Questioned Documents Examinations

Handwriting and Hand Printing

Although not all handwriting is identifiable to a specific writer, the examination of handwriting characteristics can sometimes determine the origin or authenticity of questioned writing. Traits such as age, sex, personality, or intent cannot be determined from handwriting examinations. Some reasons for inconclusive results include the following:

Limited questioned and/or known writing. Lack of contemporaneous writing or lapse of time between execution of questioned and known writing. Distortion or disguise in the questioned and/or known writing. Lack of sufficient identifying characteristics. Submission of photocopied evidence instead of original evidence.

Various handwriting and hand printing analysis techniques are used to examine different forms of obliterated writing.

Procedures for Obtaining Known Writing Exemplars

• The text, size of paper, space available for writing, writing instrument, and writing style (handwriting or hand printing) should be as close to the original writing as possible.
  
  
• Give verbal or typewritten instructions concerning the text to be written. Do not give instructions in spelling, punctuation, or arrangement of writing.
  
  
• All exemplars should be on separate pieces of paper.
  
  
• The writer and witness should initial and date each page of writing.
  
  
• Do not allow the writer to see the previous exemplars or the questioned writing. Remove exemplars from the writer's sight as soon as completed.
  
  
• Obtain exemplars from dictation until normal writing has been produced. Normal handwriting is assessed by determining whether the writing is too quickly or slowly executed and whether the handwriting is consistent.
  
  
• Obtain exemplars from the right and left hands.
  
  
• Obtain hand printing exemplars in upper and lower case letters.
  
  
• Obtain exemplars written rapidly, slowly, and at varied slants.
  
  
• Obtain a sufficient quantity of exemplars to account for natural variation in the writing.
  
  
• Obtain undictated writing such as business records, personal correspondence, and canceled checks.

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Common Types of Nongenuine Signatures

• Traced signatures are prepared by using a genuine signature as a template or pattern.
  
  
• Simulated signatures are prepared by copying or drawing a genuine signature.
  
  
• Freehand signatures are written in the forger's normal handwriting with no attempt to copy another's writing style.

Typewriting

Questioned typewriting can occasionally be identified with the typewriter that produced it. This is most common when the typewriter is a typebar machine. The identification can sometimes be based on individual characteristics that develop during the manufacturing process and through use and abuse of the typewriter.

Typewriters with interchangeable elements (ball, printwheel, or thimble) are less likely to be associated with questioned typewriting. However, these elements and carbon film or correction ribbons can sometimes be associated with specific texts by examining individual characteristics of the elements and by correlating the text and ribbons.

Comparison of questioned typewriting with reference standards can sometimes determine a possible make and model of the typewriter and/or the typewriter elements.

Carbon film typewriter ribbons can sometimes be read for content or specific wording of questioned material. Carbon film ribbons can sometimes be identified with questioned typewritten impressions. Fabric ribbons cannot be read.

Paper is composed of numerous fibers. The randomness of the paper fibers is an identifying characteristic that makes fiber designs unique to a paper sample. The transfer of fiber designs can link a typewriter ribbon to typed text, which enables examiners to positively link a ribbon to text on a document. In the examples above, carbon was transferred (left) when the typeface struck the ribbon to the paper. A reverse transfer of the paper fiber design (right) is made on the plastic ribbon from the pressure exerted by the typeface.

• If the typewriter has a carbon film ribbon, remove it from the typewriter and submit it to the Laboratory. Also submit the correction tape. Insert a new ribbon in the typewriter prior to obtaining exemplars.
  
  
• If the typewriter has a fabric ribbon, remove it from the typewriter and put the typewriter in the stencil position. Place a sheet of carbon paper over a sheet of blank paper and insert both into the typewriter. Allow the typeface to strike the carbon paper. Submit the fabric ribbon strike and the carbon paper strike exemplars to the Laboratory.
  
  
• Obtain two full word-for-word texts of the questioned text and type the entire keyboard (all symbols, numbers, and upper- and lowercase letters) two times.
  
  
• Record the make, model, and serial number of the typewriter on the exemplars. Also record the date the exemplars were obtained and the name of the person who directed the exemplars.
  
  
• Obtain the typewriter service and/or repair history.
  
  
• It is not normally necessary to send the typewriter to the Laboratory; however, in some cases, the examiner will request the typewriter. It should be packed securely to prevent damage during shipment. Typewriter elements (ball, printwheel, or thimble) should also be submitted to the Laboratory.

Photocopies

Photocopies can sometimes be identified with the machine producing them if the exemplars and questioned copies are relatively contemporaneous. The possible make and model of the photocopy machine can sometimes be determined by comparison with the reference file.

Procedures for Obtaining Known Photocopy Exemplars

• Obtain at least ten exemplars with no document on the glass plate, with the cover down.
  
  
• Obtain at least ten exemplars with no document on the glass plate, with the cover up.
  
  
• Obtain at least ten exemplars with a document on the glass plate, with the cover down.
  
  
• Record on each exemplar the date the exemplars were obtained, the name of the person who directed the exemplars, and the conditions under which the exemplars were made.
  
  
• Record the make, model, and serial number of the photocopy machine, information about the toner supplies and components, whether the paper supply is sheet or roll fed, and options such as color, reduction, enlargement, zoom, mask, trim, or editor board.
  
  
• Do not store or ship photocopies in plastic envelopes.

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Graphic Arts (Printing)

Printed documents can sometimes be associated as originating from a common source or identified with known printing paraphernalia such as art work, negatives, and plates.

Altered or Obliterated Writing

The presence of alterations or obliterated writing can sometimes be determined, and the writing can sometimes be deciphered.

Paper

Torn edges can sometimes be positively matched. The manufacturer can sometimes be determined if a watermark is present. Paper can be examined for indented writing. Do not rub the indentations with a pencil. Do not add indentations by writing on top of the evidence.

Burned or Charred Paper

Information on burned or charred documents can sometimes be deciphered. The document should be minimally handled. The document should be shipped in the container in which it was burned, in polyester film encapsulation, or between layers of cotton in a rigid container.

Age of a Document

The earliest date a document could have been prepared can sometimes be determined by examining watermarks, indented writing, printing, and typewriting.

Carbon Paper or Carbon Film Ribbon

Examination of used carbon paper or carbon film ribbon can sometimes disclose the content of the text.

Checkwriters

A checkwriter impression can sometimes be identified with the checkwriter that produced it. Examination of a checkwriter impression can sometimes determine the brand of the checkwriter.

Embossings and Seals

An embossed or seal impression can sometimes be identified with the instrument that produced it.

Rubber Stamps

A rubber stamp impression can sometimes be identified with the rubber stamp that produced it. Submit the rubber stamp to the Laboratory uncleaned.

Submitting Questioned Documents Evidence

Questions concerning document evidence should be directed to 03-9702366. Follow the Evidence Submission directions including Requesting Evidence Examinations and Packaging and Shipping Evidence.

• Documentary evidence should be preserved in the condition in which it was found. It should not be folded, torn, marked, soiled, stamped, written on, or handled unnecessarily. Protect the evidence from inadvertent indented writing. Mark documents unobtrusively by writing the collector's initials, date, and other information with a pencil.
  
  
• Whenever possible, submit the original evidence to the Laboratory. The lack of detail in photocopies makes examinations difficult. Copies are sufficient for reference file searches.
  
  
• Flash paper is a hazardous material. Do not store flash paper near combustible materials. Seal flash paper in polyethylene envelopes and refrigerate. Questions concerning flash paper should be directed to 03-9702366.
  
  
• Do not store or ship photocopies in plastic envelopes.