Classification and Definitions of Documents

DEFINITION OF TERMS printing/copy/fax machines, computer cartridges, etc., using chemical methods. DOCUMENTS - any material containing marks, symbols, or signs either visible, partially visible that may present or ultimately convey meaning to someone, maybe in the form of a pencil, ink writing, typewriting, or printing on paper. Forgery Specialists - These are public or private experts who analyze, altered, obliterated, changed, or doctored documents and photos using infrared lighting and other equipment. KINDS OF DOCUMENTS Public Document - a document created, executed, or issued by a public official in response to the exigencies of the public service, or in the execution of which a public official intervened. Official Document – a document that is issued by a public official in the exercise of the functions of his office. 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 disposition or agreement is provide evidenced or set forth. Commercial Document – Any instrument defined and regulated by the Code of Commerce or other commercial law. Electronic Document – exist only in electronic forms such as date stored on a computer network, back-up, archive, or other storage media. Paper-based – produced traditionally and manually QUESTIONED DOCUMENT – Document is usually questioned because its origin, its contents, or the circumstances and story regarding its production, arouse serious suspicions as to its genuineness, or it may be adversely scrutinized simply because it displeases someone. QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION/FORENSIC DOCUMENT EXAMINATION - The practice of application of document examination to the purposes of the law. FORENSIC DOCUMENT EXAMINER/QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINER – refers to persons who study all aspects of a document to determine its authenticity, origin, handwriting, photocopies, inks, and papers. HOLOGRAPHIC DOCUMENT – any document was completely written and signed by one person. REFERENCE COLLECTION – Material compiled and organized by the document examiner to assist him in answering special questions. RELATED FIELD OF STUDY Historical dating - It involves the verification of age and worth pf document or object. Handwriting Analysis - These are psychology experts who assess personality traits from handwriting samples, also called as graphologist or graphoanalysts. Forensic stylistics - Refers to the same purpose but by looking at semantics, spelling, word choice, syntax, and phraseology. Typewriting Analysis - These are experts on the origin, make, and model used in the typewritten documents. Computer Crime Investigation Imprint Examination – including those produced by manual devices, mechanical devices, and electronic printing devices; also includes those produced by the manufacture of counterfeiters. HANDWRITING It is the result of a very complicated series of acts, being used a whole, and a combination of certain forms of visible mental and muscular habits acquired by long-continued painstaking effort. COPYBOOK FORM It is the instruction taught in school. IMPORTANCE OF COPYBOOK FORM     The nationality of the writer The system learned The date when the writing was acquired4 To some of the influences that have surrounded the writer PHYSIOLOGICAL BASIS OF HANDWRITING       SENSORY BRAIN -CORTEX MOTOR HAND/PARTS OF THE BODY RESPONSIBLE IN WRITING FINGER, WRIST, ELBOW, AND SHOULDER LUMBRICALS, ENTENSOR, AND FLEXOR DEVELOPMENT OF HANDWRITING 1. 2. 3. 4. Drawing Stage Adolescence Stage/Manner of Execution Stage of Subject Matter Stage of Degeneration STYLES OF HANDWRITING 1. Printed 2. Cursive 3. Print-writing Fraud Investigation - It focuses on the money trail and criminal intent SIGNATURE Paper and ink Specialists - These are public or private experts who date, type, source, and/or catalogue various types of paper, watermarks, ink, A mark or sign made by an individual on an instrument or document to signify knowledge, approval, acceptance, or obligation. TYPES OF SIGNATURE 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Handwritten Signature Electronic Signature Autopen Signature Stamp Signature Guided Signature Model Signature IMPORTANCE OF SIGNATURE 1. 2. 3. 4. Evidence Ceremony Approval Efficiency and Logistics PRINCIPLES OF HANDWRITING ANALYSIS 1. No two writers write exactly alike 2. The person's physical writing condition and position, including his writing instrument, may affect the handwriting characteristics, but they do not confine all its identifying elements. 3. A writer cannot exceed his maximum writing ability or skill without serious effort, and training is applied over time. 4. The combination of handwriting characteristics, including those derived from form and writing movements, are essential elements of identification. 5. Individuality in handwriting can only be determined through comparative examination with the standard written or prepared under comparable condition. 6. Similarity does not mean identity 7. Complete identity means definite forgery 8. The writing was written by one person when there is a sufficient number of identical writing habits and identical primary controlling characteristics and the absence of divergent characteristics. 9. The writing was not written by one person when there is a sufficient number of divergent writing characteristics and the absence of identical primary controlling characteristics. 9. Down strokes – the movement of the pen toward the writer 10. Form – the writer’s chosen writing style. 11. Garland forms – A cup-like connected form that is open at the top and rounded on the bottom. 12. Gestalt – “complete”, “whole” 13. Graphoanalysis – the study of handwriting based on the tow fundamental strokes, the curve and the straight strokes. 14. Graphometry – analysis and comparison and measurement 15. Graphology – the art of determining character disposition and amplitude of a person from the study of handwriting. 16. Hand lettering – any disconnected style of writing in which each letter is written separately. 17. Left handed writing 18. Letter Space – the amount of space left between letters. 19. Line Direction – it is the movement of the baseline. 20. Line Quality – the overall character of the ink lines from the beginning to the ending strokes. 21. Line Space – the amount of space left between lines. 22. Manuscript writing – a disconnected form of script or semi-script writing. 23. Margins – the amount of space left around the writing on all four sides. 24. Movement MOVEMENTS IN HANDWRITING     1. 1. Alignment – The relation of the parts of the whole of writing or line of individual letters in words to the baseline. 2. Angular form – sharp, straight strokes that are made by stopping the one and changing direction before continuing. 3. Arcade forms – forms that look like arches; rounded on top and open at the bottom. 4. Bow - the part of the letter or character of signature or handwriting which formed like a bow of an arrow or simply a curved stroke aligned in a vertical direction. 5. Collation – side by side comparison 6. Comparison – The act of setting two or more items side by side to weigh their identifying qualities 7. Dextral 8. Disguised writing – A writer may deliberately try to alter his usual writing habits of hiding his identity. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Finger Movement – The thumb, the first, the second, and slightly the third finger are in actual motion. 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 shoulder, hand, and arm with the support of the table. Whole-arm Movement – the action of the entire arm without resting. Natural Writing – any specimen of writing executed normally without any attempt to control or alter its identifying habits and its usual quality and execution. Natural Variation – these are normal or usual deviations found between repeated specimens of any individual handwriting. Pen emphasis – the act of intermittently forcing the pen against the paper surfaces. Pen Hold – the place where the writer grasps the barrel of the pen and the angle at which he holds it. Pen position – the relationship between the pen point and the paper. The orientation of the writing instrument. Pen pressure – the average force with which the pen contacts the paper. Print Script – A creative combination of printing and cursive writing Proportion and Ratio - the relation between the tall and the short letter 9. Quality – the distinct and peculiar characters. Also, quality is used in describing handwriting to refer to any identifying factor that is related to the writing movement itself. 10. Rhythm – the element of writing movement, which is marked by regular or periodic recurrences. It may be classed as smooth, intermittent, or jerky in its quality; the flourishing succession of motion which are recorded in a written record. 11. Shading – is the widening of the ink strokes due to the added pressure on a flexible pen point or to the use of a stub pen. 12. Significant Writing Habit – any characteristic of handwriting that is sufficiently uncommon and well-fixed to serve as a fundamental point in the identification. 13. Simplification – eliminating extra or superfluous strokes from the copybook form. 14. Size 15. Skill – relative degrees or ability or skill and a specimen of handwriting usually contain evidence of the writer’s proficiency; degree, ability, or skill of writing proficiency. 16. Slope/Slant – the angle of inclination of the axis of the letters relative to the baseline. 17. Speed of writing – the personal pace at which the writer’s pen moves across the paper. 18. Thread form – an indefinite connective form that looks flat and wavy 19. Variation – the act or process of changing 20. Word Space – the amount of space between words. 21. Writing Conditions – circumstances in which the writing was prepared and factors influencing the writer’s ability to write at the time of execution. 22. Writing Habits – any repeated element in one’s handwriting. 23. Writing impulse – the result of the pen touching down on the paper and moving across the page until it is raised from the paper. 24. Wrong-Handed Writing – any writing executed with the opposite hand that normally used; a.k.a as “with the awkward hand”. 25. Reprographic examination – refers to the examination of documents which include photocopies, facsimile, photographs, and the like. 26. Rubric or embellishment – refers to the additional unnecessary strokes to legibly of letterforms or writings but incorporated in writing for decorative or ornamental purposes. TERMINOLOGIES CONCERNING STROKE CHARACTERISTICS 1. ARC -- a curved formed inside the top curve of loop/as in small letter “h”, “m”, “n”, “p”. 2. ARCH – any arcade form in the body of a letter found in small letters that contain arches. 3. ASCENDER – is the top portion of a letter or upper loop. 4. APEX – the uppermost point of a character. 5. BASELINE – maybe actually on a ruled paper, it might be the imaginary alignment of writing. It is ruled or imaginary line upon which the writing rests. 6. BEADED – preliminary embellished initial stroke which usually occurs in capital letters. 7. BEARD – is the rudimentary initial upstroke of a letter. 8. BLUNT – the beginning and ending-stroke of a letter (without hesitation). 9. BOWL – a fully rounded oval or circular form on a letter complete into “o”. 10. BUCKLE/BUCKLENOT – a loop made as a flourished which is added to the letters, as a small letter “k and a” or in capital letter “A”, “K”, “I”. 11. CACOGRAPHY – a bad writing 12. CALLIGRAPHY – the art of beautiful writing 13. CONNECTING STROKE – a line joining two adjacent characters 14. CROSS STROKE – a stroke that crosses another portion of the character and is attached at either end. 15. CROSSBAR – a stroke that intersects other portions of the character at both ends. 16. DESCENDER – opposite of ascender, the lower portion of a letter. 17. DIACRITIC – “t” crossing and dots of the letter “I” and “j”. The matters of the Indian script are also known as diacritic signs. 18. DRAG STROKE – a stroke resulting from the incomplete lifting of the pen. 19. ENDING/TERMINATE STROKE OF TOE -– the end of a letter. 20. EYE/EYELET/EYELOOP – a small loop or curve formed inside the letters. 21. FOOT – the lower part which rests on the baseline. 22. HABITS – any repeated elements or details, which may serve to individuals writing. 23. 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. 24. HIATUS/PEN JUMP – A gap occurring between continuous strokes without lifting the pen. Such an occurrence usually occurs due to speed. It may be regarded also as a special form of pen lift. 25. HOOK – it is a minute curve or an ankle that often occurs at the end of the terminal strokes/it is also sometimes occurring at the beginning of an initial stroke. 26. HUMP – the rounded outside of the top of the bend stroke or curve in small letters. 27. INDENTATION – latent or visible impressions in paper or other media. 28. 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. 29. LIGATURE/CONNECTION – the stroke which connects two-stroke of letter. 30. LONG LETTER – those letters with both upper and lower loops. 31. OVAL – the portion of the letter which is oval in shape. 32. PATCHING – retouching or going back over a defective portion of a written stroke. Careful is common defect on forgeries. 33. PEN LIFT – an interruption in a stroke caused by removing the writing instrument from the paper. 34. RETRACE/RETRACING – any part of a stroke which is superimposed upon the original stroke. Example; vertical strokes of the letters “d”, “t” while coming down from the top to bottom will have retracing strokes. 35. SHOULDER- – the outside portion of the top curve seen in small letters. 36. SPUR – a short initial or terminal stroke. 37. STAFF – any major long downward stroke of a letter that is a long stroke of the letter. 38. STEM OR SHANK – the upright long downward stroke that is the trunk or stalk, normally seen in capital letters. 39. TICK/HITCH – any short stroke, which usually occurs at the top of the letters. 40. TREMOR – a writing weakness portrayed irregular shaky strokes is described as writing tremor. 41. Tremor of Fraud – The characteristics of tremor of fraud are inequality in the movement at any place in any stroke or line, with strokes too strong and vigorous combined with weak, hesitating strokes, interruptions in movement in movement, unequal distribution of ink on upward or varying pen pressure. 42. Tremor of age, or of extreme weakness 43. WHIRL – the long upward stroke of the ascender. 44. BULBS – a small circular enclosure. 45. FEATHERING – spreading of ink in the paper. 46. GRADUATED OR EXPLOSIVE SHADING – when the shading in a letter gradually increases or decreases, it is called shading. If it is irregular, it is called “explosive” shading. DEFINITION OF TERMS FALSEMAKING - The creation of fraudulent writing on a document or the alteration of an existing document. 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 COUNTERFEITING - The crime of making, circulating, uttering false coins and bank notes FORGERY - The act of falsely making and materially altering, with intent to defraud, any writing which if genuine, might be legal efficacy or the foundation of legal liability. TYPES AND METHODS OF FORGERY 1. 2. 3. 4. Simple Forgery Simulated Forgery Traced Forgery Auto Forgery INDICATORS OF FORGERY 1. Tremors 2. No rhythm 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Carefulness or unusual care No contrast between thin and thick stroke Slow writing Blunt ending and beginning Absence of spontaneity Restrained writing No variation INDICATIONS OF SIMULATED AND TRACED FORGERIES 1. Tremulous and broken connecting strokes between letters, indicating points at which the writer has temporary struck 2. No rhythm 3. Carefulness or unusual care and deliberation 4. No contrast between upward and downward strokes 5. Slow writing – angular writing 6. Blunt beginning and endings 7. Placement of diacritical marks just over the stem of the letters 8. Absence of spontaneity – lack of smoothness of letters 9. Restrained writing 10. No variation INDICATIONS OF GENUINE WRITING 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Carelessness Spontaneity Alternation of thin and thick strokes Speed Simplification Upright letters are interspersed with slanting letters Upwards strokes to a threadlike tracing Rhythm Good line quality Variation When forgery is committed, it is important to collate specimens needed to determine whether or not the documents alleged to have been forged are products of forgery. These known materials needed for comparison purposes are STANDARDS, while the alleged forged document is the QUESTIONED DOCUMENT. STANDARDS 1. Are condensed, and compact-set of authentic specimens which is adequate and proper should contain a cross-section of the material from its source. 2. Two types: Collected and Requested Standards FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE SELECTION OF STANDARDS 1. Amount of standards 2. The similarity of subject matter 3. Relatives of the QD and SD WHAT ARE THE DO’S AND DON’TS IN COLLECTING EXEMPLARS 1. Don’t rely on too little writing. - 15-20 signatures - 4-5 pages of handwriting