FRS 401.pptx lecture notes for undergradutes

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1. Questioned Documents FRS 401

2. Definitions Document – somet h in g tha t c o n tai n s in f ormati o n normally made of paper, but other materials including boards, walls e v en bodie s ca n bea r wri t t en me s sa g es Questioned Authenticity is questioned Counterfeit? Who is the author? Source?

3. T w o le v els of in f ormation Superficial where what is conveyed by the document is expressed in writing, typewriting, or p ri n ti n g , or a c omb i n a ti o n Deeper other, less obvious, evidence can be found The main area of interest identit y of th e wri t er th e sou r c e of th e ty p ewrit i n g or p rint i ng the presence of traces of erased entries

4. Evidence that can be obtained from a document A connection between a crime and an individual the exclusion of that individual from the investigation, can be established. Author Authenticity Age

5. Ana l y sis Scientific method Accepted technique Proper trained experts Not relying on instinct Working in a prescribed manner

6. 1. Documents with questioned signatures. any one of the ordinary commercial or legal papers such as a check, note, receipt, draft, order, contract, assignment, will, deed, or similar paper the signature of which is under suspicion. In this class are found the traced forgery the forgery produced by the simulating or copying process.

7. 2. Documents containing alleged fraudulent alterations all those in which it is alleged some alteration has been made by erasure, addition, interlineation or substitution by reason of which the effect or value of the document is ma t er i al l y ch a n g ed. In connection with this class of documents questions may arise regarding t h e o r der or s eq ue n c e of wr i tin g as s h o wn b y c r os s ed lines a g e of wr i ting c ontinuity of w r i t ing e r a s u r es and ch a n g e s , ide nti t y of ink ide nti t y of p en p en c o n d it i on under certain conditions, the question may arise whether writing preceded or followed the folding of the paper. This important class of questioned documents also includes all varieties of "raised" checks, drafts and notes as well as fraudulent interlineations in contracts, deeds, wills and other legal papers.

8. 3. H ol o g r aph d o cument s questione d or dispu t ed. Watermarks Seals Tickets of many kinds are frequently forged or counterfeited r a r e sta m p s valuable manuscripts Certificates le tt ers of int r oducti o n and r e c ommen d ati o n, Diplomas marri a g e c erti f ica t e s , marria g e c o n t r act s , c o u r t p a p ers autographs and letters of famous people

9. 4. Documents attacked on the question of their age or date. in which the age of an instrument or the age of some part of it is investigated a paper i n w hich th e c ompa r at i v e a g e of dif f e r ent par t s m a y h a v e some bearing on the question of its genuineness. purport to be ancient documents of great importance it is usually claimed, were found in some strange place or under peculiar conditions

10. 5. Documents attacked on the question of materials used in their production Documents have frequently been shown to be false because they were da t ed ma n y y ears be f o r e th e paper w as mad e on w hich th ey w e r e written type printed forms lithographed forms Typewriting Seals Envelopes stamp s , or a n y tangibl e thin g tha t m a y h a v e a d a t e v alue

11. 6. Documents investigated on the question of typewriting (a) With a view to ascertaining their source. (b) With a v i ew t o de t ermining the ir d a t e.

12. 7 . Documents or writings i n v estiga t ed becaus e they identify some person through handwriting (a) Anonymous and disputed letters. all documents, papers, writings or instruments which by their handwriting and contents tend to identify some person (b)registrations and miscellaneous writings.

13. Preliminary examination

14. s y s t emat i c app r oach standard method of operation assures that a complete analysis is conducted methodically meets the requirements for expert testimony, according to Daubert.

15. F irs t s t ep Determining whether the material is of good quality Contains enough characteristics of handwriting to be identifiable Squiggly lines and initials or short signatures may not contain enough characteristics Initials (found in teachers most commonly)

16. Second Step – only if sufficient characteristics can be found E x emplar c ol l ect i on (S t an d a r d wri t in g ) determine if they are suitable for comparison with the questioned material. mus t b e r ep r esenta t i v e of th e wri t er wri tt en un d er similar c o n dition s as th e ques t ione d ma t er i al within a reasonable time frame.

17. Exemplar Parameters should come from an environment similar to that of the questioned material should reflect the physical and mental condition of the writer at the time of the questioned writing should have been written before the questioned material and some shortly after should c o n ta i n su i tabl e ma t er ia l f or c omparison, such as sim i lar le tt er combinations and spacing all of the exemplars are genuine

18. Factors to be kept in mind Mechanical factors such as writing instrument type of paper writing surface amount of li g ht use d . Physical factors incorporate health of the writer, both physical and mental any handicaps or accidents affecting the writing hand whether the writer was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. amount of formal education of the writer in order to identify the skill level.

19. Initial examination sea r c h f or o b v i ous si g n s of f o r g e r y i n th e q uest ione d m a t er ial. simple forgery is generally the easiest type of forgery to identify determine if there is any evidence of self-disguise (if there are no signs of forgery)

20. Basic tools needed for forensic documents’ examination UV

21. Ultraviolet fluorescence can be used as a means for testing whether two or more pieces are similar or different materials, such as glues, adhesive tapes, and sealing waxes, can also be distinguished by their fluorescences applicat i on of so l v ents or chemical s t o paper ca n caus e the fluorescence to change some differences between inks Invisible inks writing that has been erased

22. 10-400nm in wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum Three types Short w a v elength – 180 -280 Sterilization, chromatography, etc Medium wavelength -280-320 Cosmetic and therapeutic purpose Long wavelength – 320-400 Bene f i c i a l f or f o r ensic e x ami n ati o n

23. Inf r a r ed longer wavelengths than visible light generally invisible to the human eye can be felt as heat by humans 700 nanometers (nm) to 1 millimeter (mm) readily absorbed and converted in to the heat energy

24. Analysis of Inks any disputed or altered document use of two different types of inks is suspected differences among the reflectivity of the ink used

25. Analysis of Obliterated Writings using correction fluid and then over-writing by damaging the previous text and then over-writing One ink will be opaque and other will be transparent at certain wavelength

26. Examination of Erasures Small particles of the ink or pencil often linger in the outline when writing is erased mechanically Cancellation Marks The cancelation mark residues may not be visible duets the stamp's dark background. An infrared photograph may reveal the remains of previous marks of cancellation. Water Damaged the residual ink in the paper fluoresced in the infrared and this can be recorded further t o deciphe r th e wri t t en ma tt e r .

27. ES D A

28. Elect r osta t i c de t ection ap p a r atus to decipher indentations or impressions in paper. a non-destructive technique capable of detecting indentations or impressions or sub-surface writings created on pages which are several layers beneath the top- most sheet.

29. Indented writing writing that is formed to a sheet of paper underneath the one on which the original writing was done. he pressure exerted by the pen or pencil is sufficient to indent the papers beneath par t ial l y v i sible dep r essions he inde n t ed wri t in g w ould appear as a ca r b o n c o p y of th e t op sheet

30. Working of ESDA Plastic sheet and questioned document with some toner Put in vacuum Charge is applied Difference in charge on the plastic sheet corresponding to the indentations of the questioned document T o n er g oes and r ests th e r e c r eat i n g a ca r b o n ima g e of th e inde n ta t ions marks.

31. C omp o nents 1. Main Unit 2. Reel holder (Imaging film) 3. Corona Wand 4. M ains p o w er adap t er

32. Procedure The document is placed on a porous, electrically earthen plate A length of thin, transparent imaging film (Mylar) is placed over the d o cumen t t o c omp l e t e l y c o v er i t . Negative electrical charge is deposited onto the upper surface of the imaging film an electrostatic image forms on the imaging film electrostatic image is developed and made visible by applying negativelycharged black toner powder to the imaging film ESDA image is made permanent by laminating the imaging film with a sheet of adhesive fixing film

33. USES Cheque Forgery-: In this category of forgery, possibility of cheque book in the hands of awful people can be there. The person can forge the signature on cheque and withdraw the money. In such a case we can examine second c h eque f or a n y in d en ta t io n s p r ese n t. Traced Forgery-: Traced forgery can be done by tracing signature or handwriting impressed on second page. The forger will follow the pattern of indentation of signature or handwriting to forge the signature or handwriting of someone. In this case deciphering of traced forgery can be done using ESDA. Ransom note existence can be determined from the source of indentations by deciphering it on another piece of paper (culprit’s notepad) in case written. An anonymous letter may bear impressions of writings that relate to some everyday activity of the offender which can ultimately lead an investigator to a p articu l ar su sp ect.

34. H an d writing

35. an acquired skill complex perceptual-motor task a neuromuscular task one of the most advanced achievements of the human hand

36. The process of handwriting 27 bones in the hand controlled by more than 40 muscles situated in the lower arm and connect to the fingers by an intricate set of tendons. precisely coordinated by a timing system a neural control of movements of the arm, the hand, and the fingers determines the structure of the pattern that is recorded by the pen or pencil

37. D e v elopment of writing cultu r e depen d ent cultu r es dif f er with lo c ales undergo constant change class, system, or national characteristics

38. Attributes a continuous or flowing task ap p a r e n t i n t erruptio n s at w o r d boun d aries pen movement may be continuous and uninterrupted skilled performance of handwriting - smooth execution of a structured sequence of coordinated movements particular pattern of these movements constitutes the habitual aspects of writing with practice and skill, the execution of writing habits becomes more automatic Making the writing process less subject to conscious control.

39. History of the study of handwriting the correlation of writing features and various medical and mental conditions identify the affects of social status, self-esteem, and sex upon handwriting correlation of writing features and particular personality characteristics pedagogy of writing and remedial approaches to improve its quality in the writing of children

40. Principles of Handwriting No two people write exactly alike all writing contains natural variation so that no two writing samples by th e same wri t er will b e e x act l y th e same W r i t i n g i s a c omp l ex act and a hi g h l y de v eloped skill. M a n y in f luen c es affect the development of each person’s writing ability, resulting in the unique style of each individual writer

41. Some additional points beginning of the individuality - visual observation of one’s surroundings Writing is affected by what we see and what we remember

42. Factors that help in mastering handwriting powers of observation the ability to remember the forms attempt to reproduce the forms observed. ability to overcome the mechanical and physical impediments to writing p laci n g th e p a p er at th e p r o p er an g le holding the paper in place with one hand to steady it while writing with the other, learni n g t o c o n t r ol th e p en or p encil and di r ect th e m o v ements Choosin g a p en tha t y ou a r e c om f ortable w i th

43. Natural variations in Handwriting

44. graphic maturity - Once a writer has reached the permanent condition of automatic writing Continues until some physical or mental disturbance interferes

45. Robert Saudek [ states that a person is capable of writing fluently, easily, and automatically only under the following conditions: The writer is familiar with the letters so that mention of a letter conjures a graphic image of that letter in his or her mind. The writer has control of the writing instrument and the mechanical factors of the paper, pen, and writing surface do not interfere with the writing. The writer is free of any physical impediment that would hinder writing. The writer knows how to spell the words and does not have to concentrate on the spelling. The writer is writing in his or her native language.

46. Basic factors that influence writing MECHANICAL FACTORS ch a n g e of bo d y p os i tion Lighting t yp e of p en and p a p er writing surface TIME SPAN ch a n g es o v er t h e c our s e of o n e ’ s li f e. f r om ch i l d hood t o ad o le s c en c e change again when one reaches adulthood u n ti l o n e r eaches g r a p h i c matu r ity decline as the aging process reduces one’s skill level HEALTH BLINDNESS

47. MENTAL HEALTH DRUGS AND MEDICATION ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE ACCIDENTALS GUIDED HAND TREMOR IN HANDWRITING

48. De t ermining the a g e and r elat i v e a g e of documents

49. is not as old as it purports to be whether a document is actually as old as its date would indicate to show the probable date of an undated document whether several documents, or several writings bearing different dates, are not actually of the same age

50. P aper w hen th e paper w as f i r st ma n ufact u r ed th e ma n ufactu r er of th e paper mus t b e k n o wn the manufacturer must have records that disclose when certain combinations of materials were first introduced watermark found in better grades of writing, typing, and computer printing papers Few watermarks include a dating code that allows the manufacturer to de t er min e th e y ear i n w hich th e paper w as made

51. Records are generally available changes in design of the watermark or by defects developed over time in the watermark dandy roll – help in dating documents or proving the dates fraudulent Making watermarks – a simple process- ht tps://w ww.y outube.c om /watch?v=QQwTblKyU8g

52. Writing Inks Dur i n g th e 20 t h c entu r y a n umbe r of n ew chemical s w e r e de v eloped and used in the production of writing inks. new classes of inks have been developed for use in a variety of pens now on the market, including ballpoint, roller ball, porous tip and gel Their presence on a document of a particular date may be inconsistent with th e ea r liest a v aila b ili t y of th e writ i n g i n k or pen In the early 1970s rare-earth elements, and later special chemicals, were added to some inks in order to tag them for identification and dating purposes

53. The rare-earth component was dropped early on due to problems in detecting their presence and other analytical problems. Extensive ink reference libraries have been developed by government laboratories in the U.S. and overseas as well as by a small number of private practitioners The application of TLC allows for the differentiation of the various dye c ompon e n t s tha t m a k e u p th e i n k ’ s c olo r . The results can be compared with the ink reference library and probable matches made, which may allow the document examiner to establish the earliest date of commercial availability. These reference specimens are most helpful in proving that a document could not have been written on a certain date because the ink was not then available.

54. Pho t o c opi e r s and Prin t ers earliest copier models used a liquid toner la t er y ears d r y t o n er be c ame th e stan d a r d advances in inkjet technology Dot matrix technology has, to some extent, fallen by the way It may be possible to determine that a document could not have been produced on the date suggested based on the availability of the copying or printing process at that time.

55. P aper

56. Egyptians used papyrus as a writing surface. To make papyrus, they mashed reeds together into a flat sheet of pulp and dried them. They mixed soot with water as ink and sharpened a reed into a pen to write on the papyrus. https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO72jfUCYSg

57. Vellum was created as a writing surface from the skin of calves. It came into use in the second century BC paper from the inner bark of bamboo and hemp Th e A r abs learned t o ma k e paper w hen the y c o n q ue r ed th e Chines e in 751 Eleven hundred years later Europeans began making paper, using cotton and linen as the base William Rittenhouse of Roxborough, PA founded the first paper plant in America in 1690.

58. T o d a y mos t paper i s ma d e f r om w ood pulp and m a y c o n ta i n some cotton. Hi g her q uality paper use s c o tt on r ag a scientific process that employs highly sophisticated equipment in the manufacture of thousands of varieties of paper

59. chipping pulpwood into small pieces that are then mixed with chemicals and fed into pressure vessels called digesters to soften the lignin, which binds the fibers together. In this cooking process, the cellulose fibers are separated. They proceed through several stages of washing, screening, cleaning, and, if necessary, bleaching to the desired brightness. Next, the fibers are combined with pigments, dyes, and sizing. This mix t u r e i s m o r e tha n 99 % w a t er and less tha n 1% f ibe r and other solids. It flows onto a moving screen called a Fourdrinier, on which the f ibe rs mat , f orming a c o n t i nuou s sheet of paper with muc h of th e w a t er drawn through the screen into collection tanks to be recycled.

60. The web of pulp passes through heavy rollers, which press moisture from the sheet. This sheet proceeds over steam-heated cylinders to complete the drying stage through the evaporation of the water. Frequently, a starch application or pigmented coating is applied by a size press or coater. The paper then passes through a series of calendar stacks (iron rollers stacked together) that smooth the paper. The paper is rewound into smaller rolls or converted into sheets ready for shipment.

61. W a t er ma r k Dur i n g th e p r essing p r o c ess th e paper passes o v er a da n d y r ol l , w hich imprints the watermark on the paper. The watermark is actually a thinner area of the paper. The dandy roll contains the design of the watermark in a metal form, which pushes the paper fibers aside, leaving an imprint in the paper. Most sheets of paper contain a single watermark, but some paper, such as sa f ety pape r , m a y c o n ta i n mult iple design s . The dandy roll also makes the imprint for woven or laid papers, particularly rag bonds. Laid paper has a grid pattern impressed in the paper

62. PAPER FOR PRINTING OR WRITING Newsprint - is the least expensive paper manufactured. It is composed mostly of ground wood, causing it to discolor easily. Its principal asset is opacity, a result of the impurities of the wood. Offset - an uncoated paper that usually contains fillers and additives. It is bleached and sized to resist water. Cost is slightly more than double the cost of newsprint. It is used for the publication of books as well as catalog sheets, loose-leaf inserts, and tablet paper. Bond paper - so named because it was originally used to print stocks and bonds. It is popular in the modern business office. Law firms frequently use high-quality bond paper.

63. Lightweight, uncoated papers include onionskin, which comes in smooth or cockle finishes, and snap-out forms, which are frequently made with manifold papers made from wood fibers. Another classification in lightweight paper is “bible” paper

64. Questions to Ask About Paper What ki n d of pa p er w as used? Was more than one kind of paper used on a multi-page document? Are the watermarks the same? In the same direction? Is the paper the same size, thickness, color? A r e th e r e a n y m a r ks on th e pa p er? Are there any holes where the paper may have been stapled? Are the holes consistent? W as th e pa p er t orn or da m a g ed? Did it come from a pad? Can the tears be matched?

65. Are those grip marks from a printer feeder? Is the paper lined? Is the paper soiled? Crumbled? Faded? W as th e pa p er cu t b y han d ? Are there any discolorations or stains on the paper? What caused them? Did ink from another page bleed through? Is there any indented writing on the paper? Are there any signs of erasure through abrasion or the application of chemicals? Are the margins on the paper all the same?