Forensic Science Document Analysis

1. Forensic ScienceDocument Analysis Mr. Glatt 2013-2014

2. Document Analysis • Document Analysis is the examination and comparison of questioned documents with known material. • Questioned Documents- any signature, handwriting, typewriting, or other written mark whose source or authenticity is in dispute or uncertain • Experts establish the authenticity of documents and detect any changes, erasures, or obliterations that may have occurred • Obliteration- writing over top to smear or make orginal writing unreadable

3. Common Questioned Documents • Checks • Certificates • Wills • Passports • Licenses • Money • Letters • Contracts • Suicide Notes • Receipts • Even Lottery Tickets

4. Handwriting Analysis • Like Fingerprints, every person’s handwriting is unique and personalized • Handwriting is difficult to disguise or forge • Good tool for including or excluding persons when determining a match with an exemplar • Questioned documents are compared to exemplars to determine matches • Exemplars- prewritten handwriting samples from a suspect(s)

5. History of Handwriting Analysis • 1930s—handwriting analysis played a role in the famous Lindbergh case. • 1999—the US Court of Appeals determined that handwriting analysis qualifies as a form of expert testimony • To be admissible in court, scientifically accepted guidelines must be followed • Scotland Yard, the FBI, and the Secret Service use handwriting analysis

6. Introduction to Handwriting • Everyone’s handwriting exhibits natural variation • Writing instruments- pen, pencil, marker ect… • Mood, age, hurried • Brain does writing- methods of writing become subconscious • Adults show little variation

7. 12 Characteristics of HandwritingLine Quality • Do the letters flow or are they erratic and shaky?

8. 12 Characteristics of HandwritingSpacing • Are letters equally spaced or crowded? • Are margins evenly spaced?

9. 12 Characteristics of HandwritingSize Consistency • Is the ratio of height to width consistent?

10. 12 Characteristics of HandwritingContinuous • Is the writing continuous or does the writer lift the pen/pencil?

11. 12 Characteristics of HandwritingConnecting Letters • Are the capital and lowercase letters connected and continuous?

12. 12 Characteristics of HandwritingLetters Complete • Are letters completely formed? Or, is part of a letter missing?

13. 12 Characteristics of HandwritingCursive and Printed Letters • Are there printed letters, cursive letters, or both?

14. 12 Characteristics of HandwritingPen Pressure • Is pressure equal when applied to upward and downward strokes?

15. 12 Characteristics of HandwritingSlant • Left, right, or variable?

16. 12 Characteristics of HandwritingLine Habits • Is the text on the line, above the line, or below the line?

17. 12 Characteristics of HandwritingFancy Curls or Loops • Are there fancy loops? • Any other distinguishing features?

18. 12 Characteristics of HandwritingPlaces of Crosses on t’s & Dots on i’s • Are t’s crossed? • t’s crossed in middle, toward top, or toward bottom • Are i’s dotted? • Dotted toward left, toward right, or centered

19. Handwriting Examination • Two writings came from one person if: • their similarities are unique and • no unexplainable difference(s) are found • Examine the questionable document for detectable traits and record them • Obtain a known sample of the suspect’s writing (an exemplar) • Compare and draw conclusions about the authorship of the questionable document

20. Technology Used in Handwriting Analysis • Biometric Signature Pads • “Learns” to recognize how a person signs • Evaluates speed, pressure, and rhythm of the signature • Recognizes forgeries by the detection of even slight differences • Computerized Analysis • Compares handwriting samples objectively • Compared with samples stored in databases

21. Handwriting Analysis • Evidence in the Courtroom • Expert explains how comparisons were made • Cross-examination by defense attorney may follow • Must be able to justify and defense usually has their own expert witness to try to refute • Shortcomings in Analysis • Are the base documents real or fake? • Did mood, age, fatigue impact the handwriting? • Did experts miss details any details?

22. Forgery and Fraudulence (Fraud) • Forgery- making, altering, or falsifying a person’s signature or any other aspect of a document with the intent to deceive another • Forged documents include: • checks • employment records • legal agreements • licenses • wills • Fraudulence—forgery for material gain

23. Check Forgery • Check forgery can include: • ordering another’s checks from a deposit slip • altering a check • intercepting another’s check, altering, and cashing it • creating a check from scratch

24. Preventing Check Forgery • Chemically sensitive paper • Large font size requires more ink and makes alterations more difficult • High resolution borders that are difficult to copy • Multiple color patterns on paper • Embed fibers that glow under different light • Use chemical wash detection systems that change color when a check is altered

25. Counterfeiting • Counterfeiting- When false documents or other items are copied for the purpose of deception • A criminal activity existing since antiquity • Items commonly forged today include: • Currency • Traveler’s checks • Food stamps • Certain bonds • Postage stamps

26. Currency • Security features are added to paper currency that scanning cannot reproduce • Regular printer paper contains starch. • Paper currency contains rag fiber instead of starch. • People usually first suspect money as fake because its texture does not feel right

27. Verifying Authentic Currency • Portrait stands out and appears raised off the paper • Contains clear red and blue fibers woven throughout the bill • Has clear, distinct border edges • Treasury seal is shown with clear, sharp saw-tooth points • Watermark appears on the right side of the bill in the light • The security thread is evident—a thin embedded vertical strip with the denomination of the bill printed in it • There is minute printing on the security threads, as well as around the portrait • When the bill is tilted, the number in the lower right-hand corner makes a color shift from copper to green New security features: