining retouching or patching of writing by showing clearly the presence of added ink film and the
uneven distribution of ink in interrupted.

MISCELLANEOUS EXAMINATIONS

A. Erasures one of the common inquiries in questioned document is whether or not an erasures was actually
made on a document. In cases like this, the following examination are made:
 a. Physical inspection: using ultraviolet light, observation with light striking the surface at a sharp
angle, and observation under the microscope maybe considered.

b. Fuming with iodine may cause an almost negligible stain, but in most instances not the slightest
semblance of a stain remains.

B. Indented writing usually applied to the partially visible depressions appearing on a sheet of paper
underneath the one which the visible writing appears. These depressions or indentation are due to application of
pressure on the writing instrument and would appear as a carbon copy if a sheet of a carbon paper had been
properly inserted. Indentation may also appear on a blank sheet of paper. If such is used as a backing sheet
while typing out a message on a typewriter. Methods of examination are:

a. Physic methods maybe used by passing a strong beam of nearly parallel light almost horizontally over
the surface of the paper.

b. Fuming the document maybe of values in some cases.

c. Powders of various kinds maybe used without changing the document.

C. Burned or charred paper - a piece of paper maybe subjected to the action of a limited amount of heat
causing it to become scorched and retaining a certain amount of its identity or it may be subjected to intense
heat, reducing it to ashes and losing identity. However, if the combustion is incomplete, a certain amount of
success maybe realized provided the pieces are large enough to form a coherent message. Of primary
importance is the proper packing and shipping of this type of the following methods maybe applied to decipher
the original message contained thereon:

a. Photographic methods, using various types of filters and different angles of illumination may
determine the writing contained thereon without changing the appearance of the charred
fragments.

b. Chemical methods, such as spraying, painting, or bathing charred pieces with solutions of
different chemical reagents.

c. Photographic plates maybe utilized by allowing the charred paper to remain in contact with the
emulsion sides in total darkness from one to two weeks.

D. Adding Machines the construction of an adding machine differs greatly from the typewriter but the methods
and principles of identification are related. Manufactures use different types of numerals and from time to time
change their design. The spacing between columns is also not standardized for all machines. Those factors form
the basis of determining the "make" of the machine and for estimating the period in which it was built. Another
kind approach is the ribbon impression, for the ribbon is made and operates very similarly to the typewriter.

HANDLING OF DOCUMENTS AND QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS

A. THE CARE OF DISPUTED DOCUMENTS AND DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE

1. It is basic requirement, that when a document becomes disputed and deposited in court or with the attorney,
in order to maintain its original condition, it should be kept unfolded and in a separate, proper size envelope or
folder. This is true not only for the disputed documents, but for many other important documentary evidence.

2. It is also advisable that right after the document becomes disputed or questioned, it is important to make not
only the usual photo static copy (Xerox), but also a proper photograph or photo-enlargement, if possible by the
document examiner or under the supervision of the document expert.

3. When working in the preparation of the case, if it is often necessary for the lawyer or court to handle
repeatedly the disputed document. Should this be necessary, instead of handling and working with the original
document, the photograph should be used.

4. Every touching, folding, refolding or pointing to certain parts of a document, can change the physical
condition of the case. For example, touching with wet hands or fingers can create smearing in the ink; pointing
with pencil can leave marks that create a suspicion of previous pencil marks, or experiment as proof of
attempted forgery.

5. Pointing a document with any other instruments, such as sharp stick, cause slight damage which although it
cannot be seen by the naked eye, can show definite marks under the microscope or on the enlarge photograph.

6. No test should be made to alter the conditions of the document; for example, the old- fashioned ink test,
which was used to determine the age of the ink-writing.

7. Should any test be necessary, insist that it should be done in the presence of chemist or in court or in front of
both parties involved the case.

B. DO's and DON'T's in the Care, handling and preservation of document

1. DO's

I. Take disputed papers to document examiner's laboratory at the first opportunity.

II. If the storage is necessary, keep in dry place away from excessive heat strong light.

III. Maintain in consequential document, unfolded and in transparent plastic envelop or evidence preserver.

2. DONT's"

I. Do not underscore, make careless markings, fold, erase, impress rubber stamps, sticker, write on, or
otherwise alter any handwriting.

II. Do not smear with fingerprint powder or chemicals.

 III. Do not carry handwriting document carelessly in wallet, notebook or brief case on ground of
interviews.

IV. Do not handle disputed papers excessively or carry then in pocket for a long time.

V. Do not marked disputed documents (either by consciously writing instruments or dividers)

VI. Do not mutilate or damage by repeated refolding, creasing, cutting, tearing or punching for filing
purposes.

VII. Do not allow anyone except qualified specialist to make chemical or other tests; do not treat or dust for
talent fingerprints before consulting a document examiner.

C. HANDLING CHARRED DOCUMENT

1. Those extremely fragile must be handled as little as possible and transporting them to the laboratory requires
extraordinary care. With forethought and caution they can be brought from the distant fire scene to the
laboratory.

2. They should be moved in the container in which they are found whenever possible. When the fragments are
not packed tightly, they should be padded with lightweight absorbent cotton. If jarring cannot be entirely
eliminated jarring box must be kept minimum.

3. Thus every precaution must be taken in handling and transporting the charred residue in order to prevent the
large pieces from becomingly unnecessarily and badly broken. The fragment must be held firmly without
crushing and prevent movement or shifting when finally packed in a sturdy container.

References:
M.G. ALVAREZ FORENSIC EXAMINATION OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENT (THIRD EDITION)
CHAPTERHOUSE PUBLISHING INC.
Richard T. Camara, Ph. D. (2016). Questioned Document Examination, An Instructional Material for
Criminology Students with Laboratory Manual
PREPARED BY:

Ron Reynan F Esguerra, RCrim

Instructor