forensics unit 2

identification

a definitive determination of authorship or source

is handwriting individual or class?

individual

counterfeit

the production of an imitation of currency, artwork, documents, and name-brand knock-off items for the purpose of deception

fraudulence

when a material gain accompanies a forgery

code

whole words or phrases are replaced by a letter or number

3 main principles of handwriting examination

1. given a sufficient amount of handwriting, no two skilled writers exhibit identical handwriting features 2. every person has a range of natural variation to his or her writing 3. no writer can exceed his or her skill level

12 major characteristics of handwriting

1. line quality 2. spacing 3. size consistency 4. continuous 5. connecting letters 6. lettering complete 7. cursive and printed letters 8. pen pressure 9. slant 10. line habits 11. fancy curls or loops 12. placement of crosses on t's and dots on i's

How many possible keys are there with the Caesar Shift Cipher?

25

scytale in Ancient Greece

Sparta was a city in Ancient Greece; famous for it's strict military training and its powerful army; the scytale was the fist ever military cryptographic device, it didn't use a pencil, used a stick called a 'scytale'; spartans would wrap a leather belt around the scytale, write the message on from left to right, unwrap the belt and message would be all jumbled up

elimination

a definitive determination of non-authorship or from another source

exemplar

a known sample of the suspect's writing, which can be compared to the questioned document

forgery

a process used by criminals to make, alter, or falsify a person's signature or a document with the intent to deceive another person

luhn algorithm/formula

a simple checksum formula used to validate a variety of identification numbers, such as credit card numbers, IMEI numbers

the enigma

a typewriter device that used rotors that were set to a combination which encrypted a plain text message to a pattern of letters, it could be set many different ways, studied by Polish scientists; used in the battle of midway, the battle of the atlantic, and more

alterations

adding or changing words, dates, and numbers

touch sensitive technologies

allow dynamic characteristics, show how the signature was made

what does a VSC detect

alterations, obliterations, erasures and page substitutions

questioned document

any signature, handwriting, typewriting, or other written mark whose source or authenticity is in dispute or uncertain

simulation forgery

attempt to copy a signature or handwriting sample from a genuine article by trying to imitate the handwriting of the original

disguised writing

attempting to alter writing so it cannot be traced back (ex. ransom note or threat)

obliterations

burning, bleaching, or using a laser to get rid of a document

most commonly forged document

checks

examples of questioned documents

checks, birth certificates, licenses, passports, titles, deeds, wills, contracts, money, lottery tickets, suicide or ransom notes, medical records and receipts

examples of forgery

checks, employment records, legal agreements, licenses, wills, artwork, autographs on sports memorabilia

ciphertext

coded english

common counterfeited items

currency, traveler's checks, food stamps, bonds, postage stamps, and birth certificates.

scytale activity

decipher a message on a strip of paper by wrapping it around a pencil, used by the Spartans in Ancient Greece 2500 years ago

chromatography

determining individual dye components; used for separating mixtures, it involves a small cutting from the questioned document being dissolved in a solvent then analyzed

albert s. osborn

developed principles of document examination

what did the american law institute do?

developed the standard definition and elements related to the crime of forgery

scientific working group for forensic document examination (SWGDOC)

develops and publishes standards and guidelines for the field of forensic document examination

4 ways to alter

erasures, obliterations, alterations, and overwriting

qualified conclusions

fall somewhere in between the definitive conclusions of identification or elimination

forensic document examiners

forensic scientists who are responsible for using a number of scientific processes and methods for examining documents (handwriting experts)

what else do experts look at when it comes to handwriting?

formatting, such as the margins a writer leaves empty on the page

what is ideal for the passing of fraudulent checks and counterfeit money?

gatherings of large numbers of people

example of distortion or disguised writing

graffiti, cannot be compared to a suspect's normal handwriting

insufficient quality

if the quality of either the questioned document or the known samples is not sufficient for proper examination, the examiner will likely be unable to render a definitive conclusion

insufficient quantity

if there is not enough material for an adequate examination, the examiner will most likely be unable to render a definitive conclusion

how well does an EDD work?

indented impressions have been recovered from up to seven layers of paper beneath the original writings, and research has demonstrated that impressions can be successfully visualized from documents up to 60 years old as long as the papers are not mishandled or stored improperly

cipher

individual letters are replaced with other letters or symbols

cross-cut method of shredder

keeps documents safer from identity theft than regular strip cutting, best for confidential documents and prevents you from emptying the bin as often

literary documents

letters from famous world figures, scientists, and authors

forensic information system for handwriting (FISH)

maintained by the U.S. Secret Service, this database enables document examiners to scan and digitize text writings such as threatening correspondence

international ink library

maintained jointly by the U.S. Secret Service and the Internal Revenue Service, includes more than 9,500 inks, dating from the 1920s

plaintext

normal english

difficulties in handwriting analysis can occur when

not enough known samples to use for a comparison, questioned writing contains only a few words, writing is deliberately disguised, drugs or alcohol alter writing habits

overwriting

overwrites a portion of the document, for example changing a 4 to a 9

tracing forgery

placing a new document over the original and tracing it

biometric signature pads

programmed to evaluate the speed, pressure, and rhythm of a person's signature and are able to recognize how a person writes so that it can easily detect differences and recognize forgeries

federal forgery statute

prohibited false making, forgery, or altering any writings for the purpose of financial gain

questioned documents unit (QDU)

provides forensic support to the FBI and federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies by conducting forensic examinations on evidence collected during an investigation; performs 25 different types of exams—all without tainting or destroying evidence

difference between regular paper and paper currency

regular printer paper contains starch, paper currency contains rag fiber instead of starch; they feel different to help identify counterfeit currency

alteration

removing, adding, or changing a portion of the original

ways to help eliminate deception in handwriting analysis

require several pages of writing, write from dictation, do not show the suspect the questioned document or give direction on spelling or punctuation, write the desired text at least three times, combine signature with other writing

electrostatic detection devices (EDD)

reveals text from indented impressions; uses the principle that indented areas of a document carry less negative charge than surrounding areas which causes the toner used in the EDD to be attracted to these areas, revealing indentations that are present

what is true of scytales?

scytales must be the same size (circumference) to be able to decipher a message

video spectral comparator (VSC)

sed to analyze inks and see whether they are the same or different

major factors influencing handwriting

size of fingers, hands, arms, muscular makeup, education, style and personality

non-original evidence

such as photocopies or faxes, every time a document is subjected to a copying process, a small amount of information is lost

document analysis

the examination and comparison of questioned documents with known material

graphology

the pseudo-science involved in producing a personality profile of the writer by examining the characteristics, traits and strokes of an individual's handwriting, it is NOT done by forensic examiners

what was created to suppress counterfeiting, and protect the president?

the secret service

credit card fraud

theft of cards or numbers

identity fraud

theft of social security cards and numbers, driver's license, birth certificate, etc

what did the US court of appeals decide in 1999?

they decided that handwriting analysis does qualify as a form of expert testimony; as a result, handwriting evidence is admissible in court as long as scientifically accepted guidelines are followed

code breaking tips

think of common letters, one letter words, common words, double letters, clues

what is the punishment for counterfeiting US currency?

up to 15 years in prison

non-destructive techniques

use light and/or electrostatic detection to examine documents for indented impression evidence or ink differentiation

Mary Queen of Scots and the Babington Plot

used by Mary Queen of Scots 500 years ago to kill her cousin Elizabeth who was the heir to the throne, in 1586 she was sending messages out of prison writing to Anthony Babington and together they were plotting to kill Elizabeth. Mary was writing in CODE, in case her messages were captured

thin layered chromatography

used to separate and leave a unique pattern for each ink for identification

infrared resistance

used to show the residue of pencil marks

erasures

using an eraser, knife, sandpaper, or sharp tool to erase part of a document (most common way to alter)

requested writing specimens

writings dictated by the investigator to the writer, used primarily when collected writing specimens are not readily available

collected writing specimens

writings that were completed by the subject prior to the investigation

freehand forgery

written with no knowledge of the appearance of the original; usually someone just writing and trying to pass it off as something else