Questioned
Documents
Examination
It is a process of making out what is illegible
or what has been efface.
a. Decipherment
b. Collation
c. Obliteration
d. Decoding
An examination of documents wherein it is
viewed with the source of illumination
behind it and the light passing through the
paper
a. Transmitted light examination
b. Oblique photography examination
c. Infrared examination
d. Ultraviolet examination
An erasure with the use of ink eradicators
a. Mechanical erasure
b. Electronic erasure
c. Chemical erasure
d. All of the foregoing
A city mayor executed a document in his
legal capacity as local chief executive, that
document is classified as.
a. Public document
b. Private document
c. Official document
d. Commercial document
Refers to the any specimen of writing
executed normally without any attempt to
change or control its identifying habits and
its usual quality of execution
a. Natural writing
b. Cursive writing
c. Disguised writing
d. System of writing
An imaginary line upon which the writing
rests.
a. Line quality
b. Baseline
c. Foot
d. hitch
Document
Any Material that
contains marks or
symbols,
whether
visible,
partially
visible or invisible
that may convey a
meaning or message
to someone.
WRITING WHICH DO NOT CONSTITUTE DOCUMENTS
(Based on some Supreme Court Rulings.)
1. A draft of a Municipal payroll which is not yet
approved by the proper authority (People vs.
Camacho, 44 Phil. 484)
2. Mere blank form of official documents, the spaces
of which are not filled up (People vs. Santiago, CA,
48 O.G. 4558).
3. Pamphlets or books which do not evidence any
disposition or agreement are not documents but
are mere merchandise (People vs. Agnis, 47 Phil.
945).
What is a Questioned Document?
A
questioned document is one in which a
document in its entirely, or in part, is subject to
question as to authenticity and/or origin.
 Any
document about which some issues has been
raised or which is under scrutiny
 Any
signature, handwriting, typewriting, or other
marks whose source or authenticity is in dispute or is
doubtful.
A
document
is
questioned because
its origin, as contents,
or the circumstances
and story regarding its
production
arouse
suspicion as to its
genuineness or may
adversely
scrutinize
simply because it
displeases someone.
8 CLASSIFICATION OF QUESTIONED
DOCUMENT





Document with questioned signature
Document
containing
alleged
fraudulent
alteration
(alterations of words, part of a word, figure or part of the figure
either by mechanical or chemical erasures).
Document questioned as to the material used in their
production (kind or types of writing material, paper, ink and
pencil or graphite).
Document questioned as to its date or age (Date of the
document was executed, date the paper was manufactured,
date of the ink Note: the specific date of the ink cannot be
determined even thru chemical analysis).
Holographic document questioned or disputed



Document questioned as to its type-writing
 PICA- Characterized by 10 letters per inch
 ELITE- Characterized by 12 letters per inch
 TELETYPE- Characterized by 6 letters per inch
 SPECIAL TYPE WRITER- Characterized by 14 to 16 letters per
inch
Document which may identify some person thru handwriting
Genuine document or erroneously or fraudulently attack
Most Common Questioned
Documents
Letters
Checks
Drivers
Licenses
Contracts
Wills
Voter
registration
Passports
Petitions
Threatening
letters
Suicide notes
Lottery tickets
Cases Involving
Questioned Documents
 Forgery
 Counterfeiting
 Mail
fraud
 Kidnapping
 Con games
 Embezzlement
 Gambling
 Organized crime
 White collar crime
STANDARD DOCUMENT
is condensed and compact set authentic
specimen which is adequate and proper, should
contain a cross section of the material form it
source.
they are used by the document examiners the
basis for his identification or non-identification of the
questioned document.
Roots of Questioned Document
Examination
1609- the treatise on
systematic document
examination
was
published.
Roots of Questioned Document
Examination
1810 –
 the first recorded used of questioned document
analysis occurred in Germany.
 A chemical test for a particular ink dye was applied
to a document
Roots of Questioned
Document Examination
 1882-
Gilbert
Thompson, a
railroad builder
with the US
Geological Survey
in New Mexico, put
his own thumbprint
on wage chits to
safeguard himself
from forgeries.
Roots of Questioned Document
Examination
1910
–
Albert
Sherman
Osborne publish his book
“Questioned Documents”.
- first President of the
American
Society
of
Questioned
Document
Examiners.
- He was considered as
the father of Questioned
Documents.
State vs. Hauptmann
 In
which
Osborne
proved in court as an
expert
that
the
accused
Bruno
Richard
Hauptmann
had written all the
ransom notes sent
after the abduction of
the
son
Charles
Lindbergh leading to
the conviction of the
suspect.
Dreyfus case
French
army
officer,
accused
of
treason through
letters
found
attempting to sell
French secrets to
Germany
and
later found that
Dreyfus did not
write the letters
Areas in Questioned Document
Examination and terms…
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 involves the verification of age and
worth of a document or object, sometimes done by a
document examiner, and can gets as complicated as
Carbon-14 dating.
3. Fraud Investigator- this work often overlaps with that of the
document examiner and focuses on the money trail and
criminal intent.
4. Paper and Ink Specialist- this a public or private experts who
date, type, source, and/ or catalogue various types of paper,
watermarks, ink, printing/ copy/ fax machines, computer
cartridges, etc., using chemical methods.
5. Forgery Specialist- this is a public or private experts who
analyze altered, obliterated, changed, or doctored
documents and photos using infrared lightning, expensive
spectrography
equipment,
or
digital
enhancement
techniques.
6. Handwriting analyst- this is usually a psychology expert who
assesses personality trait from handwriting samples , also
called graphologist or grapho analyst; Forensic stylistics refers
to same purpose but by looking at semantics, spelling, word
choice, syntax, and phraseology.
7. Typewriting analyst- this is an expert on the origin,
make and model used in typewritten material.
8. Computer crime investigator- this is an emerging
group that relates to QDE through some common
investigative and testimonial procedures.
Question Document Examiner
 Studies
scientifically the whole document in order
to recognize the source or other evidence that can
determine authenticity of the document in
question.
 The first QDE where called “handwriting specialists”
because that was the primary means of
agreements or contracts.
 one who examines scientifically the details and
elements of a documents in order to identify its
source or discover the facts concerning them.
Graphologist VS QD Examiner
 Graphologist
 Profiles
character or personality by drawing
conclusions from certain types of characteristics
in the handwriting sample.
 They do not compare handwriting to determine
authenticity or origin. Remember, most of
graphology lack scientific proof.
 On the other hand, some of the principles of
graphology are correct like:
 Handwriting
can be effected by illness, old age, etc…
Graphology Examples
HANDWRITING
it is a result of a
very
complicated
series of acts, being as
a whole.
a combination of
certain forms of visible
mental
habits
acquired
by
long
continued painstaking
effort.
 PALEOGRAPHY
 PETROGRAMS-DRAWN
 PETROGLYPH-CUT
Some kinds of muscles which
function in the act of Writing:
 Extensor
muscles- in
charge of pushing up
the pen to form the
upward strokes and
ease
the
tension
produced as result of
flexion.
 Flexor
muscles- in
charge to push the
pen
to
form
downward strokes.
Kinds of writing
1.Cursive- The letters in the word/s are Connected.
2. Script- The letters in the word/s are Separated
3. Block- The letters in the word/s are CAPITALIZED.
Cursive Writing
Script Writing
Block Writing
KINDS OF MOVEMENT in handwriting
1.
2.
3.
4.
Finger Movement- the thumb, the first, second
and slightly the third fingers are in actual motion.
Most usually employed by children and illiterates.
Hand Movement- produced by the movement or
action of the whole hand with the wrist as the
center of attraction.
Forearm Movement- the movement of the
shoulders, hand and arm with the support of the
table.
Whole Forearm Movement- action of the entire
arm without resting, i.e. blackboard writing.
STROKES
 Is
a path traced by the pen on the paper.
It should be observed whether the course
of the strokes is continuous or broken.
 Then pen stroke is the visual record of
writing movement.
 Series of lines or curves written in a single
letter.
 One of the lines of a alphabet or series of
lines or curves within a single letter.
.
TERMINOLOGY CONCERNING STROKE
CHARACTERISTICS
1.
2.
3.
4.
ARC- a curved form inside the top curve of loop/
as in small letter “h”, “m”, “n”, “p”,.
ASCENDER- is the top portion of the letter or upper
loop.
BASELINE- maybe actually on a ruled paper, it
might be imaginary alignment of writing. It is ruled
or imaginary line upon which the writing rests.
BEADED- preliminary embellished initial stroke
which usually occurs in capital letters.
6.
7.
8.
9.
BEARD- is the rudimentary initial up stroke of a
letter.
BLUNT- the beginning and ending stroke of a letter
(without hesitation)
BOWL- a fully rounded oval or circular form on a
letter complete into “o”.
BUCKLE/BUCKLENOT- a loop made as a flourished
which is added to the letters, as small letter “k and
a” or in capital letter “A”, “K”, “I”.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
CACOGRAPHY- a bad writing
CALLIGRAPHY- the art of beautiful writing
DESCENDER- opposite of ascender, the lower
portion of a letter.
DIACRITIC- “t”, crossing the dots of the letter “I”,
and “j”. The matters of the Indian script are also
known as diacritic signs.
ENDING/TERMINATE STROKE OF TOE- the end of a
letter
EYE/EYELET/EYELOOP- a small loop or curve
formed inside the letters
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
FOOT- the lower part which rest on the baseline.
HABITS- any repeated elements or details, which
may serve to individuals writing.
HESITATION- the irregular thickening of ink which is
found when writing slows down or stop while the
pen take a stock of at the position.
HIATUS/PEN JUMP- A gap occurring between a
continuous stroke without lifting the pen. Such as
occurrence usually occurs due to speed. It may
be regarded also as special form of pen lift.
HOOK- it is a minute curve or an ankle which often
occurs at the end of the terminal strokes/it is also
sometimes occur at the beginning of an initial
strokes.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
HUMP- the rounded outside of the top of the
bend stroke or curve in small letter.
KNOB- the extra deposit of ink in the initial and
terminal stroke due to the slow withdrawal of the
pen from the paper (usually applicable to
fountain pen).
LIGATURE/CONNECTIONthe
strokes
which
connect two stroke of letter.
LONG LETTER- those letters with both upper and
lower loops.
OVAL- the portion of the letter which is oval in
shape.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
PATCHING- retouching or going back over a
defective portion of a written stroke. Careful is
common defect on forgeries.
PEN LIFT- an interruption in a stroke caused by
removing the writing instrument from the paper.
RETRACE/RETRACING- any part of a stroke which is
super imposed upon the original stroke. Example;
vertical strokes in the letter, “d”, “t”, while coming
downward from the top to the bottom will have a
retracing strokes.
SHOULDER- outside portion of the top curve seen
in a small letters.
SPUR- a short initial or terminal stroke.
31. BULBS-
a small circular enclosure.
32. FEATHERING- spreading of ink in the
paper.
33. GRADUATED OR EXPLOSIVE SHADINGwhen the shading in a letter
gradually increases or decreases, it is
called shading. If it is irregular, it is
called “explosive” shading.
Handwriting Theory
 Handwriting
 Difference
is just as unique as your fingerprints.
between fingerprint and handwriting
 Fingerprints
are permanent and do not change
 Handwriting is a learning process and lends itself
to change as a normal process
Types of Handwriting
 Cursive
writing
 Disguised writing
 Guided writing
 Hand lettering
 Natural writing
Cursive writing
 lettering
wherein
most of the letter are
for the most part are
joined together.
Disguised writing
 writing
specimen that is executed deliberately with
an attempt to alter the usual writing habits in the
attempt to conceal the identity of someone that
executed the writing
DISGUISE
 means
an actor or an attempt to hide
one’s Identity through handwriting, hand
printing or signature.
KINDS OF DISGUISED






Change of slant from right to left or vice versa
Change of capital letter either form cursive to
block style or vice versa
Change from cursive (conventional style) to
block as vice versa
Change of style from big to small or vice versa
Deteriorating one’s handwriting
Using the wrong hand (ambidextrous)
Guided writing
 also
known as assisted
writing it is executed
while the writer’s hand
was steadied in a way.
 most commonly written
during a serious illness or
even for the beginners.
Hand lettering/Script style
 specimen
of writing
characterized
by
disconnected strokes.
Natural writing
 specimen
that written or executed normally without
the attempt of controlling or alter its identifying
habits.
Handwriting Characteristics
 It
is defined as the properties or marks of
handwriting, in questioned document
examination these are identifying details.
Two Groups:


Class characteristics
Individual characteristics
Class Characteristic
 Class
Characteristics are similarities between
individuals who learned the same type of writing
systems.
 Serve just to narrow down the search when
comparing a questioned document to standard
writing systems.
Individual Characteristics
 These
are characteristics that are true only to a
specific writer.
 It is a combination of individual characteristics that
make handwriting unique to him/her.
Types of Characteristics
 Skill
Level
 Slant
 Form
 Movement
 Proportions
 Height
 “I” Dot
 “t” Crossing
 Loops
 Pressure
 Baseline
 Pen
Alignment
Lifts
 Speed
 Embellishments
 Entry/Exit Strokes
 Retracing
 Spelling/Spacing
 Format
 Case
Skill level
 The
way a writing looks.
 Important characteristic of identification or nonidentification.
 High
skill level VS. Low skill level
High Skill Level
Low Skill Level
Slant
 This
is the angle of writing and can be forward or
backward.
 This alone is not a good basis for judgment.
“Forwards and backward slants are not indicative to
handedness”
Form
 Most
basic individual characteristic and is very
important to QDE.
 Form is the way a writer makes a letter or
movement of letters.
Movement and Pressure
•
•
•
Movement is the way a pen moves in order to
make a mark or form a letter
This can help distinguish the difference in form. 2
letters can be the same, but made in a different
way.
Pressure is the difference in ink or pencil in width or
shade. Helps show direction of movement.
Proportions, Height, & Loops
 Proportions
is
the
symmetry
of
an
individual letter.
 Loops
are similar to
proportions.
 Height is the comparing
the height of one letter
to another.
 Height and proportions
are usually habits found
in a specific writer.
The “i” dot and “t” crossing
Baseline Alignment
•
•
The value of this show the questioned writing in
correlation to the baseline
Helps QDE examiners determine whether the writing
was altered or is consistent with the rest of the
writing or other examples
Pen Lifts and Embellishments
 Pen
lifts are when the
pen or pencil is lifted
from the paper and
reapplied to finish a
word or sentence.
 Most people have pen
lifts that are likely in
their writing.
 Embellishments
decorate writing.
 Usually found in the
beginning of word, but
can be seen other
places.
Speed
 The
speed of a writer is a key indicator for QDE in
the examination process.
 Fast and slow speeds are difficult to duplicate
leaving behind inconsistencies in the writing.
Entry/Exit Strokes
 Entry/Exit
Strokes is the way a writer begins certain
letter or words and can be very specific to an
individual.
 Also includes the idea of connecting stokes.
Retracing
 In
some cases, this can indicate forgery but is very
common in normal handwriting to retrace letters or
words.
Spelling/Spacing
 Spelling
is an individual characteristic because of
education or habits and can be an easy fix to
eliminate or pin point suspects.
 Spacing is the area between letters or words and is
usually specific to the writer.
Format and Case
 Format
is the habit in which a writer uses to depict
simple things like; Dates, numbers, abbreviations,
etc …

Example: The way people write checks
 Case
is a characteristic of a writer who might use
upper case letters where a lower case should be
present.
DECIPHERMENT
ERASURE
INK ERADICATOR
PEN NIBS
SECRET INK
Phases of Questioned Document
Examination
SOLUTION
OF
THE CASE
EVALUATION
COMPARISON
ANALYSIS
COLLECTION
QD CASE
Collecting Questioned Documents
 Original
document is preferred
 QDE would rather not have a copy, but can still
use them.
 All evidence should be marked by the QDE.
 Usually, initial and date.
 If document cannot be marked it should be
placed in enveloped and sealed with initial and
date.
Character of Handwriting
 No
single handwriting characteristic can in itself be
taken as the basis for a positive comparison.
 The
final conclusion must be based on a sufficient
number of common characteristics between the
known and questioned writing samples.
 There
are no hard and fast rules for a sufficient
number of personal characteristics; it is a judgment
call made by the expert examiner in the context of
each case.
Collecting Samples or Exemplars
 Exemplar
– Handwriting used as a standard for
comparison with the document in question.
2 types of exemplars:
Dictated
or requested - prepared
upon request.
Undictated or collected - written in
the ordinary course of business.
Basic points that should be considered in
obtaining collected standard writing:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The amount of standard writing available.
The similarity of subject matter
The relative dates of the disputed and the
standard writings.
The conditions under which both questioned and
known specimens were prepared.
The type of writing instrument and paper used.
Conditions that should be observed in
obtaining request standard
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
The material must be dictated to the writer.
The dictates text must be carefully be selected.
Some portions of the dictation should be
repeated at least three times.
An adequate amount of writing must be included
Writing instrument and paper should be similar to
those used in preparing the disputed document.
The dictation should be interrupted at intervals.
Normal writing conditions should be arranged.
POINTERS IN TAKING REQUEST STANDARD TO
ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF DISGUISE:
 Document
must not be shown to the subject, it must
be dictated
 Dictated next must be carefully selected, it must
contain all words, letters, numbers, figures that are
contained in the questioned.
 Dictation must be interrupted by interval, so as to
obtain the writer’s writing habit/or characteristics.
POINTERS IN TAKING REQUEST STANDARD TO
ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF DISGUISE:
 Sufficient
standard must be dictated to facilitate
the request for laboratory examination
 Similarity of writing material must be observed
 Do not forget to have the requested standard be
witnessed by at least two individuals other than the
investigator.
 Date/or time the standard writing signature was
taken and further signed by the person taken the
request and the investigating officer. The purpose is
to prevent the denial of the suspect/victim of his
handwriting or signature.
Do’s and Don’ts in the Care
Handling and Preservation
of Documents
Do’s
 Keep
documents unfolded in
protective envelopes
 Take
disputed
papers
to
document examiner’s laboratory
at the first opportunity.
 It storage is necessary, keep in dry
place away from excessive heat
and strong light.
Dont’s
 Do
not handle disputed papers
excessively or carry them in a pocket for
a long time.
 Do not make disputed documents
(either by consciously writing or by
painting at them with writing instruments
or dividers).
 Do
not mutilate or damage by
repeated refolding, creasing, cutting,
tearing or punching for filing purposes.
 Do not allow anyone except qualified
specialist, make egemucal or other
tests; do not treat or dust for latent
fingertips before consulting documents
examiner.
Signature
 are
combination of
rather limited letters or
designs and due to its
frequent
use,
it
becomes
most
automatic
with
its
source.
Kinds of Signature
1. Highly individualize signature


A type of signature which is not readable
Characterized by a series of intertwining stroke,
ornamentation and flourishes.
2. Conventional or ordinary copy-book from signature

A signature which is readable
Classes of signatures
1.
2.
3.
Formal signature, a signature that is correct and
complete use in signing important documents.
Informal signature, a signature that is cursory or
customary use in signing routine documents and
personal correspondence
Careless/Scribble signature, is a signature that is
scribble for the mail carrier, delivery boy or the
autograph collector.
Forged Signature
a
signature of another person or a fictitious
character written by another person who has no
authority to do so and with intent to defruad.
Kinds of Forgery
1.
2.
SIMPLE OR SPURIOUS FORGERY- a fraudulent
signature whereby, there are no apparent
attempt at stimulation or imitation.
SIMULATED FORGERY- it is a copy or imitation of a
signature or the person (suspect) merely signs the
name in his name and or used another signature
and possess the document before the fraud is
discovered.
Kinds of Forgery
3.
TRACED FORGERY- is the result of an attempt to
transfer in a fraudulent document an exact
facsimile of a signature by tracing process.
Types of traced forgery:



3.
Carbon outline method
Indented process
Transmitted light process
CUT AND PASTE FORGERY- is created when the
authentic signatures are misused by means of
photocopies or computer scanners.
Materials from which document are
made:
1.
2.
3.
Paper
Ink
Writing
instrument
Origin of paper
Parchment or Vellum – a material made of
animal skin which is the earliest form of
writing material.
Papyrus – a grass-like plant found in Egypt.
- inside of it was sliced into layers and
were beaten and pressed together into
thin sheets
 The
word "paper" is etymologically derived from
Latin papyrus, which comes from the Greek
πάπυρος (papuros), the word for the Cyperus
papyrus plant.
 Papyrus
is a thick, paper-like material produced
from the pith of the Cyperus papyrus plant which
was
used
in
ancient
Egypt
and
other
Mediterranean cultures for writing before the
introduction of paper into the Middle East and
Europe.
 Straw
– used to make papers invented by Chinese
in1800 was introduced in Europe via the Arab.
Some Bases in the Examination of Paper:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Color- color can be well appreciated with as
good light, dint, stain or fading
Surface appearance- it may be smooth or rough,
damage or wrinkled
Watermarks- exposure of the paper to a strong
light may reveal the watermarks of the
manufacturer or type of the paper.
Weight and Thickness- the thickness may be
measured by means of the paper micrometer.
Papers are designated in weight which shows
thickness of the sheet.
Origin of Ink
Ink
- Colored liquid or paste used for writing.
Indian ink – invented by the Chinese
- considered as the oldest ink.
- it is made of amorphous carbon in the
form
of lamp-black made into a cake
with hide
glue.
The word "INK" is derived from the Latin
encaustum, the name given to the pigment used
for colouring baked tiles and it comes to us through
the old French word enque.
CHARACTERISTICS and COMPOSITION of
INKS
 Copperas-
an aqueous decoction of an iron salt,
hydrated ferrous sulfate.
 Tannin- usually gallo tannic acid obtained from
gallnuts with sum gum added from viscosity.
 Iron gallotannate Ink- commonly used in “blueblack” ink and still the basis of the greatest number
of commercial ink. The changes in the paper may
provide some indications of the age of the writing.
Origin of writing instrument
Writing Instrument – a material
marks or symbols on paper.
used
to
form
Pen - came from the Latin word “PENNA” meaning
feather.
- A tool for writing or drawing with a colored
fluid, such as ink.
Some Writing Instruments
and their Characteristics
 Pencil
 Fountain
 Quill
pen
pen
 Steel nibs
Some Writing Instruments and their
Characteristics



Reynolds pen- was first
successfully marketed in
New York; an invention
of Milton Reynolds in
1945.
Liquid lead pencil- a ball
point with an erasable
graphite ink introduced
in 1955 but phased out
during the early 1960’s.
Roller ball pen- a ball
point with a free-flowing
ink, similar to that used in
fountain pens introduced
in the late 1979
Ink and Paper Comparisons
A
study of the chemical composition of the ink used
on documents may verify whether or not known and
questioned documents were prepared by the same
pen; and the paper itself may be analyzed.
A
nondestructive approach to comparing ink lines is
accomplished
with
a
visible-light
microspectrophotometer.
 Thin-layer chromatography is also suitable for ink
comparisons.
Ink Analysis
 The
U. S. Secret Service has an ink analysis
program and maintains a library of over
6,000 inks.
 Handwritten notes as well as printed
documents can be analyzed.
 Chemical tests of ink (ink solubility, paper
chromatography
and
thin
layer
chromatography) can be performed on
printed or written material.
Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)

Place “punch” of ink in solvent

Drop on paper (stationary phase)

Put in liquid (mobile phase)

Liquid travels up paper;
separates components of ink
Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)
Paper
Stationary Phase
Separated Ink
Start Dot
Solvent
Mobile Phase
Thin Layer Chromatography
Typewriters and Printing Devices
•
•
The two requests most often made of the examiner
in connection with the examination of typewriters
and printing devices are:
▫ whether the make and model of the typewriter
and printing devices used to prepare the
questioned document can be identified.
▫ whether a particular suspect typewriter or printing
device can be identified as having prepared the
questioned document.
In order to do this, the individual type character’s
style, shape, and size are compared to a complete
reference collection of past and present typefaces.
Technical Terms Used in
Typewriting Identification
and Examination
1.
Alignment- alignment defects include characters
which are written improperly in the following respects
A twisted letter, horizontal mal-alignment, vertical malalignment, and a character “Off its feet”. These
defects can be corrected by special adjustment to
the bad type block.
2.
Carbon Impression- any typewriting which is placed
on the paper by the action of the typefaces striking
through carbon paper is classed as a carbon
impression.
3.
Character- is used to include
numerals, or points of punctuation.
letters,
symbols,
4.
Clogged (dirty) Type Faces- the typefaces
become filled with line, dirt, and ink, particularly
in enclosed letters.
5.
Defects- any abnormality or mal-alignment in a
typewriter which is reflected in its work and
which leads to its individualization or
identification.
6.
Horizontal Mal-Alignment- an alignment defect
in which the character prints to the right or left of
its proper position.
7.
Mal- Alignment- is synonymous with the term
“alignment defects”.
8.
Off-Its Feet- the condition of a type face printing
heavier on one side or corner than over the
remainder of its outline.
9.
Permanent Defect- any identifying typewriter
characteristics which can be eliminated by
cleaning the machine or replacing the ribbon.
10.
Transitory defect- any identifying typewriter
characteristics which can be eliminated by
cleaning the machine or replacing the ribbon.
11.
Type Face- the printing of the type block
12.
Vertical Mal-Alignment- a character printing
above or below its proper position
Points to consider in
Preparing Standard of
Typewriters
1. Include all words and characters used in the
questioned document
 Used the same wording as the questioned
document if possible
 Employ different degrees and speed.
 Utilizes the same or similar quality of paper.
 Make no machine adjustments or ribbon
changes until at least several standards are
completed, then prepare several, more.
2. Each sheet should contain data on
make, mode, serial number of machine,
and initials or signature of investigator
3. Submit typewriter’s ribbon if it has not
been changed since the questioned
document was type.
FALSIFICATION
 In
Q.D. context, it pertains to the act of adding and
substituting, erasing and obliterating an original
entry
 be it punctuation marks, signs, symbols, numerals,
characters and or letters in a document.
Kinds of FALSIFICATION
 Alteration
is the act of changing the meaning of the
document by means of adding
 Erasure is the act of changing the meaning of the
document by means of removing some parts of the
document. (Mechanical or chemical)
 Obliteration is by spilling ink on a document to hide
parts the forgery does not want to be seen
COUNTERFEITING
The crime of:
 Making
 Circulating
 altering
false coins and bank notes
STUDY THE WORKMANSHIP
OF EACH DENOMINATION
BANK NOTES AND COINS
Take notes and familiarize yourself with the various
characteristics of the following features:
1. Distinctive feel
2. Portrait
3. Watermark
4. Colored fibers
5. Metallic fibers
6. Lacework design
7. Style and size of serial numbers
8. Vignette
9. Cleanliness of print
Types of Examinations
 Handwriting
Comparisons
 Ink Examinations
 Indented Writing
 Alterations
 Paper Analysis
 Photocopy Analysis
 Typewriting
 And other related sections
Instruments used in QDE
 Microscope
 Magnifying
lens
 Shadowgraph
 Camera
 Ruler
 Handwriting protractor
 Typewriting protractor
 Transmitted light table
 VSC and ESDA
Instruments Used in QD Lab