Document Analysis. Document analysis Write the following: A guy is driving around the back woods of Montana and he sees a sign in front of a broken down.

Document Analysis

Document analysis

Write the following:

A guy is driving around the back woods of Montana and he sees a sign in front of a broken down shanty-style house: ‘Talking Dog For Sale.’ He rings the bell and the owner appears and tells him the dog is in the backyard.

The Lab looks up and says, ‘Well, I discovered that I could talk when I was pretty young. I wanted to help the government, so I told the CIA.

In no time at all they had me jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders, because no one figured a dog would be eavesdropping.’

Document Analysis

The examination of questioned documents with known material for a variety of purposes; such as authenticity, alterations, erasures, obliterations.

History

One of the first important uses was in the case of the kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh’s young son (1927).

1999: officially accepted as uniquely identifying by the US Court of Appeals

I. Document Examiner

A. Role of the document examiner• Identifies efforts to obscure or alter original

contents of writings/typewritten material• May recover original contents of writings or

typewritten material• Evaluates authenticity of

questioned documents

I. Document Examiner cont’d

B. Questioned document• Any object that contains handwritten or

typewritten markings whose source or authenticity is in doubt

• Examples: letters, checks, contracts, wills

C. Collect Known Writings (Exemplars)• Uniqueness of handwriting makes this type

of physical evidence almost like a fingerprint; a definitive physical characteristic

II. Handwriting comparisons

A. General Style• Education guides early handwriting

development. In the US, two major styles taught:

1. Palmer method (1880)

II. Handwriting comparisons cont’d

2. Zaner-Bloser method (1885)

II. Handwriting comparisons cont’d

B. Variations in handwriting

Combination of mechanical, physical, and mental functions

no single characteristic can be the basis of a positive comparison

Forgery of Abraham Lincoln Letter

II. Handwriting comparisons cont’d

C. Major categories of handwriting analysis

Letter form Line form Formatting

12 Points of Comparison

1. Line quality2. Spacing of words and letters3. Relative height, width, and size of letters4. Pen lifts, separations5. Connecting strokes6. Beginning and ending strokes7. Unusual letter formation8. Shading or pen pressure9. Slant of letters10. Baseline habits11. Flourishes or embellishments12. Placement of diacritics

II. Handwriting comparisons cont’d

D. Collection of exemplars1. Known writings should be as similar as possible to the questioned document.

a. writing implement, paper or other

b. similar words and letter combinations c. enough exemplars to establish

natural variationsd. age of exemplars (+/- 2 years)

II. Handwriting comparisons cont’d

2. Minimize deception Require several pages of writing (dictation) Content similar to questioned document Use same writing implement and medium

3. Physical evidence Handwriting specimens are considered physical

evidence; not protected by 5th amendment Taking handwriting samples does not violate 4th

amendment

III. Paper and Ink comparisons

A. Compare Ink “Tagged” ink (rare Earth Metals)

Analyzed by Microspectrophotometer, Chromatography: TLC, HPLC

Since 1970 Ink dating (since 1968; accurate to

within 6 months) Dye ratio

III. Paper and Ink comparisons

B. Compare paper Fiber identification: characterization of

additives, fillers, and pigments Characterization: appearance, color,

weight, watermarks

IV. Typewritten Comparisons

A. Photocopier, Fax, Printer; Type-writers

1. Photocopiers Transitory patterns

2. Fax machines Header called TTI (transmitting terminal identifier);

3. Computer Printer Printer model technology determination and ink type

are most important Categorized as impact (thermal dot-matrix) and

non-impact (laser, ink-jet) application of toner

4. Type-writers

V. Alterations, Erasures, Obliterations

A. Alterations Erasure is most common

(rubber eraser, sand paper) razor blade, knife In all cases, upper fibers of paper

are disturbed

(apparent under microscope)

V. Alterations, Erasures, Obliterations

B. Obliterations Use of chemicals most common (bleach, or

other strong oxidizing agents) Writings can be recovered by use of

microscope or UV light

V. Alterations, Erasures, Obliterations

IR luminescence can show different inks or residue remaining after erasure

VI. Technology

Biometric pad

Computerized analysis (FISH)

Forensic Information System for Handwriting