pp11

Chapter 11
Document Evidence
Crime Scene Investigation and Reconstruction, Third Edition
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved.
The Document Examiner
 Compares individual characteristics in
the questioned document’s writings
with the same letters and letter
combination in known writings or
requested exemplar writings executed
by the suspected author of the writings
Crime Scene Investigation and Reconstruction, Third Edition 11- © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
Ogle 2 All Rights Reserved.
The Document Examiner
 Once a sufficient number of individual
characteristics are found to “match”, the
examiner concludes that the questioned
writings were executed by the same
individual who executed the known or
exemplar writings
“Questioned” Documents
 Refers to the unknown or unverified
source of a document’s writing or
signature
 In the case of a typewritten document,
refers to identifying the typewriter that
executed the typing on the document
Functions of the Document
Examiner
 Handwriting comparisons
 Typewriting comparisons
 Examinations of photocopiers, printers,
and fax machines
 Alterations, erasures, and obliterations
Functions of the Document
Examiner
 Indented writings
 Ink examinations and comparisons
 Identification of document paper
composition and manufacturer
 Identification of the source of a torn
paper
Handwriting Comparisons
 Frequent task of a document examiner is
to identify the individual who prepared
the writing
 Examinations rely on the well-established
knowledge that an individual’s
handwriting is unique due to:
 Development of individual characteristics in
an individual’s handwriting
 The document examiner compares
these individualizing characteristics in
the questioned document’s writings
with the same letters and letter
combination in:
 Known writings
 Handwriting exemplars by the suspected
author of the writings
 Handwriting exemplars by the suspected author
of the writings
 Exemplars are usually supplied by the crime lab
document examiners and distributed to police
departments
 Exemplars are completed either:
 With the consent of the person completing them
 With a warrant or subpoena forcing the subject to
complete the booklet (exemplar)
Typewriting Comparisons
 Purpose is to identify the make and
model of the typewriter
 This investigative information allows the
investigator to prepare a search warrant
to seize any typewriter of the same make
and model in possession of a suspect
 Once the suspect typewriter is in hand,
the examiner prepares exemplar
typewriting with the typewriter for
comparison with the typewriting on the
questioned document.
 Barring exceptional circumstances, the
document examiner is able to identify or
exclude the typewriter as the source of
the questioned typewriting
 The identification of typewriters is
complicated by the use of letter “balls”
or “wheels,” which are easily exchanged
in the machine
Examinations of Photocopiers,
Printers, and Fax Machines
 The usage of these machines develop
imperfections in the printed document
 The document examiner may still
identify the make and model of the
machine and in some cases, the
individual machine
Examinations of Photocopiers,
Printers, and Fax Machines
 In many cases, imperfections are time
dependent
 Additional usage may obliterate some of
the characteristics
 Time may add new characteristics to
subsequent printings
Alterations, Erasures, and
Obliterations
 Document examiners are frequently
required to determine whether portions
of a document have been altered as
part of a criminal act
 The document examiner utilizes a
variety of techniques to discern
alterations to a document
Obliterations
 Investigative techniques include:
 Microscopy of the altered area and exposure
to blue-green light, which creates infrared
luminescence in the inks
 The infrared luminescence from different
inks differs visibly, so that the document
examiner is able to establish that an
alteration has occurred
Obliterations
 Erasures are determined through:
 Microscopic examination
 Examination with ultraviolet (UV) light
 Infrared (IR) light
 High-contrast photography
 Examination for indentations
Indented Writings
 When an individual writes on a sheet of
paper that has an underlying sheet of
paper, the underlying sheet often bears
an impression of the writing
Indented Writings
 The document examiner may use:
 Oblique lighting to illustrate the indented
writing
 Electrostatic machines that preferentially
attach carbon particles to the writing, thus
making the writing visible.
Ink Examinations and
Comparisons
 To determine whether more than one
writing instrument was used to execute
a document in cases involving
suspected alterations to the document
Ink Examinations and
Comparisons
 The inks are compared with a process
called thin layer chromatography (TLC)
and/or with an instrument called a visible
microspectrophotometer
 The inks may also be compared with high
performance liquid chromatography
(HPLC)
Identification of Document Paper
Composition and Manufacturer
 The chemical composition of papers can
be analyzed with instrumental
techniques
 Identifies the trace chemical elements in
the paper that are components of the raw
materials used in manufacture of the paper
 Few manufacturers will produce paper with
identical trace element composition
Identification of the Source of
a Torn Paper
 When a document is torn in half (or into
smaller pieces):
 Determine that the pieces of paper were
part of the same document
 Compare the characteristics of the torn
edges
 Involves the matching of the torn edges
“jigsaw puzzle” fashion
Identification of the Source of
a Torn Paper
 Essentially the same manner as for
other types of physical matching
evidence
 Typically, the examiner is able to state
unequivocally that the pieces of paper
originated from the same document
(individualization)
Precautions for Handling
Questioned Document Evidence
 Do not fold, cut, or tear the document
 Do not mark or write on the document
 Do not paperclip, staple, or punch holes
in the document
 Do not process for latent fingerprints
until after the document examination
Latent Fingerprints
 Most latents on documents are invisible and
need to be developed with chemicals
 Latents will last a long time on documents
because the deposit has soaked into the
paper
 Use gloves to handle the evidence
 Place document in a plastic document
holder to avoid folding the document
Charred Documents
 In the case of charred documents, the
fragments must be handled as carefully
as possible
 Packed in a cardboard box
 Use a cushioning material such as cotton
or static-free bubble packing material
Exemplar Writings
 Are examples of an individual’s writing
used to compare with the writing in the
questioned document
 These samples should contain the
words, phrases, and letter combinations
found in the questioned document
Exemplar Writings
 This type of writing depends on the
cooperation of the suspect
 Often the suspect will attempt to
disguise their writing
 The examiner may then require known
writings executed by the suspect in the
course of everyday business
Packaging
 Questioned documents should be placed
in plastic document covers that will
protect the contents from latent
fingerprint deposition, accidental tears,
folding, and contamination
 It is best to use commercially available
covers designed specifically for this
purpose
QUESTIONS?

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Chapter 11

Crime Scene Investigation and Reconstruction, Third Edition

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

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