A Questioned Document can be This is obvious in the knowns, and even though Q1 - Q3 may have been formed against an artificial baseline, these strokes are evident in the "1" of "14" in Q1 and in the "P" and "M" of Q2. Forensic Document Examination or Questioned Document Examination involves the scientific examination of suspicious documents. The purpose of this paper is to provide guidance in writing forensics reports. The top line is from Q2 and the bottom is from K. The "M"s show further evidence of identity in the shape and movement of the center curved stroke and the small hitch in the line which occurs in the same place in each writing. Forensic Entomology – Using Insects for Forensic Investigations, Smart City Vishakapatnam’s Step towards a Dedicated Cyber Forensic Laboratory, Your Quick Guide to the Cyber Laws in India. Forensic Document Examination can reveal for evidence of alterations, obliterations, erasures and page substitutions. All that remains is for the original to be produced to ascertain that the questioned material was actually written on that document, and not placed there mecanically. The baseline of K1 is basically straight, although lacking in the precision shown in Q1-3. The properties of a questioned document that are examined include handwriting, signatures, and typewriting. Notice this letter spacing in the exhibit below. • Kidnappings Ways in which Your Smart Home is Vulnerable to Hackers, Busting the Myths About Facebook’s Data Use, How to File a Cyber Crime Complaint in India, The History of Forensic Ballistics – Ballistic Fingerprinting. • Stalking This field of study started in the early 20th century as a method of identifying fraud and determining the authenticity of vital documentation. Incognito Forensic Foundation (IFF Lab) is a private forensic science laboratory in India with offices in Bangalore and Chennai. • Analysis of paper, ink and/or pencil used. Is the signature on the will indeed that of the deceased? It involves a close monitoring of the writer by the investigator and/or document examiner. The bottoms of the letters "D", "B", "O", and others are complete, although flattened. Forensic document examination is all about analyzing and comparing questioned documents with known materials in other to ascertain the author of the document. • Identity Theft Collected Writing Specimens are handwriting samples of the subject, collected from the site or crime scene prior to the investigation. • Cheques Is the signature on a mortgage loan authentic? Certified Questioned Document Examiner. • Homicides The baseline of Q1, Q2 and Q3 is artificially straight and appears to have been formed by holding a straightedge on the paper as a guide. Say a suicide note is found at the investigation scene. 3. This helps them confirm or exclude suspects from the investigation. Examples of these types of documents include: passports, security and identity documents, and share certificates. In this case, comments were added to a document. 2. This document provides information on the background, risk mitigation tactics, nonroutine offsite options, and additional considerations for the forensic examination of unclassified forensic digital/multimedia evidence. Document examiners trained in handwriting and signature analysis are thus able to identify a forged handwriting/signature from a genuine one. • Ink stamps Other methods of ink examination include subjecting the questioned document to infrared radiation. • Bank Drafts • Watermarks Forensic accounting utilizes accounting, auditing, and investigative skills to conduct an examination into a company or individual's financial statements. • Tampering and photo-substitution Traditional Forensic Document Examination, and that undertaken by most FDEs, predominantly involves the examination of handwriting and signatures to ascertain authorship. Conclusions: After a thorough examination of the questioned document, it is the examiner's opinion that the known writing (K1) and the questioned writing (Q1, Q2, and Q3) were written by the same person. Sample Case - Sample Case, Report, and Exhibit. Between the time of her death and when she was found, evidence suggested that her body had been stored at low temperatures. Do you Need Cyber Insurance? 8. Because ink chromatography is destructive to the document - a sample must be taken - it is generally used as a last resort. • ID Cards Forensic document examination has mostly been associated with ‘white collar crimes’ involving business or financial deals. Its state-of-the-art forensic laboratory and approach of staying abreast of the latest in technologies, terminology, and procedures renders IFF Lab a name that can be trusted. At times, forensic document examiners are asked to evaluate evidence consisting of indentations left on a sheet of paper that was under a written document. Who verifies these documents that have a controversial origin or authenticity? Many questioned document cases are proven on evidence other than handwriting examination. Documents recovered from a crime scene or a suspect may also give crucial leads from impression evidence or indented writing. How Can Social Profiling Aid in the Hacking of Elections? 5 unbelievable things that can get hacked! Workers have reported the use of image processing techniques in forensic document examinations., , , , The present study aims to explore the uses of image processing techniques for the examination of computer manipulated documents. Were they written by the same person who wrote the body of the document? Imaging instruments such as a Video Spectral Comparator (VSC) use radiations of different wavelengths to identify additions, erasures or alternations. Such specimens are purposely created under controlled conditions for the purpose of handwriting examination. • Agreements The most familiar area of questioned-document examination is handwriting analysis. The Questioned Document is a photocopy of a government form. INITIAL EVIDENCE ASSESSMENT AND HANDLING 1.1. Handwriting comparison is the most common work performed by a questioned document examiner. The cross bar of the "A" and the buckle" of the "R" are positioned close to the baseline. However, when analyzed with an Electrostatic Detection Device (EDD), they reveal certain invisible impressions or indentations. Although there was not a large amount of writing, a conclusive opinion was possible. IFF Lab has a state-of-the-art forensic lab in Bangalore equipped with digital imaging instruments, microscopes and other specialized equipment for document analysis. Procedures and Observations: All of the writing in this case was examined with the unaided eye and under microscope at magnifications from 7X through 25X. It provides services for Questioned Document Examination including handwriting examination and other analyses for verifying the authenticity of a document. Forensic document examiners, on the other hand, are skilled forensics scientists with a demonstrated expertise in applied questioned document examination. Such changes that are not visible to the naked eye can be detected using photography and UV/IR imaging devices. Notice this in the words "associated", "protracted", "to one", "more" and "off-peak" in the known writing and with the word "woo woo" in Q3. The different types of questioned documents could include any document having personal or business connotations. It is an apprenticeship field, requiring years of practice and work with an experienced examiner. 5. Many countries in the world recognize that forensic document examination is vital to immigration and border control security and have a forensic document examination facility. • Suicides Q1 - Printed note written diagonally in the upper left corner of the QD, Q2 - Printed line "Sherriff's Department" written at top center of the QD, Q3 - Printed excalmation written diagonally in the upper right corner of the QD. Determining printing processes and security features on identity documents are analyzed using a digital microscope for reviewing fine details. In the case of typewritten questioned documents, Document Examiners go to the extent of examining the very machines that produced them. • Currency notes IFF Lab provides digital and cyber forensic solutions across multiple verticals. 6. Examination - the critical study of a document which may be made with a magnifying glass, stereo microscope, special computer equipment, photography, or other specialized instruments. Beware! Our target Word document is a document created on 8/30/2018 8:19 PM (PDT) using Word 2007 on a computer running Windows 7 SP-1. Learn the basics of forensic document examination in one year or less. It need not necessarily be a ‘document’ per se. There is a shortage of document examiners in the criminal justice system due to the limited education and training programs available across the United States. • Printing processes How about Forensic Science? Let's find out in this lesson on alteration, obliteration, and ink examination. As further illustration of this characteristic the known and questioned writing have been optically overlaid and photographed through a comparison microscope. Topics discussed include training and qualifications for forensic document examiners as well as the various methods used to exam differing projects, such as signatures, checks, computer and type generated documents, as well as obliterated writing. 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Question: Were Q1, 2 and 3 written by the same person who wrote the known writing? • Contested Contracts. K1 refers to the known writing, and Q1,2 and 3 are the questioned writing. Color is achieved by using filters on the microcope's illuminators. At present, every other person is adept at using Adobe Photoshop, Acrobat and other visual editing software. Although the writing is hand printed, there are connections from letter to letter and places where adjacent letters touch. For example, documents kept below other documents while writing may contain, Applications of Questioned Document Examination, Cases where Forensic Document Examination is Applied, Questioned Document Analysis by Document Examiners, Examination of Printers, Fax Machines, Typewriters and Photocopy Machines, Detection of Deletions, Erasures and Other Alterations. Forensic Document Examiners Official Formation The ABFDE’s stated objectives are two‐fold: to establish, maintain and enhance standards of 1977 1956 qualification for those who practice forensic document examination, and to certify applicants who comply … Forensic Document Examination can reveal for evidence of alterations, obliterations, erasures and page substitutions. My Dashboard; Pages; Forensic Case Report Examples; 2016-17 IVC Spring. Notice this small stroke on the "M"s shown here. In the world of forensic analysis, which includes crime scene investigation, DNA testing, fiber analysis, fingerprint analysis, voice identification and narcotics analysis, to name just a few of the disciplines, handwriting analysis fits into the area of questioned documents. Document examiners sometimes use liquid chromatography to extract samples of ink from a questioned document for analysis. and secure file transfers can support a secure remote examination environment. How to Avoid and What to Do After a Data Breach? Document Examiners involved in handwriting examination divide handwriting samples into two types – Collected Writing Specimens and Requested Writing Specimens. The exhibits above were produced to illustrate mock trial testimony given in this case. It was saved as a DOC file by using the “Word 97-2003 Document” option in the file save dialog in Word. In such cases, handwriting examination is applied to compare the handwriting with original samples collected from the scene. In the illustration (right) a glass plate containing an etched line has been placed on top of the questioned document and photographed to point out the straightness of the baseline and the flattened bottoms of the letters in Q1, 2 and 3. The red is the questioned writing, the green is the known, and the black is where the two overlap. Forensic Document Examination helps answer questions whether the note was written by the deceased or someone trying to manipulate investigators? Forensic Document Examiners, Inc. is dedicated to providing professional forensic services in the field of questioned documents. ... Forensic Document … In this article, forensic document examiner, Mark Songer provides an overview of forensic document examination. Evidence might include alterations, the chain of possession, damage to the document, forgery, origin, authenticity, or other questions that come up when a document is challenged in court. • Rubber stamps, cheque-writers, and label and price markers, • Analysis of paper, ink and/or pencil used, Document Examiners involved in handwriting examination divide handwriting samples into two types –, Questioned Document Examination – Incognito Forensic Foundation (IFF Lab), Incognito Forensic Foundation (IFF Lab) is a private forensic science laboratory in India with offices in Bangalore and Chennai. Ensure your safety with these tips. Questioned document examiners define a ‘questioned document’ as any piece of evidence that bears symbols, marks or signs meant for a communication. Document Examiners are mostly required to answer questions on the authorship or authenticity of a document. Even burned or shredded documents can give significant leads to an investigation if they are reconstructed. This helps to produce evidence about a questioned document that is admissible in the court of law to prove its legitimacy. Who wrote the anonymous note found at a crime scene? The purpose of handwriting comparison • Medical Malpractices Typewriters, printing or photocopy machines also produce unique properties on its output depending on its abuse, damage, wear and tear. Copyright © 2001-2008 Emily J. This has made document forgery a cakewalk for individuals with corrupt intentions. A Questioned Document is any handwritten/typewritten document having a questionable authenticity and subjected to a forensic document examination. • Rubber stamps, cheque-writers, and label and price markers #74, Third Floor, Prestige Ferozes Building, Cunningham Rd, Vasanth Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560052, AL Lakshmi Achi Building, No: 55, 2nd Floor Kavignar Bharathidasan Road Teynampet Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600018, © 2019 IFF Lab All rights reserved | Terms & Conditions | Privacy & Policy, Types of Questioned Documents - Forensic Document Examination, Common Types of Questioned Documents Subjected to Forensic Document Examination, Sometimes even documents that do not bear any visible mark is subjected to forensic document examination. For example, when a party (such as a civilly or criminally detained individual) or another in- ... throughout this document), replaces the 1991 “Specialty Guidelines for ... examination findings, and the opinions of other psycholegal experts. Therefore, the straigntness of the baseline is not due to the bottom of the writing being clipped off with scissors in a cut and paste maneuver. Handwriting and signature are unique to a particular individual. • Extortion • Alterations Anonymous Writing. • Fraud Its forensic document examiners are adept at analyzing different types of questioned documents using physical and other scientific methods. This is true in K1 and in Q1- 3. For typewritten documents, a detailed analysis of the printer and the printing process is done. Although the ability to detect and disseminate intelligence about fraudulent documents is vital to border security, there are still countries lacking this capacity. Exemplars are examples of a person’s writing. We work with attorneys, district attorneys, public defenders, police departments, investigators, banks, insurance companies, and other private entities, providing a wide range of document related services. This same spacing is seen in the words "visiting", "times" "inmates" and "special" in the known writing. The top lines are also quite straight, but are formed naturally by letters that are consistent in height. As examin-ers, forensic practitioners may assess an individual’s func- The Good and Bad of Cryptocurrency – Is Investing in Cryptocurrencies Wise? The following writing characteristics are apparent: 1. Documents such as letters, diaries, canceled cheques, medical records, business contracts or other legal documents containing a signature are good sources of writing samples.