importance of photography in questioned document examination

Gun Shot Residues/Explosive Residues There are several different types of residues found both in ammunition and explosives, Using this technique, indented impressions have been recovered from up to seven layers of paper beneath the original writings. Any scanner for forensic purposes should capture at least 300 dpi. He discusses the steps that a forensic document examiner follows,, This document is a letter that Mark Songer received from a client, thanking him for the impressive work he did in verifying the authenticity of living trust document. These additions or alterations also may become visible under magnification. This is due to the fact that raised/intended designs tend to accumulate fiber at their edges, lowering the density of paper fiber in that specific area. Ink can be a liquid, paste or powder which used to produce images, text, or to make designs. Thus, it is important that obtained writing specimens be taken from around the time of the questioned document. A document examiner, trying to determine if the document has been altered by chemical methods, would use which of the following? d. Wide-angle lens, The camera's aperture is commonly adjusted on the SLR and DSLR cameras by adjusting what? The increasingly ubiquitous use of computers resulting in computer-generated documents has resulted in difficulties for the questioned document examiner. The lower right picture depicts the . Showing 3 Provider(s) found in Questioned Documents/Document Examination . Terms & Conditions, Document Analysis: A Summary of Possibilities. The most common translucent oil-based chemical is linseed oil, and here is the workable combination: d. Translucent Chemical For Watermarking with Laser Printers. Imaging instruments such as Video Spectral Comparator (VSC) use radiations of varying wavelengths to disclose writing in a different ink. Thank you for your assistance in. Albert Sherman Osborn is considered the father of the science of questioned document examination in North America.. His seminal book Questioned Documents was first published in 1910 and later heavily revised as a second edition in 1929. SWGDOC began in 1997, and is composed of private examiners and forensic laboratories throughout the United States. And with digital watermarks, you just need word processing software to create and print them over the paper. Tools and Methods Document examiners of the 21st century use microscopy, chemistry, laboratory instrumentation and digital photography to uncover important clues. SWGDOC began in 1997, and is composed of private examiners and forensic laboratories throughout the United States. c. Greater than 45 percent One of the most common artificial watermarks is the COIN REACTIVE inked watermark. 2023 Robson Forensic, Inc. with the examination of the questioned writing, these additions may produce a certain amount of confusion and tend to delay the laboratory examination. Therefore, when faxed documents are called into question, both the source and receiving fax machines should be entered as evidence, as well as sample faxes from both fax machines transmitted around the date established by the TTI. Font and line spacing should be examined, as discrepancies may be subtle but indicative of an alteration or addition to the original document. The goals of SWGDOC published on their website include: Strengthen the content and the enforcement of published performance standards. How did World War I help to bring about the Russian Revolution? Questioned documents may include markings from rubber stamps, embossed seals, watermarks, or other mechanically-printed marks. Its the same as stamping paper. It may be obvious that a line was inserted, for example, if it is crudely written in the margins or between lines of text. Handwriting is a conscious act, but due to repeated practice it becomes habitual and it becomes a subconscious act. B. Questioned document examination is a skill and an art acquired with a great deal of experience and practice and requires thorough training by a seasoned forensic document examiner. Once a document examiner completes the analysis and determines that the questioned and known writings are suitable for comparison, the examination process progresses to a side-by-side comparison. These chemicals replace the entrapped air in localized areas. But they are not good for personal or small business use because you have to contact paper manufacturers for special orders (which are usually in bulk). In forensic science, questioned document examination (QDE) is the examination of documents potentially disputed in a court of law.Its primary purpose is to provide evidence about a suspicious or questionable document using scientific processes and methods. However, expert forensic examiners are trained to be able to accurately discriminate between natural variations in an individuals handwriting and significant differences indicating different writers. Members of the Questioned Documents Section objectively examine and evaluate documents in order to provide information regarding their source or authenticity. Writers may also write with their unaccustomed hand in order to disguise their handwriting, which usually results in a drastic reduction in skill level characterized by a loss of fluency and larger letters than when written with their dominant hand. Scientific Response and Analysis. For paper produced with wood fibers, a very small piece of the questioned document may be cut away and disintegrated in water. Their concentration and composition determine the extent to which they can create opacity. They may also result in roughened or disturbed paper fibers and impressions of the original writing, and ink written over erased areas tends to bleed slightly and spread. Resolution Blossoms provide bees with their food-pollen and nectar. It was not. For more information contact Mark Songer. Internal weaves are more commonly found in paper and can be viewed with transmitted light. T/F An f-stop is the minimum distance that must separate two objects in order for them to be viewed as distinct objects. Typical strategies employed when someone is attempting to disguise their handwriting include changing the slope of the writing or lengthening the terminal strokes and adding curves or other embellishments. When page substitution is suspected, the date of writing or printing also should be evaluated, as chronological inconsistencies can be useful in discrediting questioned documents. b. Macro lens An image or pattern is first created on wire and then placed over the rotating dandy roller, which presses the pattern against the wet paper on the production line similar to stamping a pad, but here no ink. Obliterations or overwritingthe blocking out of portions of writing using some opaque materialalso may be used to obscure writing or other information on the questioned document. However, in comparison to typewriters, it is rarely possible to link the questioned document back to the specific computer on which it was written. FR Author Group at ForensicReader is a team of Forensic experts and scholars having B.Sc, M.Sc or Ph.D. degrees in Forensic Science. The service is also extended to the . Less than 45 percent LO1. Typewriting IDENTIFICATION/FORENSICS - Questioned Documents/Document Examination . Like chemical watermarks, they are also embedded after the production of paper. Frequently, writers attempting to disguise their handwriting will change from all uppercase to all lowercase. They are easy to make but harder to individualize. Preliminary investigations of questioned paper documents involve testing the color, thickness, weight, weave pattern, and fiber analysis in order to determine the source of the paper. Honeybees In cases where it is suspected that the questioned document may have been written with a persons unaccustomed hand, it is important that the forensic examiner obtain writing specimens written by the suspects right and left hand. Know More. There are two techniques for UV photography. Whenever possible, the forensic investigator should examine the particular machine(s) suspected to have been used in creating questioned documents in order to compare individual characteristics. Their only job is to mate with the queen. laboratory work and document examination, write reports which conform to the required format for the laboratory. When a questioned document examination is ordered, the first goal is to determine whether or not the document is genuine. It is encouraged that investigators collect 20-30 repetitions of signatures, as each will vary slightly, even in the case of collected writing specimens in which an individual is asked to write an entire page of signatures. Questioned Documents was published in 1910, and a second edition in 1929. Given the poor quality of faxes in general, they are subject to alteration, however, so careful scrutiny should be applied to any discrepancies in pixilation across the document, as well as any variations in handwriting or print type, spelling, punctuation or formatting. Think of three adjectives that you would use to describe the people in the photograph. Manila envelopes are also suitable. The relatively poor quality of faxes and photocopies, in comparison to the original document, means that they may be particularly susceptible to manipulations or alterations for fraudulent purposes. T/F The higher the camera's f-number, the greater the depth of field of its photos. Traditionally, the flexo chemical watermarking technique was widely used. Further testing may involve the examination of ultraviolet characteristics and comparisons using instrumental analyses. The National Association of Document Examiners (NADE) also was established in 1979 to promote the interests of document examiners. These are: As the name said, these manufacturers are made during the manufacturing process. For example, the examiner must determine whether multiple printers or other technologies were used in composing the document, in addition to investigating any other potential anomalies. Relation to other things Types of Document Examination 1. Aged paper usually has more opaque/translucent marks than the rest of the paper. Because the questioned document examiner (QDE) usually is not one of the original crime scene responders or the investigating detective, he or she is only responsible for the proper care and handling of evidence once it comes into the document examiner's possession. Indented Writing Analysis The drones are male bees. These accrediting programs ensure that forensic laboratories meet established quality standards, and employ expert forensic investigators. Please note, the following information must be used only for educational purposes. For cotton fiber-based paper, it may be necessary to use a weak acidic solution to disintegrate the paper into its individual fibers. Its like randomly stamping. Any forensic document examination involving a fax machine also should include consideration of the Transmit Terminal Identifier (TTI), which is typically found in the heading of any transmitted document. 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