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.
Handwriting analysis is a precise art that requires hours of hard work from skilled document examiners.
Handwriting forensics is designed to uncover the small details in signatures and handwriting that the untrained eye cannot see.
Forensic document examiners, also often referred to as questioned document examiners, are forensic scientists who are responsible for using a number of scientific processes and methods for examining documents—whether written, typed, or printed—related to a crime scene investigation.
Forensic document examiners should not to be confused with graphologists, who are handwriting analysis practitioners that claim to be able to discern personality characteristics based on handwriting features. Graphology is largely viewed as a pseudoscience in the eyes of the scientific community.
Forensic document examiners, on the other hand, are skilled forensics scientists with a demonstrated expertise in applied questioned document examination. They are handwriting experts, as well as experts in other areas of document examination, including machine printing processes; and obliterated, indented and erased entries.
The most common type of questioned document examination involves identifying the authorship of a written letter. It is also common for forensic document examiners to determine if an item originated from the same source as a known item, determine when a document was produced, and decipher information on a document that has been erased, hidden, or obscured.
Forensic document examiners may perform the following:
Examine documents for signs that they have been forged or altered
Compare signatures and handwriting through handwriting analysis to determine the authorship of documents
Examine typed documents and link them to specific machines or computers (printing process examinations)
Decipher the contents of documents that have been partially destroyed or altered
Compare fractured or cut-edge comparisons on a variety of surfaces, including paper and tape
Examine incidents of indented writing
Perform alternate light source examinations to determine ink discrimination, alterations, and/or enhancements
What Do Forensic Examiners Do
Forensic document examiners, or questioned document examiners, are called upon to find forged and non-genuine signatures and documents in criminal cases. It is a precise science that looks at scientific methods of examining a document for a criminal investigation.
This field is separate from forensic graphology that analyzes the handwriting to determine the culprit. Graphology is seen as a pseudoscience by comparison and is not called upon on the same level.
Forensic is the key word here. This is all about intricate scientific examinations of a document – whether handwritten, typed or machine printed – to gain clues about its origin. This science is about more than what the handwriting style may say about an individual.
This is because it also looks at traits like indentation, machine marks, and erased entries.
Questioned document analysis also requires the comparison of a questioned document against known standards to determine its origin.
Handwriting identification is also necessary when revealing the identity of the hand behind the document and in linking documents together.
Examiners in this field use class characteristics and individual characteristics to learn more about writing patterns and separate the true documents from the forgeries.
The difference is that forensic examination is deemed to be scientific and is respected.
The results of professional forensic document examination can be used in a court of law because of the scientific nature of the methods involved.
Collecting the Known and Unknown
When conducting examinations, forensic document examiners must have known specimens to which they compare the material in question. These samples may come from any number of known sources, such as a particular ink manufacturer or machine.
In cases involving handwriting, samples are usually divided into two types:
Requested writing specimens and collected writing specimens.
Requested specimens are writings dictated by the investigator to the writer.
These specimens are created under carefully controlled conditions, with the writer being closely monitored. Collected writing specimens, however, are writings that were completed by the subject prior to the investigation.
Examination of handwriting
When a sufficient amount of writing from two different people is closely examined, there are always identifiable differences. Comparisons of writing samples take into consideration a wide variety of handwriting characteristics including word and letter spacing, slant or slope, speed, pen position, use of capitalization, embellishments, legibility, use of punctuation, and proportion of letters and other attribute
Collecting the Known and Unknown
When conducting examinations, forensic document examiners must have known specimens to which they compare the material in question. These samples may come from any number of known sources, such as a particular ink manufacturer or machine.
In cases involving handwriting, samples are usually divided into two types:
Requested writing specimens and collected writing specimens.
Requested specimens are writings dictated by the investigator to the writer.
These specimens are created under carefully controlled conditions, with the writer being closely monitored. Collected writing specimens, however, are writings that were completed by the subject prior to the investigation.
Examination of handwriting
When a sufficient amount of writing from two different people is closely examined, there are always identifiable differences. Comparisons of writing samples take into consideration a wide variety of handwriting characteristics including word and letter spacing, slant or slope, speed, pen position, use of capitalization, embellishments, legibility, use of punctuation, and proportion of letters and other attribute
Common Terms
Understanding the common terminology used in questioned document examination is key to interpreting the examination results and testimony
from expert witnesses.
Alteration − A modification made to a document by physical, chemical or
mechanical means
Collected Known Specimens/Standards − Documents created in the normal course of a person’s business activities or daily living. These typically
reflect the true writing habits of the individual.
Contemporaneous Writing − Material that is written around the same time period as the document in question.
Cursive − A type of smooth, flowing handwriting where letters within a word are joined. This is produced when the writing instrument is not lifted
after most strokes.
Disguised Writing − Deliberately altered writing intended to conceal the identity of the writer by attempting to change his or her writing habits.
Distorted Writing − Writing that appears not naturally executed, either as a result of voluntary effort such as in disguised writing, or as a result of
involuntary factors such as physical illness or writing surface.
Document − Any material that contains marks, symbols, or signs—visible, partially visible, or invisible—that may convey a meaning or message.
Electrostatic Detection Device (EDD) − The generic term for equipment that uses electrostatic charge to visualize writing impressions such as
indentations and erasures. The electrostatic detection apparatus or "ESDA" is the most commonly used device of this type for document examinations.
Forensic Document Examiner (FDE) − One who studies the details and elements of documents in order to identify their source or determine their
authenticity. Also known as an “FDE” or “document examiner”. Handwriting Identification − The attempt to verify a person’s handwriting
by comparing a document in question to a known handwriting sample. This term is preferred over “handwriting analysis” which usually refers to those
who attempt to determine the character traits of a person by examining handwriting samples.
Indented Impressions − The depressed area on the surface of a document that was created by the pressure of writing or a mechanical means of
printing.
Individualizing Characteristic − Any mark commonly produced during the creation of a document that helps to identify its source.
Natural Writing − Writing executed in a habitual manner, without an attempt to control or alter its characteristics.
