URDANETA CITY

UNIVERSITY
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL
JUSTICE EDUCATION

COURSE TITLE: FORENSIC 4 - QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

MODULE 2:

TOPIC: DOCUMENTS AND QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

TERMS TO PONDER

 Addition/ Insertion or Interlineations

It is any matter made a part of the document after its original preparation may be referred to as add.

The term insertion and interlineations includes the addition of writing and other material between lines or
paragraphs or the addition of whole page to the document.

 Conclusion

A scientific conclusion results from relating observed facts by logical, common sense reasoning in
accordance with established rules or laws. The document examiner's conclusion, in legal terms is referred
to as “opinion”.

 Document Examiner

He is the one who studies scientifically the details and elements of documents in order to identify their
source or to discover other facts concerning them. Document examiners are often referred to as
handwriting identification experts.

 Erasure

The removal of writings, typewriting or printing, from a document is an erasure. It may be accomplished by
either of two means. A chemical eradication in which the writing is removed or bleached by chemical
agents; and an abrasive erasure or mechanical erasure is where the writing is effaced by rubbing with a
rubber eraser or scratching out with a knife or other sharp with implement.

 Examination

Questioned Document Examination

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It is the act of making a close and critical study of any material with questioned documents; it is the process
necessary to discover the facts about them. Various types are undertaken, including microscopic, visual
photographic, chemical, ultra-violet and infra-red examination.

 Expert Witness

It is a legal term used to describe a witness who by reason of his special training or experience is permitted
to express an opinion regarding the issue, or a certain aspect of the issue, which is involved in the court of
action. The purpose is to interpret technical information in his particular specialty in order to assist the
court in administering the justice. The document examiner testifies in court as an expert witness.

 Handwriting Identification Expert

A common name for the document examiner.

 Identification (identity)

As used in this text, it is the state of being identical or absolutely the same as in similarity of source or
authorship of the questioned document and the standard document.

 Non-Identification (non-identity)

As used in this text, it means the source or authorship of the compared questioned and standard specimens
is different.

 Obliteration

It is the blotting out or shearing over the writing to make the original invisible.

 Opinion

In legal language, it refers to the document examiner’s conclusion.

 Qualification

It is known as the professional experience, education and ability of a document examiner. Before he is
permitted to testify as an expert witness, the court must rule that he is qualified in his field.

FORENSIC DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

The American Board of forensic document Examiners defines it as the practice of the application
of scientific document examination to the purposes of law usually called questioned documents
examination.

Questioned Document Examination

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Examinations Conducted

 Handwriting and signature comparison

 Detection of alterations, deletions and substitutions
 Mechanical and electronic impressions comparison
 Detection of counterfeits
 Decipherment of obliterated texts
 Examination of water-soaked, charred, stained, or torn documents
 Ink and paper comparison
 Determination of sequence of entry
 Detection and analysis of indented and other accidental writings
 Age of documents

PNP Questioned Document Examination Division

The PNP Questioned Document Examination Division is under the PNP Crime Laboratory Group
which aims to provide scientific support in forms of documentary and testimonial evidence. Their
function includes:

1. Handwriting Examination

It includes examination of hand lettering and signatures.

2. Imprint Examination

It is produced by manual devices, mechanical devices, electronic printing devices and those
produced by the manufacture of counterfeits.

3. Writing Media Examination

It includes instruments, inks, and papers

4. Dating Examinations

Include absolute determination and relative determination, changes, insertions and substitutions.

5. Examination of falsification and alterations

Include removals, changes, insertions and substitutions

6. Examination of invisible, faded, obscured and impressions of writings

Questioned Document Examination

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JUSTICE EDUCATION

7. Examination of preternatural paper characteristics

Includes tears, fasteners, cuts and perforations

8. Miscellaneous examinations

It includes envelope tampering, adhesives, laminations, typist’s characteristics, and linguistics.

9. Conduct lectures to PNP, AFP and other government agencies

10. Conduct field laboratory works

It is when questioned documents cannot be submitted to laboratory including photographing of

original documents.

11. Attend court duties

DIVISION OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

A. Criminalistics Examination

This involves the detection of forgery, erasure, alteration or obliteration of documents. The criminalistics
examination of documents similar to other kinds of laboratory works.

Dr. Wilson Harrison, a noted British Examiner of questioned documents said that an intelligent police
investigator can detect almost 75% of all forgeries by careful inspection of a document with simple
magnifiers and measuring tools.

B. Handwriting Investigation/Analysis

This is more focused in determining the author of the writing. It is more difficult procedure and requires
long study and experience.

FORMS/ASPECTS (SUBJECTS) OF
QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

A. Handwriting Examination (Graphology/Graphoanalysis)

a. Examination of signatures and initials.
b. Examination of anonymous letters.
c. Hand printing examination.

B. Examination of Type writings and Type prints

C. Examination of Inks

D. Examination of erasures, alterations or obliterations

a. Detection of alterations
b. Decipherment of erased writings

Questioned Document Examination

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JUSTICE EDUCATION

c. Restoration of obliterated writings

E. Counterfeiting
a. Examination of currency bills and coins and the like
b. Examination of fake documents

F. Miscellaneous aspects
a. Determination of the age of documents
b. Identification of stamps
c. Examinations of seal and other authenticating devices

Areas of Specialization Related to Questioned Document Examination

 Questioned Document Examiner

He analyzes any forms of questioned documents and is capable more than just questions of authorship and
has access and knowledge in using various laboratory equipment.

 Historical Dating

vIt pertains to the Verification of age and worth of objects including documents, sometimes done by a
document examiner.

 Fraud Investigator

It often overlaps with that of document examiner but focuses more on the money trail and criminal intent.

 Paper and Ink Specialist

They are the experts who date, type, source and catalogues various types of papers, inks, watermarks,
printing/fax/copy machines, and computer cartridges using chemical method or analysis.

 Forgery Specialist

He analyzes altered, obliterated and doctored documents, photos and others through infrared,
spectrographic, and digital enhancement techniques.

DOCUMENT EXAMINATION IN GENERAL

Objective: to furnish the investigator in the field with sufficient background information concerning document
examination.

Value of a Document

 In the commission of a crime, the criminal often finds it necessary to employ one or more documents in
furtherance of his acts.

 In some crimes, such as forgery, the document is an integral part of the crime.

Questioned Document Examination

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 In others, such as false claims against government, documents often play an important part in proving the
commission of the crime.

 Proof of the fact that a document was altered or made by a particular individual may show that:
o He committed the crime.
o He had knowledge of the crime.
o He was present in a certain locality at a specified time.

N.B. Evidence that a document was not made by an authorized individual or machine may prove it to be fraudulent.
Latent fingerprints on documents also are of great value to the investigator.

PURPOSE - A document may be examined to know the following:

a. Identity of the author.

b. True contents of the documents.
c. Origin of the instrument or paper used in making the document.
d. Alterations or erasures which have been made.
e. Authenticity of the document.

LOGICAL PROGRESS OF INQUIRY

IN DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

A conscientious document expert must know that the first step in making over a document is to get proper
identification. The logical progress of inquiry includes:

1. FIRST: ASCERTAIN THE FACTS: to select “QUESTIONED”, “DENIED” or “ADMITTED”,

“AUTHENTIC”, and “DOUBTFUL” documents.

1.1. Concerning the document in questioned.

1.1.1. Is only one signature in questioned?

1.1.2. Is any part of the document in questioned?

1.1.3. Is the date of the document in questioned?

1.1.4. Is the paper or the typewriter used in the document in questioned?

1.2. Regarding the Standards.

1.2.1. Make sure that there is sufficient numbers of authentic documents for comparison submitted.

1.2.2. Determine whether the standards are authentic ones, on which a foundation can be built for admitting
them in evidence.

2. SECOND – ANALYZE THE DETAILS: Synthesize the elements, date, circumstances, conditions, technical
problems and the like.

Questioned Document Examination

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2.1. The examiner of the questioned documents, after ascertaining the facts, should have detailed information
as to the circumstances of the document in questioned, the condition of an alleged writer, or any condition
that may have affected the writing or typewriting or any facts that are part of the technical problem with
the document that is submitted to the expert.

2.2. He should inquire about the circumstances and conditions as far as the client knows, such as; was the
document signed sitting on the wall, on the lap or lying on the bed? Sitting on bed, lying on his back or
side? For example, a document could have been signed in a moving automobile or while having a drink in
the bar.

3. THIRD – QUALIFY THE CASE

A scientific method consists of the following processes:

A. Analysis (recognition) – properties or characteristics, observed or measured.

B. Comparison – properties of unknown determined thought analysis are now compared with the familiar or
recorded properties of known items.

C. Evaluation – similarities or dissimilarities in properties or characteristics will have a certain value for
identification, determined by its likelihood of occurrence. The weight or significance of each must
therefore be considered.

CRITERION FOR SCIENCE

a. Accuracy – correspondence between results obtained and the truth.

b. Precision – measure of the consistency of results obtained in repeated study of experimentation.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF DOCUMENTS

It is the initial examination conducted on a document to determine whether it is genuine or not. It is not a
misnomer, for in reality it consists of painstaking analysis more than looking at a document and expressing an off-
hand opinion.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION

OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS

1. Ensure preparedness
2. Avoidance of delay; and
3. Ensures success in the case.

PRINCIPAL POINTS FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION of questioned documents. Please note that these questions may not be
applicable in every case.

1. Is the signature on the document genuine or is it an imitation?

Questioned Document Examination

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2. Was the document signed or prepared on the document’s date?

3. Was the document prepared on the suspect’s typewriter?

4. Is more than one kind of ink used in the preparation of the document?

5. Are the several sheets of the document exactly the same sizes, thickness and color?

6. Is the paper torn, or mutilated in any way, and if so, for what purpose?

7. Does the document show abrasion, erasure or lack of continuity when viewed by transmitted light?

8. Does the document contain abrasion, chemical/pencil erasures, and alteration/substitutions of any kind?

9. Has the document been wet in any way and if so, for what purpose?
10. If typewritten, are the contents of the document all written on the same machine?

11. Was each sheet written continuously at one time without being removed from the typewriter?

12. Are the added figures, words, clauses, sentences, paragraphs or pages written on a different typewriter?

13. Was the typewriter in existence on the document’s date?

14. If the documents are a carbon copy, does it conform to the size, position, and arrangement of matters with
original letter heads?

15. If the document is a letter, does postmark, postage stamps, manner of sealing and opening of envelope have
any significance?

16. Are there indentations in the paper from handwriting or typewriting on a sheet placed above the paper
examined?

 Who conducts the preliminary examination?

It should be conducted by a QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXPERT.

 Who is a Questioned Document Expert?

A Questioned Document Expert is one who has:

1. Attained the appropriate education and training.

2. Sufficient knowledge on the technical, scientific, and legal aspects of document examinations; and

3. A broad experience in handling questioned documents cases.

 Reasons for utilizing a Questioned Document Expert

1. Assurance of preparedness.

Questioned Document Examination

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2. Trial fiscal or judges are infrequently confronted with document cases; consequently. They do not
possess the knowledge of the documents experts’ ability of the various methods that exists for
determining forgeries.

3. Avoidance of an “OFF-HAND” opinion.

 What is an “OFF-HAND” opinion?

“Off-Hand” opinion is usually a conclusion that is not based on thorough scientific examination.

 The danger of OFF-HAND opinions

It has happened in some cases that an off-hand opinion, has sent an innocent man to prison, while a
murderer was given a chance to escape.

INSTRUMENTS AND APPARATUS USED IN QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATIONS

A. OPTICAL AIDS

 Microscope
o An optical instrument that consists of a combination of lenses that allows the user to
view a magnified image of small objects.

 Magnifying glass or hand lens

o A simple lens usually convex and mounted in a frame or a handle capable of
magnifying or enlarging the actual image size of objects viewed but limited to 5-10x
unlike the microscope.

 Stereo or Stereoscopic microscope

o An instrument for blending into one image two picture of an object from slightly
different points of view so as to produce upon the eye the impression of relief and
solidity and a three-dimensional viewing. Most important and commonly used
equipment in forensic document examination used to study pressure patterns, crossed
lines, erasures, indentation, writing over folds, and similar problems.

 Strong reading glasses and Optivisors

o Worn by examiners to view documents while leaving both hands free.

B. MEASURING DEVICES AND TEST PLATES

 Typewriting Test Plates

o Placed over typewritten pages used to detect any abnormal horizontal or vertical
alignment of typewritten characters. Used to measure cpi (Characters per inch) such
Pica 10cpi and Elite 12cpi

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 Protractor
o measures angles also called handwriting slope instrument

 Letter slant or handwriting comparison Test plates

 Type Angle Measurement

C. DUPLICATING DEVICES
 The most important equipment used duplicate clearly original document is the camera;
other duplicating devices may include scanners, photocopiers.

D. PROPER LIGHTING

 Transmitted light- light passing through a transparent or translucent medium

 Goose neck lamps or adjustable table lamps

E. SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT:

 Ultraviolet light Machine

o It detects mechanical and chemical erasures by changing reflectivity and fluorescence
of affected areas, also used to in examination of counterfeit bills, special papers,
security fibers that react to ultra violet.

 Infra-red viewers
o Used to examine burned or charred documents

 Video spectral comparator

o Consists of a camera, video monitor, various light sources, filters for exciting
radiation and reflected or fluorescent light, image integrator and comparator, and a
video recorder. Used for comparing measurable property of things with a reference or
standard.

 Electrostatic Detection Apparatus (ESDA)

o Provides a non-destructive technique for detecting impressions that is invisible to the
naked eye. Used to detect indented impressions, reveals relative sequences in ledgers,
journals or records, restore handwritten impressions or anonymous letters and
fraudulent alterations.

 Microfiche Machine

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o A microfiche is flat piece of microfilm on which many printed material have been
photographed for storage in miniature form. Microfiche is placed under the lens of
the microfiche machine to enlarge the images from 24 to 48X.

F. PORTABLE EQUIPMENT

o A need for transportable microscope or the portable VSC-4CX is necessary to

examine in the location documents that cannot be released or brought to the
laboratory.

G. PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

 Cotton gloves- to handle original documents where fingerprints maybe an issue.

 Fireproof safe or File box- to store and protect original documents from harm or damage

TECHNIQUES IN THE EXAMINATION OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS

a. Microscopic Examination

 It is any examination or study which is made with microscopic tools in order to discover minute
physical details. Stereoscopic examination in low and high power objectives is used to detect
retouching, patching and unnatural pen lifts. It aids in the decipherment of erasures and minute
manipulations.

b. Transmitted Light Examination

 It is an examination of this kind; the document is viewed with the source of illumination behind it
and the light passing through the paper. Used to determine presence of erasures, matching of
serrations and some type of alterations.

c. Oblique or Side Light Examination

 It is any examination with the illumination so controlled that it grace or strike the surface of the
document from one side at a very low angle for the decipherment of faded handwriting,
determination of outlines in traced forgery and embossed impressions.

d. Photographic Examination
 It refers to the examination of documents using various photographic techniques, such as photo
enlargement, close up photography, micro photography and other examinations using spectral
sensitivity. Actual observations are recorded in the photographs.

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e. Ultra Violet Examination

 Ultraviolet radiation is available and occurs in the wavelengths just below the visible blue violet
end of the spectrum.

 These invisible light rays react on some substances so that visible light is reflected, a
phenomenon known as fluorescence. Exposure of documents to UV light is useful when it
consists of several pages and substitution is suspected. Reflectivity and fluorescence of area
affected may reveal mechanical and chemical erasures.

f. Infra-Red Examination
 Infra-red examination of documents employs invisible radiation beyond the red portion of the
visible spectrum (rainbow) which is usually recorded on specially sensitized photographic
emulsions.

g. Electrostatic detection
 The Electrostatic Detection Apparatus (ESDA) detects indented writings and records the
transparencies of any indentations.

h. Video Spectral Comparator- (VSC)

 It is used in the examination of masked or obliterated text, watermarks, visible fluorescence,
paper fluorescence, and oblique illumination of indented writing and embossing. It detects
variations in infra-red characteristics of inks and reveals alteration eliminating interfering
background luminescence.

i. Preparation of Court Exhibits

 After completion of questioned documents examination and submission of laboratory reports,
the examiner prepares photographic exhibits for court demonstration and illustration.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

Albert Osborn, the father of questioned documents highlights the value of reproducing original
documents thought the use of various techniques of photography and serves three main functions in
forensic document examination.

a. To make a permanent record of the document before it is damaged.

b. To detect certain features that are not visible and for which other methods are unavailable

c. To prepare material for court demonstrations and illustrations.

Questioned Document Examination

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Photographs are very necessary and useful in nearly every questioned document investigation (examination)
especially those who are required to present the facts to a court of any investigative body or agency.

Purposes of Photographs in QDE

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

2. Make clear what otherwise may be hidden or indistinct

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

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

5. Allow cutting apart as may be desired and the various parts of classified foe comparison

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
angle of reflection so as to show differences in the reflected light from different portions of the paper
surface

8. With transmitted light, photographs is useful in:

a. Examination of watermarks
b. Determine identity, or the differences in paper by showing arrangement of the fibers and markings
of the wire gauze and dandy roll
c. Showing the continuity of strokes, and
d. Determining retouching or patching of writing by showing clearly the presence of added ink film
and uneven distribution of ink in interrupted strokes.

MISCELLANEOUS EXAMINATION

 Erasures

o Erasure is one of the common inquiries in questioned documents is whether or not an erasure was
actually made on a document.

 Indented Writing

o Indented writing is a term usually applied to the partially visible depressions appearing on a sheet
of paper underneath the one on which the visible writing appears. These depressions or
indentations are due to the application of pressure on the writing instrument and would appear as
carbon copy if a sheet of carbon paper had been properly inserted.

o Indentation may also appear on a blank sheet of paper if such is used as backing sheet while
typing out a message on a typewriter.

Questioned Document Examination

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 Charred or Burned Paper

o 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 the intense heat,
reducing it to ashes and losing its 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.

HANDLING OF DOCUMENTS AND QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS

DO’S AND DON’TS IN THE CARE, HANDLING AND PRESERVATION OF DOCUMENTS

 DO’S

o Take disputed papers to Document Examiner’s Laboratory at the first opportunity.

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

o Maintain in consequential document, unfolded and in transparent plastic envelope or evidence preserver.

o Preserve document in precisely the condition in which it was originally received for investigation.

o Do maintain in consequential document, unfolded and in transparent plastic envelop or evidence preserver.

 DON’TS

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

o Do not smear with fingerprints powder or chemical.

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

o Do not handle disputed papers excessively or carry them in a pocket for a long time.

o Do not mark disputed documents.

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

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

o Do not use staples, pins or clips

o Do not make perforations

Handling Charred Documents

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

 They should be moved in a container in which they are found whenever possible. When the fragments are
not packed tightly, they should be padded with light weight absorbed cotton. If jarring cannot be entirely
eliminated, jarring the box must be kept to minimum.

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

-End of Prelim Module-

Questioned Document Examination

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