Questioned Document
Questioned Document
present a meaning to someone, in form of pencil, ink writing, typewriting, or printing on paper.
Kinds of documents
1. People vs. Camacho – A draft which is not yet approved by proper authority
2. People vs. Santiago – Mere blank forms of official documents
3. People vs. Agnis – Pamphlets or books which do not evidence, mere merchandise
QUESTIONED DOCUMENT – Any signature, handwriting, typewriting or other mark whose source is
doubtful
Disputed Document – an argument or controversy over the document and strictly speaking this is its
true meaning
CLASSES OF QD
Divisions of QDE
1. Criminalistics Examination – detection of forgery, erasure, alteration or obliteration of
documents
2. Handwriting Investigation – determining the author of writing
Goal of QDE
1. Questioned Document Examiners – Examiner analyzes qd, capable of more than just questions
of authorship
2. Historical Dating – Work involving verification of age and worth of a document or object, can
get as complicated as Carbon Dating
3. Fraud Investigators – Work that often overlaps with document examine, focuses money trail
and criminal intent
4. Paper & Ink Specialist – Public or Private experts who date, type source or catalogue types of
paper, watermarks, ink using chemical methods
5. Forgery Specialist - Experts who analyzed altered, obliterated, changed or doctored documents
and photos using infrared lighting
6. Handwriting Analysts – Psychology experts who asses personality traits from handwriting,
graphologists or graphoanalysts
7. Forensic stylistics – same purpose but by looking at semantics, spelling, word choice
8. Typewriting Analyst – expert on the origin used in typewritten material
9. Computer Crime Investigators – emerging group that relates to QDE through some common
investigative and testimonial procedures.
1. UV Lamp
2. Paper Cutter
3. Photo paper dryer
4. Photo enlarger
5. Oblique Light
6. Hand Lens
7. Camera with macro lens
8. Excellent eyesight
9. Video spectral comparator (VSC)
10. ElectroStatic Detection Apparatus (ESDA)
Dean C. Worcester – Act No. 156 – July 1, 1901 – Bureau of Government laboratories performing
biological and chemical examinations.
Dr. Paul C. Freer – Chemistry professor in University of Michigan – first director – June 21, 1901 –
analysis of counterfeit silver coins
Objective:
1. ALBERT SHERMAN OSBORN – THE MIND OF THE JUROR… QUESTIONED DOCUMENT PROBLEMS
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINERS (ASQDE)
2. J. NEWTON BAKER – LAW OF DISPUTED AND FORGED DOCUMENTS
3. DR. WILSON R. HARRISON – DIRECTOR OF BRITISH GOV OFFICE HOME – SUSPECT DOCUMENTS
THEIR SCIENTIFIC EXAMINATION
4. JOHN WIGMORE – FOUNDER – AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CRIMINAL LAW AND CRIMINOLOGY
TREE DIAGRAM – WIGMORE TREE
5. ELBRIDGE STEIN – PIONEER IN THE APPLICATION OF UV