Document analysis involves examining handwriting, ink, and paper to determine the source or authenticity of documents. Various techniques are used to analyze these elements, including chromatography to analyze ink composition and compare it between samples. Characteristics of handwriting such as letter formation, word spacing, and embellishments can provide clues to identify or eliminate a person as the author of a questioned document.

1. Chapter 16
Document Analysis

2. Document Analysis
• Involves the examination of handwriting, ink,
and paper to ascertain source or authenticity
• Examples include letters, checks, licenses,
contracts, wills, passports
• Investigations include verification;
authentication; characterizing papers,
pigments, and inks

3. 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

4. Document Examination
• involves the analysis and comparison
of questioned documents with known
material
• identifies, whenever possible, the
author or origin of the questioned
document

5. Handwriting Analysis
Handwriting analysis involves two phases:
1. The hardware—ink, paper, pens,
pencils, typewriter, printers
2. Visual examination of the writing

6. Handwriting Characteristics
• Line quality
• Word and letter spacing
• Letter comparison
• Pen lifts
• Connecting strokes
• Beginning/ending strokes
• Unusual letter formation
• Shading/pen pressure
• Slant
• Baseline habits
• Flourishes or
embellishments
• Diacritic placement

7. Handwriting Samples
Flourishes or embellishments
Connecting strokes
Diacritic placement
Word and letter spacing
Unusual letter formation

8. Handwriting Characteristics
Measuring the slant of handwriting
Using a template overlaid the sample

9. Handwriting Samples
When obtaining a writing sample:
• 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. Types of Forgery
Simulated forgery: made by copying a
genuine signature
Traced forgery: made by tracing a genuine
signature
Blind forgery: made without a model of the
signature

11. Types of Forgery
Check fraud
• Forgery
• Counterfeit
• Alterations Credit cards
• Theft of card or number
Paper money
Art—imitation with intent to deceive
• Counterfeit
• Microscopic examination
• Electromagnetic radiation
Identity • Chemical analysis
• Social Security
Contracts—alterations of contracts,
• Driver’s license medical records

12. Document Alterations
Obliterations: removal of writing by physical or
chemical means can be detected by:
• Microscopic examination
• UV or infrared (IR) light
• Digital image processing
Indentations can be detected by:
• Oblique lighting
• Electrostatic detection apparatus (ESDA)

13. Forensic Linguists
Expert who looks at the linguistic content (the way
something is written) of a questioned document
Language used can help
to establish the writer’s
• age
• gender
• ethnicity
• level of education
• professional training
• ideology

14. Analyzing Ink
Ink can be analyzed to help determine the source
Chromatography is a method of physically
separating the components of inks.
Types
1. HPLC: high-performance
liquid chromatography
2. TLC: thin-layer
chromatography
3. Paper chromatography

15. Paper Chromatography
• Two samples of black
ink from two different
manufacturers have
been characterized
using paper
chromatography.
• The different colors, in
different ratios, can
help to identify the
exact type of ink

16. 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.

17. Retention Factor - Rf
• Each dye has a characteristic Rf based on the solvent
used during the chromatography.
• Can help to individualize the ink

18. Analyzing Paper
Analysis involves looking at the following
characteristics of paper:
• Raw material
• Weight
• Density
• Thickness
• Color
• Watermarks
• Age
• Fluorescence

19. Document 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.

20. Counterfeiting
• In 1996 the government starting adding new
security features to paper money
• Subtle background colors have been added
along with other features to discourage
counterfeiting
• October 2003 - $20 bill
• September 2004 - $50 bill
• September 2005 - $10 bill