Questioned Documents Notes

What is an exemplar?

A standard document of known origin and authorship used in an analysis.

What is statement analysis?

An analysis of a declaration that only indicates whether the person is being truthful or deceptive

What is special about how a document expert analyzes a document?

Analyzes handwriting and other features in a document

What qualifies as a questioned document and list some examples?

Any signature, handwriting, typewriting, or other written mark whose source or authenticity is in dispute or uncertain. Checks, certificates, wills, passports, licenses, letters, etc.

Discuss 3 technologies used in handwriting analysis.

Biometric Signature Pads- "Learns" to recognize how a person signs, evaluates speed, pressure, and rhythm of the signature. Computerized Analysis- Compares handwriting samples objectively, compared with samples stored in databases. Forensic Information System for Handwriting- Documents are scanned and reviewed electronically, System has verified that no two writers pen their words exactly the same, nor do they have the same combination of handwriting characteristics.

Describe different types of documents that people commonly forge.

Checks, employment records, legal agreements, licenses, wills

Describe methods used by banks to try to prevent check forgery

Chemically sensitive paper, large font size requires more ink and makes alterations more difficult, mulitple color patterns, etc.

List several types of documents that people have tried to produce counterfeit copies

Currency, traveler's checks, food stamps, certain bonds, and postage stamps

What is document Analysis?

Examination and comparison of questioned documents with known material

What are the 3 steps to a handwriting analysis?

Examine the questionable document for detectable traits are record them, obtain a known sample of the suspect's writing, and compare and draw conclusions about the authorship of the questionable document

Define the term counterfeiting

False document or other items are copied for the purpose of deception

Discuss counterfeiting of money: What type of crime is this considered?

Forgery

Explain the term literary forgery.

Forgery of a piece of writing, such as a historic letter or manuscript

How does fraudulence differ from forgery?

Fraudulence is for material gain, forgery is to deceive people

Discuss methods used to alter paper or ink to make it appear like a much older document.

Inks mixed from substances that would have been sued at the time, watermarks that add appearance of age, tools and style that would have been popular at the time chemically treated materials to fake an older look, etc.

List the 12 major handwriting traits

Line Quality, Spacing, Size consistency, Continuous, Connecting Letters, Letters complete, Cursive and printed letters, Pen pressure, Slant, Line habits, Fancy curls or loops, Placement of crosses on t's and dots on I's

Describe a famous case where someone has attempted literary forgery

Mark Hoffman-forged documents, coins, and bank notes. Crated 116 pages of a supposedly lost Mormon Document; sold for a fortune to Mormon collector. Also forged work attributed to Emily Dickinson, Abraham Lincoln, and Mark Twain. Caught after trying to forge another Mormon document when a bomb detonated in his car.

Describe ways people have tried to alter checks

Ordering another's checks from a deposit slip, altering a check, intercepting another's check, altering, and cashing it, and creating a check from scratch

Describe some of the criteria for detecting counterfeit money in the US paper currency

Portrait stands out and appears raised off the paper, contains clear red and blue fibers woven throughout the bill, has clear, distinct border edges, treasury seal is shown with clear, sharp saw-tooth points, watermark appears on the right side of the bill in the light, etc.

What is forgery?

Process used by criminals to make, alter, or falsify with intent to deceive another

Explain why authentic paper currency will not react with a counterfeit pen

Real money doesn't have starch that reacts with iodine

Describe why scanning of paper money does not produce authentic-looking paper currency.

Regular printer paper contains starch, paper currency contains a rag fiber instead or starch and do not contain the starches that react with iodine

What government agency is responsible for handling counterfeiting?

Secret Service

What is a graphologist and what do they primarily study?

Studies the personality of the writer based on handwriting samples

What special event in the history of document analysis occurred in 1999?

The US Court of Appeals determined that handwriting analysis qualifies as a form of expert testimony

How can you tell if two writings came from the same person?

Their similarities are unique and no unexplainable differences

What is the goal of a forensic handwriting analysis?

To answer questions about a suspicious document and determine authorship

Describe how a "counterfeit pen" is used to detect counterfeit money. Include in your answer: What chemical reaction occurs?

When the pen is used to mark genuine bills, the mark is yellowish or colorless