MODULE 1

Introduction

• “Document” is an inseparable part of man’s life. Literally, from womb to tomb. It is define as “any material, which
contains, marks, symbol or sign either visible, partially visible that may presently or ultimately convey meaning
or message to someone”. It may come in many forms such as digital/electronic or the traditional one like those
printed or written on papers.
• Document serves as reliable and valid recordings of man’s professional and personal affairs. The identity of a
person is established and his possessions are secured through documents. This heavy reliance and dependency
have attracted criminal minded personalities to take advantage and make profits from documents. Hence giving
birth to crimes such as forgery, counterfeiting and falsifications

The “Locard Exchange Principle”

• It was Locard’s belief that when a criminal came in contact with an object or person, a cross – transfer of evidence
occurred.
• By analogy, if a person performed a crime on a document, traces of the commission might have been left for a
“criminalist” to examine, discover and analyze. In the case of questioned document examinations such criminalist
is the “document examiner”.

Note: Criminalist is a man trained in the science of application of instruments and methods to the detection of crime

The Document Examiner

• Studies scientifically the details and elements of document in order to identify their source or discover other facts
concerning them (an expert witness who by virtue of his knowledge, qualifications, trainings and skills were
allowed by the court to provide opinion on matters covering his specialization).

Questioned Document

• Any documents about which some issue has been raised or which is under scrutiny

Graphologist/Grapho – analyst

• Examines handwriting and interpret the character and personality of the writer by the traits left behind in the
written line.
History of Documents and Scientific Document Examination

• Development of Writing System

➢ The desire to produce documents can be traced back at the time man learned to communicate. It was believed
to begin or evolved from verbal communication. To preserve culture and traditions, common rituals and
stories are passed - on from one generation to another. Verbal communications were later transformed to
visual forms through crude drawings called “Pictographs” which can be considered as pre – historic version
of documents. Consistency in the usage of signs and images had later evolved into “codified system of
standard symbols” or “ideographs” from which signs and symbols were given “agreed” meanings or ideas (ex.
Cuneiforms of Summerians and Heliographs of Egyptians). Combining ideographs can be a systematic way of
expressing thoughts through written record. From these the “formal writing” has begun.

• Development of Writing surface

➢ The following are the materials used as writing surfaces throughout the history

o Petrograms – Written or printed on the surface of the rock

o Parchment – Skin of animals like sheep, calves and goats
o Papyrus – Obtained from the plant Cyperus Papyrus that are commonly found in Egypt, Palestine and
Syria. It is where the word “paper” was derived
o Paper – Obtained from wood pulp, the substance that is left after the liquid has been squeezed from
the wood chips, done by the action of calcium sulphite

• Development of Writing Instrument

➢ Pen is a handheld instrument used to apply ink in the writing surface. The first ink is Indian ink or Carbon Ink.
➢ The following are the various instruments used as pen
o Reeds – Used by Egyptians, made from hollow piece of bamboo
o Rat’s Hair – Used by the Chinese
o Metal Styli – Used by the Greeks
o Quill Pen – Made from feather of goose and swan
o Steel Nibs – Those equipped with metal pen points
o Fountain Pen – Those equipped with ink reservoir. Its creation is credited to Lewis Waterman
o Ball Point Pen – Designed by John H. Loud while Lazlo Biro created a ball point pen that wrote easily
on paper.
o Pencil – Those that uses lead substance as its ink
• Development of Science of Handwriting Identification

➢ Earliest law that gives reference to application of science of questioned document examination to court
litigation is the Code of Justinian (539 AD), in the Roman law. It allows the comparison of Handwriting both
on public and private instrument. The Code likewise requires experts to be sworn.
➢ The development of forensic document examination both in the professional and legal field is largely due to
the efforts of an American named Albert S. Osborn and an Englishman Wilson Harrison. Their books
“Questioned Documents” and “Suspects Documents” is still considered as definitive works on the subject.
➢ Ordway Hilton emphasizes the scientific nature of document examination in his book “Scientific Examination
of Document”. He further stresses that a document examiner must be a “scientist” and trained in the
discovery of facts.
 MODULE 2

Legal Definitions of Document - It is any written statement by which a right is established or an obligation
extinguished. (People vs. Moreno, C.A., 38 O.G. 119) Every deed or instrument executed by person by which some
dispositions or agreement is proved, evidenced or set forth (People vs Nillosquin CA, 338 OG 11

Not a legal document - Draft if not yet approved by proper authority (ie. municipal payroll) Blank forms of official
documents, (unfilled) Pamphlets or books which do not evidence any disposition or agreement (merchandise)

Types of Document

a. Public Document - Refers to any instrument notarized by a notary public or competent public official
with solemnities required by law.
b. Private Document – every deed on instrument executed by a private person without the intervention of
a notary public or of any other person legally authorized, by which document, some disposition on
agreement is proved, evidenced or set forth
c. Official Document – any instrument issued by the government or its offices having the authority to do so
and the offices, which in accordance with their creation they are authorized to issue. The offices must issue
the document in the performance of their duties
d. Commercial Document – any instrument executed in accordance with the Code of Commerce or any
Mercantile Law containing disposition of Commercial rights or obligations

Various Aspect of Questioned Documents Examination

e. Examination of Handwriting
f. Examination of typewriting and type prints
g. Detection of alterations
h. Decipherment of erased writings
i. Restoration of obliterated writings
j. Determination of the age of the documents
k. Identification of the stamps seal and other authentication devices (imprints)
l. Currency bills and coins and the like
m. Verification of signatures
 Classes of Questioned Documents

n. Documents with questioned signatures (most commonly encountered class)

o. Documents containing alleged fraudulent alterations
p. Holograph documents – documents which is completely written and signed by one person (derived
from the latin words “holo” means “whole/entire/complete” and “Graphia” meaning writings or
drawings”)
q. Documents questioned as to their age or date
r. Documents questioned on the materials used on their production
s. Documents involving typewriting; and are investigated or examined for purposes of determining:
i. their source
ii. their date
iii. whether or not it contains fraudulent alterations or substituted pages
t. Documents which may identify a person through handwriting
u. Genuine documents erroneously or fraudulently attacked or disputed.

Classes of Disputed Signatures

Forgery - It is committed by any person who, with intent to defraud, signs the name of another, or a fictitious person,
knowing that he has no authority to do so, or falsely makes, alters, forges or counterfeits any checks, draft, due bill
for the payment of money or property, or counterfeits or forges the seal or handwriting of another knowing the
same to be fake, altered, forged or counterfeited, with intent to prejudice, damage or defraud any person

v. (simple forgery/Spurious signature) Forged signatures where no attempt has been made to make a
copy or facsimile of the genuine signature of a person to sign the document.
w. Forged signatures of a fictitious person
x. Forged signatures which closely resembles the genuine signature since they have been produced by a
tracing process (traced forgery)

Different Process of Tracing

Carbon Process or “Carbon Outline Method” - A carbon paper is placed between the genuine signatures (top
sheet) and the fraudulent document (below).

Indentation Process - An indented or “canal-like” outline of genuine signature is produced on the fraudulent
document, with suitable pressure or force the outline of the genuine signature with a pointed instrument.

Projection process or Transmitted Light Process - Spurious document is placed immediately over the genuine
signature, with strong light directed through the two sheets of paper from below or behind
y. Forged signatures which resembles the genuine signature, written free-hand (simulated or
copied forgery)
z. Genuine signatures which the writer are honestly unwilling to accept it as genuine
aa. Genuine signatures which written illegibly or in an unusual manner, to afford signatories some plausible
grounds for disclaiming them should they deem it expedient (deliberate)

Care, Handling and Preservation of Documents

Dos and Don’ts in the Care, Handling and Preservation of Documents

i. Do’s
1. Keep documents unfolded in protective envelopes
2. Take disputed papers to document examiner’s laboratory at the first opportunity
3. If storage is necessary, keep in dry place away from excessive heat and strong light

ii. Don'ts

1. Do not handle disputed excessively or carry them in a pocket for a long time
2. Do not mark the document either by conscious writing or printing at them with any
writing instrument
3. Do not mutilate or damage by repeated refolding, creasing, cutting, tearing or punching
for filling purposes
4. Do not allow anyone except qualified specialists to make chemical or other test;
5. Do not treat or dust for latent fingerprints before consulting a document examiner

Instruments and apparatus needed in Questioned Document Examination

a. Magnifying lens-lenses 5X magnifying power with built-in lighting are

found to be more useful
b. Stereoscopic Binocular Microscope - a microscope where three (3)
dimensional enlargements is possible.

c. Measuring Test Plate/Transparent Glass plate - used for signatures and

typewriting.

d. Table lamps - with adjustable shades like the available “goose neck” lamp.
e. Ultra-violet Lamp - used for developing or restoring erased writings

f. Infra-red Viewer - the used in determining physical difference of the types

of papers and ink.

g. Iodine Fuming Apparatus – for developing latent fingerprints and for the
restoration of invisible writing.
 h. Silver Nitrate Solution Atomizer - used to spray silver nitrate on paper.
Also for latent fingerprints (Ninhydrin is another chemical that can be used
for the same purposes)

i. Transmitted Light gadget - the lights comes from the beneath or behind
the glass on which the paper is placed

Note: The following are the three (3) light examinations performed on documents

1. Direct light examination – the light is placed directly on top of the paper
2. Side light Examination/Oblique light examination – the light is placed at one side of the document at 45 degree angle
3. Transmitted light examination – the light is placed behind the or below the paper
j. Paper Thickness Gauge - used for measuring the thickness of the paper

k. Copy Camera - like camera with macro lens

 MODULE 3

I. Writing and Handwriting

a. Handwriting - A visible effect of bodily movement which is an almost unconscious expression of fixed
muscular habits, reacting from fixed mental impressions of certain ideas associated with script form
b. Writing - is the visible result of a very complicated series of acts, being as a whole or a combination of
certain forms which are the very visible result of mental and muscular habits acquired by long continued
painstaking effort.

II. Kinds of Handwriting

a. Cursive- writing in which the letters are for the most part joined together (dactus link)
b. Hand Lettering – any disconnected block capitals sometimes referred to as manuscripts writing or letter
printing
c. Disguise Writing – it is a writing of a person who deliberately try to alter his usual writing habits in the
hope of hiding his identity
d. Natural Writing – any specimen of writing executed without any attempt to control or alter its identifying
habits and its usual quality of execution

III. Physiological Basis of Handwriting

a. The impulses to form a letter begins in the brain’s writing center in the CORTEX
b. This center near the motor area of the cortex is responsible for the final movement involved in
handwriting. The importance of this center is that when it becomes disease as in AGRAPHIA, one loses the
ability to write although he could still grasped writing instrument
 c. In writing, the pen functions as an extension of the hand. The fingers transmit to the pen the directive
impulses and the variations in muscular tension that according to the nature of the writer’s nervous
organization, occur during the act of writing. Hence, as each writer has his own way of holding his hand,
manipulating the pen, and exerting pressure, the same pen in different hands will produce entirely
different strokes

d. The hand contains two kinds of muscles which function in the act of writing. A group of EXTENSOR muscles
push up the pen to form the UPWARD STROKES, and ease the tension produced as a result of flexion by a
group of muscles called the FLEXOR muscles which push the pen to form the DOWNWARD STROKE. These
flexor and extensor muscles combine with lumbrical muscles to form LATERAL STROKE

e. The delicate way in which the various muscles used in writing work together to produce written forms is
known as MOTOR COORDINATION.

IV. Steps in the development of Mature Writing

a. First, when a person first begins to learn the art of handwriting, penmanship copybook forms, blackboard
illustrations of the different letters are placed before him. His first step is one of imitation only by a process
of drawing, painstaking, laborious slow copying of the letter forms. The form of each letter at first occupies
the focus of his attention.
Note: Copy Book Form – The design or illustrations of letters which are fundamental to a writing system

b. Second, as the person progress, the matter of form recedes, and the focus of attention is centered on the
execution of various letters, that is they are actually written instead of drawn. (mastery of pattern
execution)

c. Third, the manual operation in the execution of letters after more progress, is likewise is soon relegated
to the subjective mind and the process of writing becomes more or less automatic. As the person attains
maturity in writing by many repetitions, writing becomes an unconscious coordinated movement that
produces a record. Attention is no longer given to the process of writing itself because the subject matter
to be written now occupies the focus of attention.

V. Factors of Modifying a Mature Writing

a. Education
b. Training
c. Personal taste
d. Artistic Ability
e. Masculature and nerve tone; and the like
VI. Manner of Modifying Mature Writing from Copy Book Form

a. Simplification - discarding of unessential details and go as far as to strip the letter to the skeleton making
it either clear-cut and precise, or bare and careless.

b. Elaboration – decorative strokes are added to the plain letter forms, giving writing rick and ample, or to
ornate character.

c. Linear pattern – writing shows no concern for form so that lines and angles predominate, and loops and
angles are not pronounced.
VII. Scientific Method of Handwriting Examination

a. Recognition (Analysis) of characteristics-properties or characteristics are observed or measured,

determined
b. Complete Comparison of Characteristics-properties or characteristics of the unknown are determined
thru analysis are now compared with the familiar or recorded properties of known items (standards)
c. Correct interpretation (EVALUATION) of characteristics- similarities or dissimilarities in properties or
characteristics will each have a certain value for identification, determined by its likelihood or occurrence.
The weight or significance of each must therefore be considered.

VIII. Standards

a. In questioned documents examination, it refers to those things whose origins are known and can be
proven and which can be legally used as samples to compare with other matters in question.

b. Types of Standards

i. Procured or Collected Standards - Those which can be obtained from files of documents executed
in the course of a person’s day-to-day business, official, social or personal activities. They often
serve as the best or most appropriate standards in the determination of the genuineness of a
questioned signature or writing (readily available writings).
 ii. Request Standards - Those which are given or made at the request of an investigator for purposes
of making a comparative examination with the questioned writing. They serve in addition to
collected standards which could be possibly obtained, as appropriate standards in determining
the identity or authorship of anonymous letter.

c. Points to be Considered in Gathering Procured or Collected Standards

i. Amount of Standard writing available

ii. Similarity of subject matter
iii. Relative dates of the standards with the questioned signature or writing
iv. Conditions under which both questioned and known writings or signatures are prepared
v. Kind of instrument and paper used

d. Points to be considered in Obtaining Requested Standards

i. The material should be dictated to the writer

ii. Dictated text must be carefully selected
iii. An adequate amount of writing must be included
iv. Some portions of the dictation must be repeated at least three times
v. Writing instruments and paper should be similar to those used in questioned document
vi. Dictation should be interrupted at an interval
vii. Normal writing conditions should be arrange