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Chapter 20 – Questioned Documents. FRSC 7104 Criminalistics I Professor Bensley. FRSC 7104 – Chapter 20 Objectives. After studying this chapter, the student should be able to: Define “questioned document” and explain the role and training of a questioned document examiner
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Chapter 20 – Questioned Documents FRSC 7104 Criminalistics I Professor Bensley
FRSC 7104 – Chapter 20 Objectives After studying this chapter, the student should be able to: Define “questioned document” and explain the role and training of a questioned document examiner Describe the process of handwriting comparisons Describe the analyses performed by a questioned document examiner Recognize examinations performed on documents that have been altered and examinations performed on inks
FRSC 7104 – Chapter 20 Outline • Introduction • Definition • Common Practices of a QD Examiner • Science or Art? • Historical Cases • Handwriting Comparisons • Theory • Learning Process and Class Characteristics
FRSC 7104 – Chapter 20 Outline • Handwriting Systems Zaner-Bloser Method – Most popular method in U.S. schools since mid 20th century Palmer Method – Used in early 20th Century almost exclusively in U.S. Schools
FRSC 7104 – Chapter 20 Outline • Individual Characteristics High Skill Level Low Skill Level
FRSC 7104 – Chapter 20 Outline Speed Embellishments
FRSC 7104 – Chapter 20 Outline Spacing
FRSC 7104 – Chapter 20 Outline • Individual Variation in Handwriting • External Variation in Handwriting
FRSC 7104 – Chapter 20 Outline • Identification vs. Elimination • Points of comparison
FRSC 7104 – Chapter 20 Outline • Handwriting Standards (Exemplars) • Ideal standards • Challenges • Non-request standards • Request standards
FRSC 7104 – Chapter 20 Outline • Forgeries • General indications • Types
FRSC 7104 – Chapter 20 Outline • Typescript Comparisons
FRSC 7104 – Chapter 20 Outline • Photocopier Examinations (Printers, Faxes) How a photocopier works You place the document you want to copy upside down on the glass An extremely bright light scans across the document. Much more light reflects off the white areas (where there is no ink) than off the black, inked areas. An "electrical shadow" of the page forms on the photoconductor. The photoconductor in a photocopier is a rotating conveyor belt coated with a chemical called selenium. As the belt rotates, it carries the electrical shadow around with it. An ink drum touching the belt coats it with tiny particles of powdered ink (toner). The toner has been given an electrical charge, so it sticks to the electrical shadow and makes an inked image of the original page on the belt. A sheet of paper from a hopper on the other side of the copier feeds up toward the first belt on another conveyor belt. As it moves along, the paper is given a strong electrical charge. When the paper moves near the upper belt, its strong charge attracts the charged toner particles away from the belt. The image is rapidly transferred from the belt onto the paper. The inked paper passes through two hot rollers (the fuser unit). The heat and pressure from the rollers fuse the toner particles permanently onto the paper. The final copy emerges from the side of the copier. Thanks to the fuser unit, the paper is still warm. It may still have enough static electric charge to stick to your pullover. Try it (but make sure the ink is dry first).
FRSC 7104 – Chapter 20 Outline • Alterations, Erasures, Obliterations • Alterations
FRSC 7104 – Chapter 20 Outline • Erasures
FRSC 7104 – Chapter 20 Outline • Obliterations
FRSC 7104 – Chapter 20 Outline • Methods of Examination Video Spectral Comparison
FRSC 7104 – Chapter 20 Outline • Chromatography of Ink Samples • Mass Spectrometry
FRSC 7104 – Chapter 20 Outline • Indented Writings
FRSC 7104 – Chapter 20 Outline • Paper and Watermark Examinations
FRSC 7104 – Chapter 20 Outline • Burned or Charred Paper
FRSC 7104 – Chapter 20 Outline • Conclusions of Handwriting Comparisons
FRSC 7104 – Chapter 20 Outline Chapter Summary • A questioned document is any piece of writing or printing whose source or authenticity is in doubt • Questioned document examiners undergo years of apprenticeship training • Examiners compare handwriting, typewriting, or printing samples, analyze paper and ink, restore altered documents, and identify forged or fraudulent documents • Known exemplars are critical for successful examination • Much research has been done on inks and papers