Forensic document examination analyzes documentary evidence in legal investigations, including handwriting identification, paper and ink analysis, alteration detection, and indentations. It can aid investigations by determining authenticity, ownership, and preparation details of documents.
Forensic document examination is the scientific analysis of documentary evidence in legal investigations. It tends to be applied most often in forgery cases, but can be used in any case that has documents as evidence, such as suicide notes or ransom letters. Examiners study contracts, personal notes, or any other documents involved in an investigation to determine their authenticity or ownership.
Handwriting identification is one of the most common forms of forensic document examination. It is based on the notion that individuals have unique writing characteristics, such as the slant of words or the amount of pressure used when writing. To determine whether a document was written by a suspect, an examiner uses magnifying glasses and microscopes to compare an existing handwriting sample with the document’s evidence. The writing sample must match the test type for an accurate comparison. For example, cursive handwriting can only be compared to another cursive example.
If the author of a document is unknown, examiners are trained to recognize features of handwriting formation to build a suspicious profile. They look for both class handwriting characteristics and individual handwriting characteristics. Class characteristics are traits of writing that tend to be shared by certain groups, such as particular language groups or occupations. Individual characteristics are letter formations or writing styles that are unique to a specific writer.
Forensic document examination can aid in investigations by giving investigators an idea of where and when a document was prepared. Examiners may study the paper and ink under a microscope to determine the type of typewriter, printer or copier used. They can also identify the variety of ink. Although forensic document examiners can estimate the date a document was created based on the condition of the paper or other physical clues, only an ink chemist can determine the precise date the ink was used.
Examiners also check documents for alterations or deletions. They may use a video spectral comparator, a machine that illuminates the document with infrared light and causes added or deleted marks to glow differently than the original writing. Alteration or write-off detection is often used in fraud cases where dates or monetary amounts are changed on a contract or check. It can also be used in the case of contested consent forms to demonstrate whether a checkmark was placed at a different time than when the document was filled out.
Forensic document examination may involve documents that have no visible marks. If a note was written on a pad or stack of papers, it leaves indentations in the other layers that are not easily seen by the naked eye. For example, if a kidnapping suspect uses a notepad to write a ransom note, examiners can use an electrostatic sensing apparatus to create an image of the underlying layers of paper on a transparent film. Examiners can see if that particular notebook was the one used in the crime.
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