1. Microscopic Examination 2. Transmitted Light Examination 3. Oblique Light Examination 4. Photographic Examination 5. Ultraviolet Examination 6. Electrostatic Detection 7. Video Spectral Comparator (VSC) 8. Preparation of Court Exhibits Procedure in Examining Questioned Documents 1. Determine whether the examination is a comparison of questioned handwriting to known writing or a comparison questioned writing to questioned writing. of 2. Determine whether the questioned writing is original writing. 3. Determine whether or not the questioned writing appears to be distorted. 4. Determine whether or not the known writing is original writing. 5. Determine whether or not the known writing appears to be distorted. 6. Determine if there is sufficient quality of writing (questioned writing or known writing or both). 7. Evaluate the known writing for the following: a. Type of Writing – If there is more than one type of writing within the known writing, separate the known writing into subsets of single type of writing. b. Internal Consistency – If there are unsolved inconsistencies within any of the subsets created above, contact the contributor for aunthentication. 8. Evaluate the comparability of the bodies of writing – questioned and standard writing are not comparable, and if comparable known or standard writing is not available and it is not original, the findings is only an indication or the examiner may discontinue the procedure of examination. 9. Conduct a side-by-side comparison of comparable portions of the bodies of writing using appropriate scientific instruments. 10. Determine whether or not there are dissimilarities, absent characteristics and similarities. 11. Evaluate the significance individually and in combination. 12. After examining the original documents, they are photographed for preservation and further examination on the enlarged photograph. These enlarged photographs will be used for court presentation. 13. Reach a conclusion. For a comparison of questioned writing to known writing, the document examiner can reach a conclusion according to the following criteria: 1. Written by one and the same person: • The range of variations exhibited in the questioned writing and in the known writing contain substantial significant similarities. • There are no significant dissimilarities. • No limitations assisted with absent characteristics, dissimilarities or quantities of writing are present. 2. Indications that they were written by one and the same person: • The range of variations exhibited in the questioned writing and in the known writing contain few significant similarities. • There are no significant dissimilarities. • Limitations assisted with absent characteristics, dissimilarities or individualizing characteristics or quality of writing may be present. 3. No Conclusion • The range of variations exhibited in the questioned writing and in the known writing contain insufficient significant similarities and insufficient significant dissimilarities • Limitations assisted with absent characteristics, individualizing characteristics or quality of writing may be present • There may be similarities, dissimilarities or both • Specimen submitted are photocopies 4. Not written by one and the same person • The range of variations exhibited in the questioned writing and in the known writing contain substantial significant dissimilarities • Limitations associated with absent characters, individualizing characteristics or quantity of writing are present 5. Indications that they were not written by one and the same person • The range of variations exhibited in the questioned writing and in the known writing contain dissimilarities few significant • Limitations associated with absent characteristics, individualizing characteristics or quality of writing may be present • There may be dissimilarities Optical Aids • Microscope • Magnifying Glass or Hand Lens • Stereoscopic Microscope Measuring Device • Ruler, Gauges, Grids • Typewriting Test Plate • Protractor Duplicating Device • Camera Proper Lightning • Goose Neck Lamps • Transmitted Light Specialized Equipment • Ultraviolet Light Machine • Video Spectral Comparator https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6XGeHlmYvY (VSC) Portable Equipment • Transportable Microscope • Portable VSC-4CX Protective Equipment • Cotton Gloves • Fireproof safe or file box Photography in Questioned Document Examination 1. To make a permanent record of the document before it is damaged 2. To detect certain features that are not visible and for which other methods are unavailable 3. To prepare material for demonstration in courts. Erasures One of the common injuries in questioned document is whether or not an erasure was actually made on a document. In cases like this, the following examinations are made: 1. Physical inspection: using ultraviolet light, observation with light striking the surface at a sharp angle and observation under the microscope maybe considered. 2. Fuming the document may be of values in some cases 3. Powders of various kinds maybe used without changing the document Indented Writing Indented writing is a term usually applied to the partially visible depressions appearing on a sheet of paper underneath the one of which the visible writing appears. These depressions or indentation are due to the application of pressure on the writing instrument and would appear as a carbon copy if a sheet of carbon paper had been properly inserted. Burned or Charred Paper A piece of paper maybe subjected to the action of a limited amount of heat, causing it to become scorched and retaining a certain amount of its identity or it maybe subjected to intense heat, reducing it to ashes and losing its identity. However, if the combustions is incomplete, a certain amount of success maybe realized provided the pieces are large enough to form a coherent message. The following methods maybe applied to decipher the original message contained thereon: 1. Photographic methods, using various types of filters and different angles of illumination may determine the writing contained thereon without changing the appearance of the charred fragments. 2. Chemical methods, such as spraying, painting or bathing charred pieces with solutions of different chemical reagents. 3. Photographic plates maybe utilized by allowing the charred paper to remain in contact with the emulsion sides in total darkness from one to two weeks. Adding Machines The construction of an adding machine differs greatly from the typewriter but the methods and principles of identification are related. Manufacturers use different type of numerals and from time to time change their design. The spacing between columns is also not standardized for all machines. Those factors from the basis of determining the make of the machine and for estimating the period in which it was built. Another kind of approach is the ribbon impression, for the ribbon is made and operate very similarly to the typewriter.
