GAPAN CITY COLLEGE

City Hall Compound, Bayanihan, Gapan City,

Nueva Ecija, Philippines 3105
Department of Criminal Justice
Education
Week 3 Module in
QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

Name: ______________________________________ Score: ___________/

Course, Year & Sec.: ___________________________ Date: ____________

QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS INVESTIGATION

DEFINITION OF TERMS

1) Addition - any matter made a part of the document after its original preparation. When there is a sufficient
space between the words or at the end of a sentence to permit the insertion or addition of a single letter or word
or a punctuation mark, such alteration may change the impact of the entire document or its monetary value.

2) Alteration - refers to any change in the writing made by the party thereto, or by some person entitled there
under after the instrument has been executed. It is made either by erasing adding, subtracting or cancellation, or
interlineating or inserting. Such changes are made without the consent of other party interested and give the
instrument a different effect from that where it originally possessed.

3) Cancellation or Subtraction it refers to any (word, letter, number, etc.) out, strikes out or scratched after its
original preparation. It is occasionally found in document of importance such as will, deed or contract where the
writer intends to eliminate word, name or sentence without the necessity of rewriting the entire matter. The
writer draws lines vertical or horizontal lines through the writing having effect of cancellation.

4) Conclusion a scientific conclusion results from relating observed facts by logical, common sense reasoning
in accordance with the established rules or laws. The document examiner's conclusion, in legal term is referred
to as opinion.

5) Document Examiner - refers to anyone who studies scientifically the details and elements of documents in
order to identify their sources or to facts concerning from them.

6) Erasure the removal of writing or printing, from a document. It may be accomplished wither by mechanical
or abrasive measure or by chemical erasure. A chemical eradication in which the writing is removed or bleached
by chemical agents (e.g. liquid ink eradicator.); and an abrasive measures is where writing is effaced by rubbing
with rubber eraser or scratching out with knife or other sharp with implement. Questioned

7) Examination act of making a close and critical study of any material and with documents; it is process
necessary to discover the facts about them.

8) Expert witness - a legal term used to describe a witness who by reason of his special training or experience
to express an opinion regarding the issue, or a certain aspect of the issue, which involved in a court action. Or,
expert witnesses are persons who are qualified, either by actual experience or by careful study, to definite
opinions with respect to a division of science, a branch of art, or a department of trade.

9) Forensic Document Examiner - it refers to a person who studies all aspects of a document to determine
authenticity, origin, handwriting, photocopies, ink and papers. The older term is Questioned Document
Examiner or sometimes "examiner of questioned documents". In the 1970's, the term forensic document
examiner started becoming more popular and that is term that is commonly used today.

10) Handwriting Examination Expert-common name for document examiner.

11) Identification an 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.

12) Insertion (Intercalation) - it is the addition of writing and other material between lines and paragraphs or
the addition of the whole page to document.

13) Non-Identification as used in this text, it means that the source of authorship of the compared questioned
and standard specimen is different.

14) Obliteration the blotting out shearing over the writing to make the original invisible to as an addition.

15) Opinion in the legal language, it refers to the examiner conclusion. In court, he is not only expresses as
opinion but demonstrates the reason for arriving at his opinion.

16) Qualification the professional experience, education, ability of a document examiner. Before he is
permitted to testify as an expert witness, the court must rule that he is qualifies in his field.
DIVISION OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENT IDENTIFICATION

A. Criminalistics Examination this involves the detection of forgery, erasure, alteration or obliteration of
documents.

B. Handwriting Investigation/Analysis this is more focused in determining the author of writing. It is

more difficult procedure and requires long study and experience.

FORMS OF QUESTION DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

A. Handwriting Examination (Graphology/Graphoanalysis)

1. Examination signatures and initials

2. Examination anonymous letter

3. Hand printing examination

B. Examination of typewriting and type print

C. Examination of inks

D. Examination of erasures, alteration or obliteration, etc.

1. Detection of alteration

2. Decipherment of erased writings

3. Restoration of obliterated writings

E. Counterfeiting

1. Examination of currency bills and coins and the like

2. Examination of fake documents

F. Miscellaneous aspects

1. Determination of age of documents

2. Identification of stamps

3. Examination of seal and other authenticating devices

DOCUMENT EXAMINATION (In General)

OBJECT- To furnish the investigator in the field with sufficient background information concerning document
examination.

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

 Identity of the author.

 True contents of the document.
 Origin of the instrument or paper used in making the document.
 Alterations or erasures which have been made.
 Authenticity of the document.

 Proof of the fact that a document was altered or made by a particular individual may show that:

 He committed the crime.

 He had knowledge of the crime.

 He was present in a certain locality at a specified time.

THE LOGICAL PROCESS OF INQUIRY IN DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

1. FIRST ASCERTAIN THE FACTS; to select "QUESTIONED", "DENIED", or "ADMITTED,

"AUTHENTIC", and "DOUBTFUL" document.

a. Concerning the document in questioned

I. Is only one signature in questioned?

II. Is any part of the document in question?

III. Is the date of the document in questioned?

IV. iv. Is the paper or the typewriter used in the document in questioned?

b. Regarding the standard

I. Make sure that there are sufficient numbers of authentic documents for comparison submitted. If
there are inadequate standard, obtain more.

II. Determine whether the standards are authentic ones, on which a foundation can be built for
admitting them in evidence.
II. SECOND ANALYZE THE DETAILS: Synthesize the elements, date, circumstances, conditions, technical
problems and the like.

a. The examiner after ascertaining the facts should have detailed information as the circumstances of
the document in questioned the condition of an alleged writer, or of 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.

b. 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 in bed? Sitting on bed, lying on his
back or side? For example, a document could have been signed in a moving automobile or having a
drink at a bar.

III. THIRD-QUALIFY THE CASE

a. How much time is needed for the examination?

b. Is it possible to complete the study from the original papers, or is it necessary to make special photo-
enlargements for proper examination?

c. If it is possible to make arrangements with the clients for photo-enlargement, is it advisable to do so?

d. Photo-enlargements are always useful for demonstrating the reasons on which the opinion is based.

SCIENTIFIC METHOD IN QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

a. ANALYSIS (RECOGNITION) - properties of characteristics, observed or measured.

b. COMPARISON properties or characteristics of the unknown determined thought analysis are

compared with the familiar or recorded properties of unknown items.

c. EVALUATION - similarities or dissimilarities in properties or characteristics will each have a certain

value for identification, determined by its, likelihood of occurrence. The weight or significance of
each must therefore be considered.

d. VERIFICATION it is the process of double checking the accuracy and correctness of the
examination usually conducted by other expert in the said field.
CRITERION FOR SCIENCE

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

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

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF DOCUMENTS

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

THE IMPORTANCE OF PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS

 Ensures preparedness
 Avoidance of delay; & Ensures success of the case

REASON FOR UTILIZING A QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXPERT

1. Assurance of preparedness;

2. Trial fiscal or judges are infrequently confronted with document cases; consequently they do not possess
the knowledge of the document expert's ability of the various methods that exist for determining
forgeries.

3. Avoidance of 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 innocent
man to prison, while a murderer was given a chance to escape.

PREPARED BY:

Ron Reynan F Esguerra, RCrim

Instructor