1. Forensic Science Questioned Documents
Documentation

2. Questioned Documents
Involves the examination of handwriting, ink, paper, etc. to ascertain the source or authenticity
Examples include letters, checks, licenses, contracts, wills, passports, etc.
Topics
Handwriting analysis
Ink (and pens)
Paper (and pencils)
Forgery
Codes and Ciphers

3. Handwriting Handwriting analysis involves two phases:
The hardware--ink, paper, pens, pencils, typewriter, printers
Visual examination

4. Handwriting Characteristics
Line Quality
Word and Letter Spacing
Letter Comparison
Pen Lifts
Pen Pressure
Lettering Slant
Unusual Letter Formation
Diacritic Placement
Baseline Habits
Body Placement

5. Handwriting Analysis Handwriting Sample of President George Bush
According to Sheila Lowe in her book, Handwriting of the Famous and Infamous, President Bush’s handwriting is “fast and highly simplified in fairly well-organized writing field”.

6. Ink
Chromatography--physically separate mixtures of gases, liquids or dissolved.
Types
Gas Chromatography
HPLC--high-performance liquid chromatography
TLC--thin-layer chromatography
Paper Chromatography

7. Paper Chromatography with Ink
Two samples of black ink from two different manufacturers run using paper chromatography.

8. Retention Factor (Rf)
This is a number that represents how far a compound travels in a particular solvent
It is determined by measuring the distance the compound traveled and dividing it by the distance the solvent traveled.

9. Scientific Equipment
Gas chromatograph--separates mixtures on the basis of their distribution between a stationary liquid phase and a moving gas phase. The written record of the results is called a chromatogram. A typical one will show a series of peaks, with each representing one component of the mixture. The time required to go from the injection out of the column is known as the retention. This allows identification of class characteristics.

10. Scientific Equipment
Mass spectrometer--an instrument that connects to the gas chromatograph. The substance to be identified is exposed to a beam of high-energy electrons causing the molecules of the sample to lose electrons and to acquire a positive charge. These positively charged molecules decompose into numerous fragments. These fragments then pass through an electronic or magnetic field where they are separated according to their masses. The unique feature of mass spectrometry is that no two substances produce the same fragmentation pattern, thus producing individual characteristics.

11. Paper
Weight
Color
Water marks
Age

12. Pencils
Lead
Hardness Scale--a traditional measure of the hardness of the "leads" (actually made of graphite) in pencils. The hardness scale, from softer to harder, takes the form ..., 3B, 2B, B, HB, F, H, 2H, 3H, 4H, ..., with the standard "number 2" pencil being of hardness 2H.

13. Forgery Credit Cards Check Fraud Art--imitation with intent to deceive
Theft of card or number
Art--imitation with intent to deceive
Microscopic examination
Electromagnetic radiation
Chemical analysis
Check Fraud
Forgery
Counterfeit
Alterations
Paper Money
Identity
Social Security
Driver’s license

14. Codes and Ciphers
Codes--letter combinations or symbols used to represent words or concepts
Interception from terrorists and other war enemies
Ciphers--a message in which letters or symbols replace the actual letters in the message.

15. CRAZY CRIMINALS
According to Point of View, a magazine published by the Alameda county District Attorney’s office, a guy walked into an Oakland bank and handed the teller a note reading, “this is a stikkup. Hand over all yer money fast.”
Guessing from this that the guy was no rocket scientist, the teller replied, “I’ll hand over the cash as long as you sign for it. It’s a bank policy that all robbers have to sign for their money.”
The guy thought this over, then said “Uh, I guess that’s OK.” He signed his full name and address. That’s where the cops found him a few hours later.

16. Used as Evidence
1. Class characteristic--the type of ink may have similar characteristics at the primary and/or secondary crime scene, on the suspect or on the victim. Handwriting may be used to include or exclude a suspect.
2. Individual characteristic--With document analysis, it is difficult to identify to an individual characteristic except with typewriter or printer specific marks.