Questioned Documents Examinations

Documents
- any materials containing marks, symbols or sign either visible, partially visible
that may present or ultimately convey a meaning to someone, maybe in the form or
pencil, ink writing, typewriting or printing on paper.

The term “document” applies to writing; to words printed, lithographed or photographed;

to maps or plans; to seals, plates or even stones on which inscription are cut or
engraved.
Examples:
Deeds Agreements
Title Letters
Receipts
And other written documents to prove facts.

Latin word
“Documentum” means lesson or example.

In Medieval Latin
means “instruction or official paper’’

French word
“docere”, means to teach

According to Microsoft Encarta Reference Library

(as a noun):
1. formal piece of writing
2. object containing information
3. computer file

prepared by: jrcanceran, rcrim

(as a verb):
1. Record information in or on media
2. support a claim with evidence

History of Document
 From the very earliest time, man has put down marks on different materials to make
forms of writing were simple pictures on the walls of caves.
 Man, soon found he could not express all of his thoughts by means of pictures so
systems of writing were developed.
 Early writings were on stones and metal. Later skins of animals were used.
 Paper was first invented by the Chinese more than 2,000 years ago but it was not
common in other countries for a long time.
 With the making of paper, writing became more common to many people.
 Criminalistics were quick to learn that it was profitable to make false documents.
 Knowledge of the methods of making false document is therefore necessary to the
police investigator.
 The examination of questioned document falls into broad classes.

Kinds of Documents

1. Public Documents
- an instrument authenticated by a notary public or competent official with the
formalities required by law or an instrument executed in due form before a notary public
certified by him, or one that which is made by a notary public in the presence of parties
who execute it with the assistance of 2 witnesses.

Examples:

 Memorandum

prepared by: jrcanceran, rcrim

  Voting Records
 Court Records
 Census Reports
 Death Records
 Marriage Records
 Adoption Records

2. Private Document
- every deed or instrument executed by a private person without the intervention
of a notary public or any person legally authorized, by which the documents some
dispositions or agreement is provide evidenced as set forth.

Examples:
 Notes
 Diaries
 Postcards
 Social Security Number
 Business Documents

3. Official Document
- a document which is issued by a public official in the exercise of the functions of
his office. An official document is also a “Public Document”

What is the difference between Public and Official Documents?

prepared by: jrcanceran, rcrim

4. Commercial Documents
- any instrument defined and regulated by the code of commerce or other
commercial law.

5. Electronic Document
- exist only in electronic form such as
date stored on a computer network, back-up,
archive or other storage media.

6. Paper-Based Document
- produced traditionally and manually.

Questioned
- any material which some issue has been raised or which in under scrutiny.

Questioned Document
- one which the facts appearing therein may not be true and are contested either
in whole or part with respect to its authenticity, identity or origin.
It maybe:

* Deed * Contract
* Will * Election Ballots

prepared by: jrcanceran, rcrim

* Marriage contract * Check
* Visas * Application Form
* Certificates

Standard Document
- are condensed and compact set of authentic specimens which if adequate or
proper, should contain a cross section of the material from a known source.
- those things whose origins are known and can be proven, and which can be
legally used as examples to compare with other matters in questions.

Exemplar
- a term used by some document examiners and attorneys to characterize known
material. Standard is the older form.

Holograph Document
- any document completely written and signed by one person.

Reference Collections
- materials compiled and organized by the document examiner to assist him in
answering special questions.

Questioned Document Examinations or Forensic Document

Examinations
- the practice of application of document examination to the
purpose of the law.
Forensic Document Examiner or Questioned Document
Examiner
- refers to persons who study all aspects of a document to
determined its authenticity, origin handwriting, photocopies, inks and
papers.

Classes of Questioned Document

1. Documents with questioned signature

prepared by: jrcanceran, rcrim

2. Questioned Documents alleged to have been containing fraudulent alterations
3.Questioned or Disputed holographic will.
Holographic will – will entirely written in the handwriting of the testator
Notarial will – signed by the testator acknowledge before a notary public with 3
witnessed
4. Questioned documents on issues of their age or date
5. Questioned documents on issues of materials used in their production

Albert Sherman Osborn (1946-1985)

- considered as a Father of Scientific Examination
of Questioned Document.
- first American prominent in the field of forgery
detection and author of the seminal
“Questioned Document”

prepared by: jrcanceran, rcrim