 EPHICHARMUS

 “mind sees, and mind hears; all things else are deaf and blind”
 GENUINE DOCUMENT
 are sometimes suspected and attacked and doubt are occasionally set aside as
fraudulent, while on the other hand great of fraudulent documents undoubtedly
wholly escape suspicion and pass as genuine (ALBERT OSBORNE)
 CRIME OF FORGERY
 is probably quite as old as writing and on a number of occasions, history has been
changed by document subsequently proved to be forgeries.
 Weather the signature was signed by the person itself.
 DOCUMENT
 is any material substance bearing a representation of the thoughts of man by
means of mark or symbol
 QUESTIONED DOCUMENT
 any document about which some issues has been raised or which is under
scrutiny or of doubtful origin
 Authenticity of all or part of the document may be in dispute or the document may
have marks or writing that may evidential value
 QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION
 also known as forensic document examination is the scientific study, analysis and
comparison of questioned or disputed handwriting or documents for
authentication legal purpose
 DOCUMENT EXAMINERS
 (layman’s term DOCUMENT EXPERTS/HANDWRITTING EXPERTS)
qualified expert whose findings may be presented as testimony in a court of law
 The theory upon which handwriting is identified and differentiated is based on the principle
that there is no duplication of material things and that no two individual are identical because
each person has an individuality which set him apart from all other persons.
 FORENSIC DOCUMENT EXAMINATION
 applies the principles of science and logic to all questioned document problems in
order to determine the origin, authenticity and genuineness of documents
 WHY DO PEOPLE SUBMIT DOCUMENTS FOR EXAMINATION?
 When people become suspicious of the letter/documents they received, they
submit them for examination to verify whether these documents are genuine or
forged.
The examination of a document is conducted to determine:
Its origin – where the document came from?
Its production – what person or machine produced it?
Its production process – how was it made?
Its inscription – what has faded or been obliterated?
 Its chastity – what changes, if any has been made to it?
Its integrity – is it genuine of fake?
Its legitimacy – it an original or a reproduction (duplicated) and if so, what
generation?
 FORENSIC DOCUMENT EXAMINER
 is a forensic scientist whose specialty centers around paper documents and
related material. Examination of handwriting is the most common activity, but
the field includes the study of almost anything related to documents about which
a forensic issue could arrive
Various kinds of Examination conducted by Document Examiner
Handwriting Examination - to identify the author of the handwriting on a
questioned document, detect forged signatures and determine whether a
common author produced a series of documents
Imprint Examination
Reprographic Examination – duplication or photocopied document.
Writing Media Examination;
Dating Examination;
Examination of Falsification and Alteration;
Examination of Invisible, Faded Obscured Writing and Impressions of
Writing.
 The ROLE OF A QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINER does not end in the generation
of examination results and offering of expert’s opinion. But rather it is the study and
responsibility of a document examiner to testify in court if the need arises, which usually
happen when a document case is filed in court.
Questioned Document Examination is frequently found in case of:
Forgery
Counterfeiting
Mail
Fraud
Kidnapping
Embezzlement
Gambling
Organized crime
White collar crime
Art crime
Theft
Robbery
Arson
Burglary
Homicide
 Serial murder
Psychological profiling
Deviant sex crime

QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION’S STRENGTH DRAWN FROM CIVIL

LAW, IS THAT EXPERT OPINION CAN TURN (ALLEGED) EYEWITNESS OPINION.
 Historically, Questioned Document Examination has been somewhat of an inclusive
profession, even to the point where so-called pseudo-experts where sometimes welcome and
even today, it suffers from a bit of identity crisis in that at least eight (8) different areas or
related areas can be identified.
1. QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINER
 A document examiner analyzes any questioned document and is capable of more
than just questions of authorship limited only by their access to laboratory
equipment.
2. HISTORICAL DATING
 This is work involving the verification of age and worth of a document or object,
sometimes done by a document examiner, and can get as complicated
 The verification of age and value of a document or object
3. PAPER INVESTIGATOR
 This is work that often overlaps with that of the document examiner and focuses
on the money trail and criminal intent
 Focuses on the money and criminal intent
4. PAPER AND INK SPECIALIST
 These are public or private experts who type date, source, and/or catalogue
various type of paper, watermarks, ink, printing,/copy/fax machines, computer
cartridges, etc. using chemical methods
 date, source, and/or catalogue various type of paper, watermarks, ink,
printing,/copy/fax machines, computer cartridges
5. FORGERY SPECILAIST
 These are public or private experts who analyze altered, obliterated, changed or
doctored documents and photos using infrared lighting, expensive spectrographic
equipment or digital enhancement techniques.
 analyze altered, obliterated, changed or doctored documents and photos using
infrared lighting
6. HANDWRITING ANALYSTS
 These are usually psychology experts who assess personality traits from
handwriting samples, also called graphologist or graph analysts; Forensic
stylistics refers to the same purpose but looking at semantics, spelling, word
choice, syntax and phraseology.
7. TYPEWRITING ANALYSTS
  These are experts on the origin, make, and model used in typewritten material.
 Determine origin, make, and model
8. COMPUTER CRIME INVESTIGATOR
 This is an emerging group that related to questioned document examination
through some common investigative and testimonial procedures
 Investigate cybercrime
 THE WORD OF AN FORENSIC SCIENCE MAN
 “If the law has made you a witness, remain a man of science. You have no
victim to revenge, no guilty or innocent person to ruin or save. You must bear
witness within the limit of science”. (Brouardel)
 ANY EXAMINATION MADE SHOULD BE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE EXISTING PROCEDURE AND THE RESULTS OF THE EXAMINATION ARE
BASED ON FACTS PRESENTED TO HIM.
 He must fair and impartial on the witness stand. He shall not be a partisan to
anybody and it is his to present the truth and facts as they exist.
 Yes, it is true that there is no law or responsible authority, which contends that
handwriting identification, is an exact science. But the most accurate description
of what handwriting identification is that, it is a technique which applies a
number of arts and sciences.
 SCIENCE, BECAUSE IT IS A BRANCH OF STUDY WHICH IS CONCERNED WITH
AN ACCURATE CLASSIFICATION OF FACTS RESULTING FROM INTELLIGENT
OBSERVATION AND ACCURATE REASONING LEADING TO CORRECT
RECOGNITION OF SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES.
 The document examiner who would truly serve the needs of justice must go to the
witness stand fully prepared to support his conclusion with testimony that is factual,
clearly understandable and persuasive. Expert testimony should be measured by its
convincingness. The document examiner strives constantly for objectivity and the
avoidance of personal bias.
 CRITERION FOR SCIENCE
1. Accuracy
2. Precision

 CLASSES OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENT

 Documents are questioned, disputed and attacked on many grounds and for various
reasons but the great majority of questioned papers are included in the following
classes:
1. DOCUMENTS WITH QUESTIONED SIGNATURE
these are the most disputed document, they may be any commercial or
legal paper such as check, note, receipt draft, order, contract, agreement,
will, deed or similar document, the signature of which is under suspicion
 2. DOCUMENTS CONTAINING ALLEGED FRAUDULENT ALTERATIONS
included are all documents on which it is alleged that some alterations
were made by erasures, addition, interlineations and substitution.
Questions may arise as to the order or sequence of writing as shown by
crossed lines, age and continuity of writing erasures and changes, identity
of ink, identity of pen and condition, self-consciousness or unusual care in
writing and whether writing preceded or followed “raise” check and draft
notes, fraudulent interlineations in contract, deed, will and other legal
papers.
3. QUESTIONED OR DISPUTED HOLOGRAPH DOCUMENTS
the writing of an entire document is all questioned. Diligent scrutiny
would pay attention to consideration of the characteristics of the paper,
watermarks, ink, pens or system of writing, slant, spacing and shading of
writing, wording, subject matter, seals folding and ruling.
4. DOCUMENTS ATTACKED ON THE QUESTION OF THEIR AGE OR DATE
included here are documents in which the age of an instrument or the age
of some part of it is investigated or a document in which the comparative
age of different parts may have some bearing on the question of its
genuineness.
5. DOCUMENTS ATTACKED ON THE QUESTION OF MATERIAL USED IN
THEIR PRODUCTION
documents have frequently been shown to be false because they were
dated many years before the paper on which they were written was made.
6. DOCUMENTS INVESTIGATED ON THE QUESTION OF TYPEWRITTEN
DOCUMENTS
whether at different types on the same machine or at the different types on
different machines.
7. DOCUMENTS OR WRITINGS INVESTIGATED BECAUSE IT IS ALLEGED
THAT THEY IDENTIFY SOME PERSON THROUGH HANDWRITINGS
this class includes all documents, papers, or writing instruments, by which
the handwriting and contents tend to identify some person.
 CHARRED DOCUMENTS
 Charred document because of their extremely fragile nature must be handled as little
possible. These are the burned document because of excessive heat. Decipherment
of a charred document that has been shattered into small fragments is almost
impossible. Therefore, every precaution must be taken in handling and transporting
the charred residue in order to prevent the large pieces from becoming badly broken.
 STANDARD FOR COMPARISON
  A standard is a condensed and compact set of authentic specimens which if adequate
and proper should contain a true cross-section of the material from a known source.
It is used by the document examiner as the basis of comparison and identification.
 CLASSES OF STANDARD
1. Collected standard
handwriting executed daily in the course of business, profession, social
and personal affairs.
2. Requested standard
handwriting prepared upon the request of the investigation for the sole
purpose of comparison with the questioned document.
 GOOD STANDARD IN DOCUMENT EXAMINATION CASES
 In cases involving questioned documents, lawyers can take certain steps to ensure that
document examiner has the necessary materials to perform a thorough and conclusive
examination. A questioned document examiners examine documents in cases where
foul play is suspected. The document examiner is often a qualified expert witness,
accepted in court by a judge after being examined and cross-examined by counsel.
 THE IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT STANDARD DOCUMENTS
 There must be no doubt about the authenticity of the standards. The document
examiner needs to be able to rely on the standards and the standards may need
information needed to form a good opinion.
 SOURCES OF STANDARD
1. Personal Document
2. Education Documents
3. Vocational Documents
4. Financial Documents
5. Social, Recreational, Fraternal Document
6. Corporate Documents
7. Motor Vehicle Documents
8. Military Documents
9. Governmental and Public Records
10. Criminal Documents
11. Miscellaneous Documents