Questioned TO

INTRODUCTION Document Examination

QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

DEFINITION OF TERMS

A. DOCUMENTS - any material containing marks, symbols, or signs either

visible, partially visible that may present or ultimately convey a meaning to
someone, maybe in the form of pencil, ink writing, typewriting, or printing
on paper.

KINDS OF DOCUMENTS
1. Public Document - a document created, executed or issued by a
public official in response to the exigencies of the public service, or
in the execution of which a public official intervened.
2. Official Document – a document which is issued by a public official in
the exercise of the functions of his office.
3. Private Document – every deed or instrument executed by a private
person without the intervention of a notary public or any person legally
authorized, by which the documents some disposition or agreement
is provide evidenced or set forth.
4. Commercial Document – Any instrument defined and regulated by
the Code of Commerce or other commercial law.
5. Electronic Document – exist only in electronic form such as date stored
on a computer network, back-up, archive, or other storage media.
6. Paper-based – produced traditionally and manually

B. QUESTIONED DOCUMENT – Document is usually questioned because its

origin, its contents, or the circumstances and story regarding its production,
arouse serious suspicions as to its genuineness, or it may be adversely
scrutinized simply because it displeases someone.

C. QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION/FORENSIC DOCUMENT EXAMINATION - The

practice of application of document examination to the purposes of the law.

D. FORENSIC DOCUMENT EXAMINER/QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINER – refers to

persons who study all aspects of a document to determine its authenticity,
origin, handwriting, photocopies, inks and papers.
HOLOGRAPHIC DOCUMENT – any document completely written and signed by
one person.
REFERENCE COLLECTION – Material compiled and organized by the
document
examiner to assist him in answering special questions.
RELATED FIELD OF STUDY
1. Historical dating - It involves the verification of age and worth pf
document or object.
 2. Fraud Investigation - It focuses on the money trail and criminal intent
3. Paper and ink Specialists - These are public or private experts who
date, type, source, and/or catalogue various types of paper,
watermarks, ink, printing/copy/fax machines, computer cartridges, etc.,
using chemical methods.
4. Forgery Specialists - These are public or private experts who analyze,
altered, obliterated, changed, or doctored documents and photos
using infrared lighting and other equipment.
5. Handwriting Analysis - These are psychology experts who assess
personality traits from handwriting samples, also called as graphologist
or graphoanalysts.
6. Forensic stylistics - Refers to the same purpose but by looking at
semantics, spelling, word choice, syntax and phraseology.
7. Typewriting Analysis - These are experts on the origin, make and model
used in typewritten document.
8. Computer Crime Investigation
9. Imprint Examination – including those produced by manual devices,
mechanical devices and electronic printing devices; also includes
those produced by the manufacture of counterfeiters

SIGNATURE
- A mark or sign made by an individual on an instrument or document to signify
knowledge, approval, acceptance, or obligation.

TYPES OF SIGNATURE
1. Handwritten Signature
2. Electronic Signature
3. Autopen Signature
4. Stamp Signature
5. Guided Signature
6. Model Signature

IMPORTANCE OF SIGNATURE
1. Evidence
2. Ceremony
3. Approval
Efficiency and Logistics

.
HANDWRITING
- It is the result of a very complicated series of acts, being used a whole, and
combination of certain forms of visible mental and muscular habits acquired by
long, continued painstaking effort.

COPYBOOK FORM
- It is the instruction taught in school.

IMPORTANCE OF COPYBOOK FORM

1. The nationality of the writer
2. The system learned
3. The date when the writing was acquired4
4. To some of the influences that have surrounded the writer

PHYSIOLOGICAL BASIS OF HANDWRITING

DEVELOPMENT OF HANDWRITING
1. Drawing Stage
2. Adolescence Stage/Manner of Execution
3. Stage of Subject Matter
4. Stage of Degeneration

STYLES OF HANDWRITING
1. Printed
2. Cursive
3. Print-writing
Enhancement Activity/Outcome:
1. Describe the changes and style of your handwriting at the different stages of
development of handwriting. Enumerate the characteristics which were removed
or added over the span of development. Provide at least five observations.

Stages Omitted Added

1.
2.
3.
4.
Topic 3:
Basis of handwriting and signature analysis

PRINCIPLES OF HANDWRITING ANALYSIS

1. No two writers write exactly alike
2. The physical writing condition and position of the person including his writing
instrument may affect the handwriting characteristics but they do not confine all its
identifying elements.
3. A writer cannot exceed his maximum writing ability or skill without serious effort and
training applied over a period of time.
4. The combination of handwriting characteristics including those derived from form and
writing movements are essential elements of identification.
5. Individuality in handwriting can only be determined through comparative
examination with the standard written or prepared under comparable condition
6. Similarity does not mean identity
7. Complete identity means definite forgery
8. A writing was written by one person when there is a sufficient number of identical
writing habits and identical primary controlling characteristics and addition, the
absence of divergent characteristics.
9. A writing was not written by one person when there is a sufficient number of divergent
writing characteristics and the absence of identical primary controlling characteristics.

Topic 4:
Terminologies related to handwriting identification and examination

1. Alignment – The relation of the parts of the whole of writing or line of individual
letters in words to the baseline.
2. Angular form – sharp, straight strokes that are made by stopping the one and
changing direction before continuing.
3. Arcade forms – forms that look like arches; rounded on top and open at the
bottom.
4. Bow - the part of the letter or character of signature or handwriting which formed
like a bow of an arrow or simply a curved stroke aligned in a vertical direction.
5. Collation – side by side comparison
6. Comparison – The act of setting two or more items side by side to weigh their
identifying qualities
7. Dextral
8. Disguised writing – A writer may deliberately try to alter his usual writing
habits of hiding his identity.
9. Down strokes – the movement of the pen toward the writer
10. Form – the writer’s chosen writing style.
11. Garland forms – A cup-like connected form that is open at the top and
rounded on the bottom.
8. Gestalt – “complete”, “whole”
9. Graphoanalysis – the study of handwriting based on the tow fundamental
strokes, the curve and the straight strokes.
10. Graphometry – analysis and comparison and measurement
11. Graphology – the art of determining character disposition and
amplitude of a person from the study of handwriting.
12. Hand lettering – any disconnected style of writing in which each letter is
written separately.
13. Left handed writing
14. Letter Space – the amount of space left between letters.
15. Line Direction – it is the movement of the baseline.
16. Line Quality – the overall character of the ink lines from the beginning
to the ending strokes.
17. Line Space – the amount of space left between lines.
18. Manuscript writing – a disconnected form of script or semi-script writing.
19. Margins – the amount of space left around the writing on all four sides.
20. Movement
MOVEMENTS IN HANDWRITING

● Finger Movement – The thumb, the first, the second and slightly the
third finger are in actual motion.
● Hand Movement – Produced by the movement or action of the
whole hand with the wrist as the center of attraction.
● Forearm Movement – the movement of the shoulder, hand and arm
with the support of the table.
● Whole-arm Movement – action of the entire arm without resting.

21. Natural Writing – any specimen of writing executed normally without any
attempt to control or alter its identifying habits and its usual quality and
execution.
22. Natural Variation – these are normal or usual deviations found between
repeated specimens of any individual handwriting.
23. Pen emphasis – the act of intermittently forcing the pen against the
paper surfaces.
24. Pen Hold – the place where the writer grasps the barrel of the pen and
the angle at which he holds it.
25. Pen position – relationship between the pen point and the paper. The
orientation of the writing instrument.
26. Pen pressure – the average force with which the pen contacts the paper.
Print Script – A creative combination of printing and cursive writing
27. Proportion and Ratio - the relation between the tall and the short letter
28. Quality – the distinct and peculiar characters. Also, quality is used in
describing handwriting to refer to any identifying factor that is related to the
writing movement itself.
29. Rhythm – the element of writing movement, which is marked by regular or
periodic recurrences. It may be classed as smooth, intermittent, or jerky in its
quality; the flourishing succession of motion which are recorded in a written
record.
30. Shading – is the widening of the ink strokes due to the addHed
pressure on a flexible pen point or to the use of a stub pen.
31. Significant Writing Habit – any characteristic of handwriting that is
sufficiently uncommon and well-fixed to serve as a fundamental point in
the identification.
32. Simplification – eliminating extra or superfluous strokes from the copybook
form.
33. Size -
34. Skill – relative degrees or ability or skill and a specimen of handwriting
usually contains evidence of the writer’s proficiency; degree, ability, or skill of a
write proficiency.
35. Slope/Slant – the angle or inclination of the axis of the letters relative to the
baseline.
36. Speed of writing – the personal pace at which the writer’s pen moves
across the paper.
37. Thread form – an indefinite connective form that looks flat and wavy
38. Variation – the act or process of changing
39. Word Space – the amount of space between words.
40. Writing Conditions – circumstances which the writing was prepared and
factors influencing the writer’s ability to write at the time of execution.
41. Writing Habits – any repeated element in one’s handwriting.
42. Writing impulse – the result of the pen touching down on the paper and
moving across the page, until it is raised from the paper.
43. Wrong-Handed Writing – any writing executed with the opposite hand
that normally used; a.k.a as “with the awkward hand”.
44. Reprographic examination – refers to examination of documents which
include photocopies, facsimile, photographs and the like.
45. Rubric or embellishment – refers to the additional unnecessary strokes to
legibly of letter forms or writings but incorporated in writing for decorative or
ornamental purposes.

TERMINOLOGIES CONCERNING STROKE CHARACTERISTICS

1. ARC - a curved formed inside the top curve of loop/as in small letter
“h”, “m”, “n”, “p”.
2. ARCH – any arcade form in the body of a letter found in small
 letters which contain arches.
3. ASCENDER – is the top portion of a letter or upper loop.
4. APEX – the uppermost point of a character.
5. BASELINE – maybe actually on a ruled paper, it might be imaginary
alignment of writing. It is ruled or imaginary line upon which the writing rests.
6. BEADED – preliminary embellished initial stroke which usually occurs in
capital letters.
7. BEARD – is the rudimentary initial up stroke of a letter.
8. BLUNT – the beginning and ending stroke of a letter (without hesitation).
9. BOWL – a fully rounded oval or circular form on a letter complete into “o”.
10. BUCKLE/BUCKLENOT – a loop made as a flourished which is added
to the letters, as a small letter “k and a” or in capital letter “A”, “K”, “I”.
11. CACOGRAPHY – a bad writing
12. CALLIGRAPHY – the art of beautiful writing
13. CONNECTING STROKE – a line joining two adjacent characters
14. CROSS STROKE – a stroke that crosses another portion of the
character and is attached at either end.
15. CROSSBAR – a stroke that intersects other portions of the character at both
ends.
16. DESCENDER – opposite of ascender, the lower portion of a letter.
17. DIACRITIC – “t” crossing and dots of the letter “I” and “j”. The matters of
the Indian script are also known as diacritic signs.
18. DRAG STROKE – a stroke resulting from incomplete lifting of the pen.
19. ENDING/TERMINATE STROKE OF TOE – the end of a letter.
20. EYE/EYELET/EYELOOP – a small loop or curve formed inside the letters.
21. FOOT – the lower part which rest on the base line.
22. HABITS – any repeated elements or details, which may serve to individuals
writing.
23. HESITATION – the irregular thickening of ink which is found when writing
slows down or stop while the pen take a stock of at the position.
24. HIATUS/PEN JUMP – A gap occurring between a continuous strokes
without lifting the pen. Such as occurrence usually occurs due to
speed. It may be regarded also as special form of pen lift.
25. HOOK – it is a minute curve or an ankle which often occurs at the end of
the terminal strokes/it is also sometimes occur at the beginning of an initial
strokes.
26. HUMP – the rounded outside of the top of the bend stroke or curve in small
letter.
27. INDENTATION – latent or visible impressions in paper or other media.
28. KNOB – the extra deposit of ink in the initial and terminal stroke due to
the slow withdrawal of the pen from the paper (usually applicable to
fountain pen.
29. LIGATURE/CONNECTION – the stroke which connects two stroke of letter.
30. LONG LETTER – those letters with both upper and lower loops.
31. OVAL – the portion of the letter which is oval in shape.
 32. PATCHING – retouching or going back over a defective portion of a written
stroke. Careful is common defect on forgeries.
33. PEN LIFT – an interruption in a stroke caused by removing the writing
instrument from the paper.
34. RETRACE/RETRACING – any part of a stroke which is super imposed
upon the original stroke. Example; vertical strokes of the letters “d”, “t”
while coming downward from the top to bottom will have a retracing
strokes.
35. SHOULDER – outside portion of the top curve seen in small letters.

TYPES OF CHARACTERISTICS
1. General Characteristics – these characteristics refer to those habits which are part
of basic writing system.
2. National Characteristics – these refer to the extent that writing system within a
country share common features and induce class characteristics in the writing of
its people, different from other countries.
3. Accidental Characteristics – these are isolated, brief or temporary digression from
normal writing practices observed in writing standards.
4. Individual Characteristics – these are characteristics which are the result of the
writer’s muscular control, coordination, age, health, nervous, temperament,
frequency, personality and character.
- Permanent
- Common or usual
- Occasional
- Rare

POINTS IN IDENTIFICATION
1. Writing movement
2. Form and design of letters
3. Muscular control and motor control
◻ Loose Writing
◻ Restrained Writing
4. Motor coordination
5. Shading
6. Alignment
7. Pen Pressure
8. Connection
9. Pen Hold
10.Skill
11.Rhythm
12.Disconnections or pen lifts between letters
13.Speed
14.Slant as a writing habits
15.Proportion of letters as an individual characteristics or habit
16.Quality of strokes/Line quality
17.Variation
 Enhancement Activity/Outcome:
1. Following the format below, illustrate the different elements and
characteristics of handwriting. Label the specific part which describes the
terminologies.
Alignment Form Simplificatio
n
Angular Line Space Shading

Arcade Line Direction Slope/Slant

Garland Rubric or Thread

embellishment form
Ascender Beaded Hook

Descend Beard Long letter

er

Linear Buckleknot Staff

Supralinear Crossbar Shank

Topic 6:
DEFINITION OF TERMS
 1. FALSEMAKING
a. The creation of fraudulent writing on a document or the alteration
of an existing document.
2. FALSIFICATION
a. In Q.D. context, it pertains to the act of adding and substituting,
erasing and obliterating an original entry, be it punctuation
marks, signs, symbols, numerals, characters and or letters in a
document
3. COUNTERFEITING
a. The crime of making, circulating, uttering false coins and bank
notes
4. FORGERY
a. The act of falsely making and materially altering, with intent to
defraud, any writing which if genuine, might be legal efficacy
or the foundation of a legal liability.

TYPES AND METHODS OF FORGERY

1. Simple Forgery
2. Simulated Forgery
3. Traced Forgery
4. Optical Forgery
5. Auto Forgery

INDICATORS OF FORGERY
1. Tremors
2. No rhythm
3. Carefulness or unusual care
4. No contrast between thin and thick stroke
5. Slow writing
6. Blunt ending and beginning
7. Absence of spontaneity
8. Restrained writing
9. No variation

INDICATIONS OF SIMULATED AND TRACED FORGERIES

1. Tremulous and broken connecting strokes between letters, indicating
points at which the writer has temporary struck
2. No rhythm
3. Carefulness or unusual care and deliberation
4. No contrast between upward and downward strokes
5. Slow writing – angular writing
6. Blunt beginning and endings
7. Placement of diacritical marks just over the stem of the letters
8. Absence of spontaneity – lack of smoothness of letters
9. Restrained writing
10. No variation
INDICATIONS OF GENUINE WRITING
1. Carelessness
2. Spontaneity
3. Alternation of thin and thick strokes
4. Speed
5. Simplification
6. Upright letters are interspersed with slanting letters
7. Upwards strokes to a threadlike tracing
8. Rhythm
9. Good line quality
10. Variation

Topic 7:
Collection of standards

Teaching-Learning Activity/Lesson Proper

*In order to arrive in a reliable conclusion, the examiner needs genuine
documents for comparison to the questioned document. The known
materials needed for comparison purposes are known as STANDARDS.

STANDARDS
1. Are condensed and compact-set of authentic specimen which is
adequate and proper, should contain a cross section of the material
form it source.
2. Collected and Requested Standards

FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE SELECTION OF STANDARDS

1. Amount of standards
2. Similarity of subject matter
3. Relatives of the QD and SD

WHAT ARE THE DO’S AND DON’TS IN COLLECTING EXEMPLARS

1. Don’t rely on too little writing.
- 20-25 signatures
- 4-5 pages of handwriting
2. Don’t rely exclusively on writing that differs significantly from the
questioned one.
3. Do collect similar samples
4. Don’t rely on documents recently written if the comparison
documents were written many years ago.
5. Do collect standards dated at approximately the same
time as the questioned document.
6. Don’t compare writing written under abnormal conditions with normal
writing.
7. Do collect documents that duplicate the writing environment.
8. Do instruct the writer to obtain similar exemplars.
 Topic 8:
Process in Questioned Document Examination
*To arrive at a conclusive and reliable conclusion as to whether the submitted
questioned document(s) is/are written by one and the same person or two different
individuals, questioned documents examiners must undergo rigid and thorough
systematic scientific process on both the exemplars and the questioned
document(s).

LOGICAL PROCESS
1. Ascertain the facts
2. Analyze the details
3. Qualify the case

SCIENTIFIC METHODS
1. Analysis
2. Comparison
3. Evaluation
4. Verification

THE CARE OF DISPUTED DOCUMENTS AND DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE:

1. It should be kept unfolded and a separate, proper size envelope or
folder
2. No photo-static copy, but a proper photograph or photo-enlargement
3. Should not be handled repeatedly by anyone
4. No touching, folding, refolding or pointing to certain parts of a document
5. Pointing the document with sharp material should not be used
6. NO test should be made to alter the condition of the document

REPORTING INDICATIONS
1. Wrote (made, prepared)
2. Strong Indications Wrote
3. Indications Wrote
4. Limited Indications Wrote
5. Can Be Neither Identified Nor Eliminated
6. Limited Indications Did Not Write
7. Indications Did Not Write
8. Strong Indications Did Not Write
9. Did Not Write

1. All documents obtained at the crime scene and submitted for examination should
be handled with care in order to maintain the value and integrity of the
documents as evidence. During the examination, what should be conducted first
– destructive or non-destructive examination? Justify your answer into 3-4
sentences.
*Alterations can take the form of erasures and replacement and/or insertion of material
into a document.

TYPES OF ALTERATIONS
Abrasion – any forms of erasures using rubber eraser or scraped with a sharp
object, such as knife or razor blade.
Chemical Eradication – Chemicals bleach the color from the ink and in some
cases remove the ink from the paper.
Obliterations – the act of covering the material in question with an opaque
substance.
Insertion and Substitution– one page or more pages is/are added or removed
from the document
Addition – introduction of words/figures not originally part of the document
Interlineations or Intercalation – introduction of words/figures between lines.
Folds - folds in a document may indicate a substitution particularly if the
folds in substituted pages do not match.
Cut and paste
Electronic Alterations

DISGUISED WRITING
Natural writing refers to any specimen of writing executed normally without
any attempt to control or alter its identifying habits and its usual quality and
execution.

METHODS OF DISGUISED
1. Change in slant
2. Altered letter forms
3. Use of block letters
4. Other hand writing
5. Change of Writing instrument
6. Change of speed

SIGNS OF DISGUISED
1. Inconsistencies within the writing
2. Poor rhythm
3. Erratic movement followed by smooth rhythmic writing
4. Slowness and hesitation

SOLUTION OF A DISGUISED WRITING PROBLEM

1. Collection and study of adequate standards which contain the fixed,
occasional, rare, and accidental characteristics of the writer. Frequently
the most difficult part of a case is locating good specimens.
2. Study of questioned writing to determine if it is normal handwriting containing
natural variations or if it is disguised.
3. Comparison of questioned with standard writing methodically listing identifying
(or non-identifying) characteristics of the handwriting, composition,
 Problems Types of Examination/Equipment

1. Abrasion

2. Chemical Eradication

3. Obliteration

4. Traced Forgery

5. Indented Writing

6. Charred Document

arrangement, ink, writing instrument, paper, etc.

Topic 9:
Materials Used to Create Documents

PAPER
❖ These are sheets of interlaced fibers –usually cellulose fibers from plants,
but sometimes from cloth rags or other fibrous materials, that is formed by
pulping the fibers and causing to felt, or mat, to form a solid surface.

MANUFATURING PAPER

Cooking process - the pulpwood will be chipped into small pieces that
are then mixed with chemicals and fed into pressure vessels called
digester to soften the lignin, which binds the fibers together.
Washing, screening, cleaning, and, if necessary, bleaching to the
desired brightness.
Next, the fibers are combined with pigments, dyes, and sizing. These
fibers flow onto a moving screen called a Fourdrinier, on which the fibers
mat, forming a continuous sheet of paper with much of the water drawn
through the screen into collection tanks to be recycled.
Then, the web of pulp passes through heavy rollers, which press moisture
from the sheet.
Drying stage – evaporation of the remaining water in the pulp of fibers
The paper then passes through series of calendar stacks that sooth the
paper. Pressing process – the paper passes over a dandy roll, which
imprints the watermark on the paper.

TYPES OF PAPERS FOR PRINTING OR WRITING

A. Newsprint Least expensive paper manufactured.
Composed of ground wood
Principal asset is opacity
B. Bond paper Originally used to print stocks and bonds
Usually made from cottons
C. Lightweight Uncoated papers
Usually made from manifold papers made from wood fibers
D. Specialty Coated on both sides to transfer date from one page to
another Contains special finishes
E. Gummed For labels and it has curl-proof feature
F. Text paper most expensive, uncoated papers
Used for announcements, invitations, and greeting cards
G. Coated Used primarily in publications
 H. Bristol Used to make index cards and tag paper
Strength is the most important feature
I. Kraft Coarse, unbleached, heavy paper
Paper bags, package wrapping, and corrugated boxes

PROPERTIES OF PAPER
Paper contains many properties that are important considerations when determining
how the paper will be used.

● Weight
● Strength – tensile strength and tear strength
● Durability
● Thickness
● Finish of the paper
● Water absorbability
● Presence of watermark

WATERMARK
● This is a translucent distinctive designs of the manufacturer.

Topic 10:
Materials Used to Create Documents and Typewriters
 What are the defects in typewriter which form part individual characteristics?
1. Horizontal Mal-alignment – the character defectively strikes to the right or left
of its normal allotted striking position.
2. Off its feet – heavier in one side or corner than over the remainder to its outline.
3. Rebound – character prints a double impress on with the lighter one slightly off
act to the right or left.
4. Typeface Defects
5. Twisted Letters – characters become twisted so that they lean to the right or
left of their correct slight
6. Vertical Mal-alignment – character printing above or below its proper portion
7. Clogged Typeface

Enhancement Activity/Outcome:
1. Please refer to the LMS online quiz.

References:
● Koppenhaver, Katherine. (2007). Forensic document examination: Principles and
practice. 10.1007/978-1-59745-301-1.
● Michael, Allen. Foundations of Forensic Document Analysis: Theory and
Practice. Wiley Blackwell, 2016.
● Osborn, Albert S. Questioned Documents, a Study of Questioned
Documents with an Outline of Methods by Which the Facts May Be
Discovered and Shown, by Albert S. Osborn, ... With an Introduction by
Professor John H. Wigmore, .. N.Y., 1910.
● Huber, R. A., & Headrick, A. M. (1999). Handwriting identification
facts and fundamentals. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
● History of Pencils. (n.d.). History of Marker Pens. Retrieved April 13, 2020,
from http://www.historyofpencils.com/writing-instruments-history/history-of-
marker-pens
/
● The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2018, February 13). Typewriter.
Retrieved April 15, 2020, from
https://www.britannica.com/technology/typewriter
● Online Typing.org. (2019, August 23). Retrieved from
https://onlinetyping.org/blog/invention-of-the-typewriter.php
● https://www.pens.co.uk/pen2paper/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/The-History-of-t
he-Pencil.pdf
● Cult Pen. (n.d.). Pilot FriXion - The Amazing Erasable Pen. Retrieved April
15, 2020, from
https://www.cultpens.com/news/product-news/q/date/2011/12/09/pilot-frixion-th
e-amazing-erasable-pen
● Crown, D. A. (1967). Landmarks in Typewriting Identification. The
Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Police Science, 58(1), 105. doi:
10.2307/1141378

Topic 10:
Computers and Printers

Objectives:
A. Understand the characteristics of different printers

Instructional Materials:
Youtube videos, Video discussions

Teaching-Learning Activity/Lesson Proper

COMPUTERS AND PRINTERS

Most of the documents can be viewed electronically. Today’s documents are typed
on a computer, mistakes can be corrected unlike in typewriters, and documents can
be reproduced and printed using word processing software possibly on one of
several printers connected to the system.
Printers are important in identification of the source of a disputed document. There
are certain properties of different printers which will separate a printer to another
printer.

TYPES OF PRINTER
1. Dot Matrix – It has series of small pins that press against the ribbon and stamp the
paper. A microscopic examination will show the round edges from the individual
dots.
2. Ink Jet – It sprays the ink onto the paper configuring the letter designs in a way
similar to the dot –matrix designs. The sprayed ink may run slightly, blurring the
rough edges of the dots.
3. Laser printer – A light source such as a laser exposes a photosensitive drum in a
pattern of tiny dots to form an image. Negatively charged toner clings to the
positively charged, sensitized areas of the drum. The toner is transferred to the
paper that has been given a positive charge. The toner is fused to the paper by
heat and pressure.

Enhancement Activity/Outcome:
1. Following the table below, provide at least five differences of computers,
typewriters and handwriting.

Handwriting Computers Typewriters

References:
● Koppenhaver, Katherine. (2007). Forensic document examination: Principles and
practice. 10.1007/978-1-59745-301-1.
● Michael, Allen. Foundations of Forensic Document Analysis: Theory and Practice.
Wiley Blackwell, 2016.