forensic questioned document examination
- 2. ď‚— Forensic science: Application of scientific methods and techniques for the purposes of justice. ď‚— Primary purpose is to provide evidence about a suspicious or questionable document using scientific processes and methods. ď‚— 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.
- 3. ď‚— Forensic or crime laboratories are concerned with the examination of items of physical evidences associated with the crime scene, victim and suspects. ď‚— The scientific findings of the laboratories are utililized in conjugation with other areas of forensic science and criminal investigation in preparation for legal proceedings or trial. ď‚— Forensic science department examines/ analyses/compare the materials objects/clue materials related to crime/civil cases referred by court/police officers/medical officers and conducts scientific examination required by govt. cases referred by its dept. and by civil court and agencies.
- 4. Existing facilities ď‚— FSL and other allied forensic science institutions in the country, offering scientific service in the administration of criminal justice. 1. Institutions under the centre ď‚— CFSL administrative control BPR&D;Calcutta1957;Hedrabad1968;Chandigarh 1978. ď‚— CFSL under CBI, New Delhi 1968. ď‚— GEQD (Government Examiners of Questioned Documents) under administrative control of BPR&D. Shimla 1906; Calcutta1964; Hyderabad 1968. ď‚— Central fingerprinting bureau under NCRB, New Delhi. ď‚— Serologist and chemical examiner to Government of India, Ministry of Health, Calcutta 1910 ď‚— General manager of the mint Calcutta, Bombay, Hyderabad. ď‚— General manager, India security press, Nasik and bank note press, Dewas. ď‚— Controller of stamps and stationery ď‚— National institute of criminology and forensic science under MHA New Delhi 1971. ď‚— Office of the chief controller of explosives established in 1898 in Nagpur, located different parts of the country headed by deputy chief controller, controller by dy. Controller. ď‚— Central detective training schools at Calcutta, Chandigarh and Hyderabad
- 5. Divisions of the laboratory ď‚— Ballistics division ď‚— Biology division ď‚— Chemistry division ď‚— Lie detector division ď‚— Physics division ď‚— Document division ď‚— Serology division ď‚— Toxicology division
- 6. Document division Document division deals with the examination of all types of questioned documents, hand written, type written or printed matter to give opinion of the following matters: I. Comparison of questioned writing and signatures with known standard writing to establish genuineness or otherwise. II. Identify make, model or age of the typewriter used in typing the typewritten document. III. Examination of printed matter to identify block or plates used including compose of letter types. IV. Examination of impressions of rubber stamps and metal seals with a view to identifying them. V. Deciphering erased, altered, added or obliterated writings. VI. Deciphering indented, charred or secret writings. VII. Examination of writing materials like paper, pen, pencil and inks. VIII. Examination of perforation around stamps, letter pads, pin and staple or punch holes to connect them with the source. IX. Detection of forged lottery tickets, railway tickets, currency notes, etc. X. Determination of age of ink, paper and document as well as order of writing.
- 7. Facilities offered by other Expert institutions ď‚— Serologist and chemical examiner to the Govt. of India Calcutta. ď‚— Central fingerprints bureau Calcutta under control of NCRB ď‚— Government examiners of questioned documents under administrative control of BPR&D- Shimla 1906, Calcutta 1964, Hyderabad 1968 ď‚— General manager of the mint Calcutta, Bombay, Hyderabad. ď‚— General manager, India security press, Nasik and bank note press, Dewas. If examination related to foreign counterfeit currency it has to be sent to the international criminal police organization at Paris through CBI INTERPOL division. ď‚— Controller of stamps and stationery ď‚— Deputy chief controller/controller /deputy controller of explosives ď‚— Chemical examiner ď‚— State fingerprint bureau ď‚— Divisional engineer telecommunications ď‚— Medico legal expert
- 8. Laws related to expert evidences Indian Evidence Act  Section 45 : When the court has to form an opinion 45. When the Court has to form an opinion upon a point of foreign law, or of science or art, or as to experts identify of handwriting (fingerprint impression). The opinion about that point of persons specially skilled in such foreign laws science and art as to identifying the handwriting or fingerprint impressions are relevant fact. Such persons are called experts”.  Section 47: Allow an individual to express an opinion about the genuineness of writing if the said individuals acquainted with the writing of person concerned.  Section 73 : The court may direct any person present in the court to write any words or figure alleged to have been written by such person.
- 9. ď‚— CrPC 273: Reports of certain Government scientific experts- 1) Any document purporting to be a report under the hand of a Government scientific expert to whom this Section applies, upon any matter or thing duly submitted to him for examination or analysis and report in the course of any proceeding under this Code, may be used as evidence in any, inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this Code. (2) The Court may, if it thinks fit, summon and examine any such expert as to the subject matter of his report. (3) Where any such expert is summoned by a Court, and he is unable to attend personally, he may, unless the Court has expressly directed him to appear personally depute any responsible officer working with him to attend the Court, if such officer is conversant with the facts of the case and can satisfactorily depose in Court on his behalf. (4) This Section applies to the following Government scientific experts, namely:- (a) Any Chemical Examiner or Assistant Chemical Examiner to Government (b) The Chief Inspector of Explosives; (c) The Director of the Finger Print Bureau; (D) The Director, Deputy Director or Assistant Director of a Central
- 10. Albert Osborn (1858-1946)  “Father of Document Examination”  His work led to the acceptance of documents as scientific evidence by the courts.
- 11. Nature of problems ď‚— Identification of handwriting ď‚— Identification of signatures and detection of forgery ď‚— Examination of writing materials like pen ,paper, ink etc ď‚— Evaluations of erasers, alteration, additions and obliterations ď‚— Decipherment of indented and charred documents ď‚— Determine order and age of writings ď‚— Evaluation of type scripts ď‚— Evaluation of handwriting
- 12. Cases Involving Questioned Documents ď‚— Forgery ď‚— Counterfeiting ď‚— Mail fraud ď‚— Kidnapping ď‚— Embezzlement ď‚— Gambling ď‚— Organized crime ď‚— White collar crime ď‚— Art crimes ď‚— Theft ď‚— Robbery ď‚— Arson ď‚— Burglary ď‚— Homicide ď‚— Serial murder ď‚— Psychological profiling
- 13. Most Common Questioned Documents ď‚— Letters ď‚— Checks ď‚— Drivers Licenses ď‚— Contracts ď‚— Wills ď‚— Voter registration ď‚— Passports ď‚— Petitions ď‚— Threatening letters ď‚— Suicide notes ď‚— Lottery tickets
- 14. ď‚— Section 3 of the Indian evidence act of 1872 define a document ď‚— Document means any matter expressed or described upon any substance by means of letter, figures, or marks by more than one of those means, intended to be used, which may be used for purpose of recording that matter. OR ď‚— Document: Any surface movable or immovable used for making certain writing(visible or invisible) over it may be called document. ď‚— Questioned document: Any signature, handwriting, typewriting, or other written mark whose source or authenticity is in dispute or uncertain. OR ď‚— Questioned document: When a question is raised about authenticity of a document or a part thereof, the document
- 15.  Standard Document – Are condensed and compact-set of authentic specimen which is adequate and proper, should contain a cross section of the material form it source. They are used by the document examiner as the basis for his identification or non identification of the questioned document.  Handwriting: Handwriting is a visible speech which is not spoken but is written with the help of pen etc.  Questioned writing: Questioned writing may also called dispute writing or suspected writing. It may be stated that any writing/ signature, which is under scrutiny can be called as questioned
- 16.  Forensic science is the application of various sciences to the law.  The application of allied sciences and analytical techniques to questions concerning documents is termed forensic document examination.  The examination of questioned documents consists of the analysis and comparison of questioned handwriting, hand printing, typewriting, commercial printing, photocopies, papers, inks, and other documentary evidence with known material in order to establish the authenticity of the contested material as well as the detection of alterations.  Forensic Document Examiners are often referred to as “handwriting experts.”  Forensic document examination includes handwriting and other examinations. Handwriting includes cursive writing, hand printing, numbers and other marks or signs.  Calligraphy and determining personality from handwriting are not part of forensic document examination.
- 17. Forensic document examination  Forensic document examination is concerned with the authentication of documents.  Document analysis: The examination of questioned documents with known material for a variety of analyses, such as authenticity, alterations, erasures, and obliterations.  Such examinations are usually conducted within the context of proposed or actual criminal, or civil litigation.  In the area of forensic science, the description “documents” is not limited to its conventional meaning but has been extended to include any material bearing meaningful inscriptions and marks made by a person.
- 18. Purpose of Document Examination A document may be examined for a number of purposes including: ď‚— Identity of the author. ď‚— True contents of the document. ď‚— Origin of the instrument of paper used in making the document. ď‚— Alterations or erasures which have been made. ď‚— Authenticity of the document.
- 19. Subjects considered in Questioned Document Examination ď‚— Handwriting Examination ď‚— examination of signatures and initials ď‚— Examination of anonymous letters ď‚— hand printing examination ď‚— Typewriting examination ď‚— Examination of ink ď‚— Erasures, alterations or obligations, etc. ď‚— Counterfeiting
- 20. Why Is Document Examination Conducted? The examination of a document is conducted to determine: • its origin, i.e., where did the document come from? • its production source, i.e., what person or machine produced it? • its production process, i.e., how was it made? • its inscription, i.e., what has faded or been obliterated? • its chastity, i.e., what changes, if any, have been made to it? • its integrity, i.e., is it genuine or false? • its legitimacy, i.e., is it an original or a reproduction, and if so, what generation?
- 21. Care handling and preservation of documents The value of document diminished with careless handling. Following instruction should be followed in dispatching document to expert for examinations.  Do not handle the document with bare hands.  Retain the document in transparent envelope.  Do not fold the document along new lines.  Do not carry the document in the pocket.  Do not treat the document with any chemical for any purpose what so ever.  If portions of the documents are to be examined, they should be encircled with colored pencil.  The document should not be exposed in strong light, heat , moisture.  Determine initially if fingerprint processing is required.  Do not trace on the document.  Do not pin, cut, tag, tear the document.  The document are sent to the expert through special messenger.  In an important cases IO’s himself should take the document to the examiner.  The forwarding letter should contain the list of all documents dispatched along with their identifying marks
- 22. THE CARE OF DISPUTED DOCUMENTS AND DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE: ď‚— It is a basic requirement, not only a common sense principle, that when a document becomes disputed and deposited in court or with the attorney, in order to maintain its original condition, it should be kept unfolded and in a separate, proper size envelope or folder. This is true not only for the disputed documents, but for many other important documentary evidence. ď‚— It is also advisable and preferable in all instances that right after the document becomes disputed, questioned or important, to make no only the usual photo static copy, but also a proper photograph or photo-enlargement, done it possible by the document expert or under the supervision of the document expert. ď‚— When working in the preparation of case, it is often necessary for the lawyer or court to handle repeatedly the disputed document. Should this be necessary, instead of handling and working with the original document, the photo- graph should be used.
- 23. Contd….  Every touching, folding, refolding or pointing to certain parts of a document, can change the physical condition of the case. For example, touching with wet hands or fingers can leave marks that create a suspicion of previous pencil marks, or experiments as proof of attempted forgery.  Pointing a document with any other instruments, such as sharp stick, can cause slight damage with although it can not be seen by the naked eye, can show definite marks under the microscope or on the enlarged photograph.  NO test should be made to alter the condition of the document; for example, the old-fashioned ink test, which was used to determine the age of the ink-writing.  Should any test be necessary, insist that it should be done in the presence of a chemist, or in court, or in front of both parties involved the case.
- 24.  The act of writing is a skill learned through repetition until it becomes a habit.  Handwriting requires the concerted effort of the brain, muscles, and nerves.  No two people write exactly alike.  Individual characteristics that are unique to a particular writer exist in every person’s handwriting, distinguishing it from every other handwriting.  There is natural variation in everyone’s handwriting.  No one can exactly duplicate anything he or she has written.  No one can write better than his or her skill level.  People adopt writing styles.  People stylize their writing, deviating from the method they were taught.  Many writing habits are subconscious and therefore cannot be changed by the writer.  A writer can be identified by his or her subconscious habits.  A person’s normal form of writing is based on mental images of learned letter designs.
- 25. ď‚— Some illnesses, trauma, and emotions may result in changes in handwriting. ď‚— It is not possible to determine what caused a change in the handwriting from studying the handwriting characteristics. ď‚— If the writer places the pen on the paper before starting to write, the lines will have blunt initial strokes. If the writer stops the pen before lifting it from the paper, the writer will leave a blunt ending on the words. ď‚— If the writer has the pen in motion when beginning and ending writing, the initial and terminal strokes will be tapered or faded. ď‚— When a writer changes the size of his or her writing, the proportions between uppercase and lowercase letters generally remain the same. ď‚— The amount of pressure that a writer uses to push and pull the pen through the strokes of writing will be seen in the variations of the pressure patterns. ď‚— Most people create heavier strokes when the pen is descending and lighter strokes when the pen is being