Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, 2e ... · Chapter 10 Handwriting Analysis,...

Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, 2e

Chapter 10 1 All rights Reserved

Cengage/NGL/South-Western © 2016


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


Chapter 10 Handwriting Analysis, Forgery, and Counterfeiting By the end of this chapter you will be able to:

10.1 Explain how a sample of handwriting evidence is compared with an exemplar using both qualitative and quantitative characteristics.

10.2 Describe some of the limitations of handwriting analysis.

10.3 Identify a historical case of document fraud and explain how the fraudulent document(s) was/were created.

10.4 Describe recent developments in technology for use in handwriting analysis.

2


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


Chapter 10 Handwriting Analysis, Forgery, and Counterfeiting By the end of this chapter you will be able to:

10.5 List and describe several ways in which businesses prevent check forgery.

10.6 Describe features of new paper currency that protect against counterfeiting.

10.7 Compare and contrast older paper currencies with new currencies, including those on plastic stock.

3


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


o counterfeiting

o currency

o document analysis

o document expert

4

Chapter 10

Vocabulary

o exemplar

o forgery

o fraudulence

o questioned document


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


Introduction

o A questioned document is any document that has handwriting, a written mark, type, or any paper and ink with uncertain authenticity.

• checks

• wills

• passports

• drivers licenses

• currency

• letters and contracts

• suicide notes

• receipts

5


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


Related Fields

Historical dating—the verification of age and value of a document or object

Fraud investigation—focuses on the money trail and criminal intent

Paper and ink specialists—date, type, source, and/or catalog various types of paper, watermarks, ink, printing/copy/fax machines, computer cartridges

Forgery specialists—analyze altered, obliterated, changed, or doctored documents and photos

Typewriting analysts—determine origin, make, and model

Computer crime investigators—investigate cybercrime

6


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


Early Forensic Handwriting Analysis

o Every person's handwriting is unique.

o An exemplar of a person's handwriting can be used to determine authenticity.

o In 1999, the U.S. Court of Appeals determined that handwriting analysis qualified as a form of expert testimony.

7


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


Early Forensic Handwriting Analysis (continued)

8

o Handwriting analysis of ransom notes pertaining to the kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh's son led to the conviction and execution of Richard "Bruno" Hauptmann.


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


Handwriting Characteristics

Handwriting analysis involves two phases:

1. The hardware—ink, paper, pens, pencils, typewriter,

printers

2. Visual examination of the writing

9


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


Handwriting Samples

The subject should not be shown the questioned document.

The subject is not told how to spell words or use punctuation.

The subject should use materials similar to those of the document.

The dictated text should match some parts of the document.

The subject should be asked to sign the text.

Always have a witness.

10


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


Handwriting Characteristics

o There are 12 characteristics that handwriting experts examine. These characteristics include:

• Letter form

• Line form

• Formatting

11

All rights Reserved



Chapter 10 12

All rights Reserved



Chapter 10 13


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


Handwriting Analysis

o Handwriting experts have ways of determining whether a person has tried to disguise his or her handwriting or to copy someone else's handwriting.

14


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


Technology of Handwriting Analysis

15

o Infrared Spectroscope

o Biometric Signature Pads

o Computerized Analysis


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


Shortcomings of Handwriting Analysis

16

o Handwriting analysis is ultimately subjective, relying on the expertise of the examiner.

o The Board of Forensic Document Examiners (BFDE) offers a training program in handwriting analysis.


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


Forgery

o Although banks hope to eventually eliminate checks, the below methods are currently in use by banks to prevent check forgery:

• Print checks on chemically sensitive paper.

• Use a large font size.

• Use high-resolution borders on the checks.

• Print checks in multiple color patterns.

• Embed fibers in checks that glow under different types of lights.

• Use chemical-wash detection systems that change color when a check is altered.

17


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


Methods of Forgery

Simulated forgery—one made by copying a genuine signature

Traced forgery—one made by tracing a genuine signature

Blind forgery—one made without a model of the signature

18


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


Types of Forgery

Check fraud

• Forgery

• Counterfeit

• Alterations

Paper money

• Counterfeit

Identity

• Social Security

• Driver’s license

19

Credit cards

•Theft of card or

number

Art—imitation with intent to

deceive

•Microscopic

examination

•Electromagnetic

radiation

•Chemical analysis

Contracts—alterations of

contracts, medical records


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


Literary Forgery

20


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


Literary Forgery (continued)

21


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


Counterfeiting

o Currency

o Fake name-brand products

o Coins

o Postage stamps

22


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


Ink

Chromatography is a method of physically separating the components of inks.

Types

HPLC—high-performance liquid chromatography

TLC—thin-layer chromatography

Paper chromatography

23


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


Paper Chromatography of Ink

Two samples of black ink from two different manufacturers have been characterized using paper chromatography.

24


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


Retention Factor (Rf)

A number that represents how far a compound travels in a particular solvent

It is determined by measuring the distance the compound traveled and dividing it by the distance the solvent traveled.

25


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


Evidence

Class characteristics may include general types of pens, pencils, or paper.

Individual characteristics may include unique, individual handwriting characteristics; trash marks from copiers; or printer serial numbers.

26


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


Counterfeit Currency

29

o Counterfeiting is a federal felony punishable with up to 15 years in prison.

o Methods in place to try to prevent counterfeiting include:

• Design features that make printing difficult

• Special paper

• Ongoing changes to the design of paper money


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


Detecting Counterfeit Currency

30

o Counterfeit currency can often be detected because of the starch found in regular paper.

o Some counterfeiters actually bleach small bills to provide the correct paper for use.

o Some countries have begun producing plastic money to replace paper bills.


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


o Fraudulence, or fraud, is attempting to get financial or other gain from forgery.

o Handwriting analysis by document experts is the examination of questioned documents compared with exemplars to establish the authenticity and/or authorship of the documents.

32

Summary


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


o Document experts use their expertise along with scientific methods and technology to compare handwriting characteristics of a questioned document to those of an exemplar to help identify authors and detect any alterations, erasures, and obliterations.

o Handwriting analysis has always been an important tool, especially for forensic scientists. Handwriting experts help financial, legal, and governmental institutions, as well as the general public, detect and prevent forgery, counterfeiting, and other fraudulent crimes.

33

Summary (continued)


Chapter 10

All rights Reserved


o Technological advances, such as biometric signature pads and the infrared spectroscope, have improved objectivity, increased quantitative analysis, and enhanced the detection of forged documents.

o Countries, including the United States, continue to refine methods to protect their currency from counterfeiters, changing designs and experimenting with different stocks.

34

Summary (continued)

Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, 2e ... · Chapter 10 Handwriting Analysis,...

Documents

Transcript of Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, 2e ... · Chapter 10 Handwriting Analysis,...