QD Lecture Manual

Questioned Document
Examination
P R E PA R E D B Y:
LE S LI E G E CHE LLE B. DE LA CRUZ, RCRI M, LP T, MS CJ

Criminalistics
Is the application of forensic science to criminal matters.
Forensic Science- is the application of scientific techniques and principles in order to

provide evidence to legal nor related investigations and determinations.
Document
Document
Came from the Latin term “documentum” which means “lesson” or “example.”
In Medieval Latin, it means “instruction” or “official paper.”
It may have been derived also from the French word “docere” meaning “to teach.”
Document
Is any material containing marks, symbols, or signs either visible, partially visible that
may present or ultimately convey a meaning to someone, maybe in the form of pencil,
ink writing, or typewriting, or printing on paper.
Document
A document is any written document by which a right is established or an obligation is
extinguished. (People v Moreno, CA 338 OG 119)
A document is every deed or instrument executed by a person by which some
disposition or agreement is proved, evidenced or set forth. Z(People v Nillosquin, CA 48
OG 4453)
Document
The term document is said to apply to writings; to words printed, lithographed, or
photographed; to seals, plates, or stones on which inscriptions are cut or engraved; to
photographs and pictures; to maps and plans. (Frial v Fadrigo, Dec. 26, 1974)
Document is any physical embodiment of information or ideas; e.g. a letter, a contract, a
receipt, a book of account, a blueprint, or an X-ray plate. (Black’s Law Dictionary)
Writings which do not constitute
documents
A draft of a Municipal payroll which is not yet approved by the proper
authority. (People v Camacho, 44 Phil 484)
Mere blank forms of official documents, the spaces of which are not filled
up. (People v Santiago, CA 48 OG 4558)
Pamphlets or books which do not evidence any disposition or agreement
are not document but are mere merchandise. (People v Agnis, 47 Phil
945)
Questioned Document/Disputed
Document
One in which the facts appearing therein may not be true, and are contested either in
whole or part with respect to its authenticity, identity, or origin. It may be a deed, contract,
will, election ballots, marriage contact, etc.
Questioned- Any material which some issue has been raised or which is under scrutiny.
Questioned Document/Disputed
Document
There is an argument or controversy over the document.
Standard/Standard Document
Are condensed and compact set of authentic specimens which, if adequate and proper,
should contain a cross section of the material from a known source.
Those things whose origins are known and can be proven and which can be legally used
as examples to compare with other matters in question.
Exemplar- A term used by some document examiners and attorneys to characterize
known material.
Holographic Document
Any document completely written and signed by one person; also known as holograph. In
a number of jurisdiction, a holographic will can be probated without any one having
witness its execution.
Reference Collection
Material compiled and organized by the document examiner to assist him in
answering special questions.
Reference collections of typewriting, check writing specimens, inks, pens,
pencils, and papers are frequently maintained.
Kinds of Documents
Kinds of Documents
1. 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.
(US v Asensi, 34 Phil 765)
Any instruments authorized by a notary public or competent public official with
solemnities required by law. (Cacnio v Baens, 5 Phil 742)
Kinds of Documents
2. Official Document
A document which is issued by a public official in the exercise of the functions of
his office. An official document is also public document. It falls within the larger class
called public document. (US v Asensi)
A document required by a bureau to be filled by its officers for the purpose of its
record and information is an official document. (People v Uy, 101 Phil 159)
Kinds of Documents
3. Private Document
Every deed or instrument executed by a private person without the intervention of
a public notary or of other person legally authorized, by which document some disposition
or agreement is proved, evidenced, or set forth. (US v Orera, 11 Phil 596)
Kinds of Documents
4. Commercial Document
Any instrument defined and regulated by the Code of Commerce or any other
commercial law. (People v Co Beng, 1913)
Questioned Document
Examination
Also known as Forensic Document Examination.
Examinations include the following:
Handwriting and signature comparisons
Detection of alterations, deletions, and substitutions
Mechanical and electronic impression comparisons
Detection of counterfeits
Decipherment of obliterated text
Questioned Document
Examination
Also known as Forensic Document Examination.
Examinations include the following:
Examination of water-soaked, charred, stained, or torn documents
Ink and paper comparison
Determination of sequence entry
Detection and analysis of indented and other accidental writings
Age of documents
Forensic Document Examination
Is the practice of the application of document examination to the purposes of the law. This
includes the identification of handwriting, typewriting, the authenticity of signatures,
alterations in documents, the significance of inks and papers, photocopying processes,
writing instruments, sequence of writings and other elements of a document in relation to
its authenticity or spuriousness. (Eckert, 1997)
Role and nature of QD in police
work
The Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory Group includes the Questioned
Document Examination Division (QDED) which aims to provide scientific support in forms
of documentary and testimonial evidences.
work
The function of the QDED is to conduct examination of questioned documents as follows:
1. Handwriting examination
2. Imprint examination
3. Writing media examination
4. Dating examination
5. Examination of falsification and alterations
work
6. Examination of invisible, faded and obscured writings and impressions of writings
7. Examination of preternatural paper characteristics
8. Miscellaneous examination
9. Conduct lectures to PNP, AFP, and other government agencies
work
10. Conduct field laboratory works
11. Attend court duties
work
Laboratory work #1 Alpha
1. What are activities involved in handwriting examination?
2. What are activities involved in Imprint examination
3. What are activities involved in writing media examination
4. What are activities involved in Dating examination?
5. What are activities involved in the examination of falsification and alterations?
work
Laboratory work #1 Alpha
6. What are activities involved in handwriting examination?
7. What are activities involved in the examination of preternatural paper characteristics?
8. What are activities involved in miscellaneous examination?
Note: All are in relation to the PNP-QDED.
work
Document examinations performed by the PNP-QDED are based on written requests
from government agencies, private investigating agencies, court orders, as well as private
requesting parties.
Requirements for the conduct of
examination
PNP CRIME LAB FEES DURATION DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS
SERVICE
1. Examination of altered P2,000 4 working • 4 copies of letter request
or erased documents days • Original copy of altered/erased document
2. Examination of P2,000 3 working • 4 copies of letter request
counterfeit bills days • Original copy of questioned bills
3. Handwriting P3,500 10 working • 4 copies of letter request

identification days • Original copy of the QD
• Original copy of at least 5 pages of
extended handwriting of similar writing
style of subject individual
4. Signature P2,000 10 working • 4 copies of letter request
identification days • Original copy of the QD
• Original copy of at least 8 different
documents bearing similar writing style
and standard signatures, executed 5 years
before and after the execution of the
questioned signature
work
Laboratory work #1 Bravo:
1. Can documents previously examined by any competent government agency be
reexamined again?
2. When are disputed documents examined when the case is undergoing trial in court?
Forensic Document
Examiner
Criminologist in the QD field
Sec. 23. Practice of Criminology Defined. — A person is deemed to be engaged in
the practice of Criminology if he holds himself out to the public in any of the following
capacities:
3. As technician in dactyloscopy, ballistics, questioned documents, police
photography, lie detection, forensic chemistry and other scientific aspects of crime
detection.
Privileges of a Criminologist
Sec. 24. Privileges of Certified Criminologists. — All certified criminologist shall be
exempt from taking any other entrance or qualifying government or civil service
examinations and shall be considered civil service eligibles to the following government
positions: (1) dactylographer, (2) ballistician, (3) questioned document examiner, (4)
correctional officer, (5) law enforcement photographer (6) lie detection examiner, (7)
probation officer, (8) agents in any law enforcement agency, (9) security officer, (10)
criminal investigator, or (11) police laboratory technician
Professional Practices of Questioned
Document Examiners
Practices on QDE is professionalized by the Professional Regulation Commission.
Ethical practice of Questioned
Document Examiners
If a Criminologist is deemed unethical, his license may be revoked as per Sec. 20
of RA 6506.
Ethical practice of Questioned
Document Examiners
Sec. 20. Revocation of Certificate of Registration.— The Board may, after giving due
notice and hearing to the party concerned, revoke or suspend his certificate of
registration if found guilty of malpractice, incompetency, unprofessional conduct, serious
ignorance or gross negligence in the practice of criminology. He shall be required to
surrender his certificate of registration to the Board. The decision of the Board, however,
may be appealed within thirty days to the President of the Philippines whose decision
shall be final.
Forensic Document Examiners or Questioned
Document Examiners
Forensic Document Examiners or Questioned Document Examiners refer to persons
who study all aspects of a document to determine its authenticity, origin, handwriting,
photocopies, inks, and paper.
Goal of a Forensic Document
Examiner
To study and investigate documents in order to determine the facts about their
preparation and history.
Goal of a Forensic Document
Examiner
The forensic document examiner’s scope of expertise also includes the following:
Recognizing genuineness
Analyzing color tone of inks, papers, and other substances that complete documents
Revealing additions and substitutions
Restoring or deciphering erased and obliterated writing
Forensic Document Examiner
The examination conducted by the Forensic Document Examiner should be thorough,
accurate, and entirely objective.
He must establish the facts of the document’s preparation and history through a study of
its identifying details and the comparison of its elements with those of known specimens.
Three major stakeholders on the
services of QDE:
1. The litigant- the one affected in the outcome of the examination and most interested
party of the document being disputed.
2. Legal counsel- serves the litigant who ensures the winning of the case at the most
possible case.
3. Judge- determines whether to appreciate or reject the services to a particular
proceeding in a case.
Expert Witness
Revised Rules on Evidence
(Rules 128-134, Rules of Court)
Section 48. General rule. — The opinion of witness is not admissible, except as indicated
in the following sections.
Section 49. Opinion of expert witness. — The opinion of a witness on a matter requiring
special knowledge, skill, experience or training which he shown to posses, may be
received in evidence.
Role of a Practicing Questioned Document
Examiner as expert witness
He enlightens the problem.
Proof is submitted through written reports and illustration charts in order
to justify conclusions or opinions.
His opinion will be one of the bases of the court in deciding the case.
PNP Questioned Document
Examiners
PNP Questioned Document
Examiners Qualifications:
Licensed Criminologist
Has specialized training of at least 6 months under the supervision of the PNP Crime
Laboratory
6 months of continuous and actual QDE under the supervision of a qualified forensic
document examiner of the PNP Crime Laboratory
Duties and Responsibilities of PNP
Questioned Document Examiners:
1. To examine, identify, compare, and analyze signatures, handwritings, initials and
typewriting in questioned documents.
2. To conduct examination, identification, comparison, and analysis of obliterations,
erasures and abrasions in checks, treasury notes and stamps.
3. To conduct examination, comparison and analysis of interlineations, insertions and
distortions in questioned documents.
4. To take photographic reproductions of evidences that are examined, compared,
analyzed, and identified.
5. To evaluate and prepare reports on documents examined.
6. To conduct lectures regarding the different examinations on questioned documents, as
well as the functions and capabilities of the QDED.
7. To appear as expert witness in civil and military courts regarding findings on QDs.
History of Forensic Document
Examination
History of Writing
Writings
Are letters or symbols that are written or imprinted on a surface to represent the sounds
or words of a language.
It consists of messages that convey ideas to others.
Early writings
Records engraved in stones
Records carved on wood
Early writings
Records pressed into clay tablets
Records marked on animal skin
Early writings:
Cave drawings
the most popular of early writings.
First record of prehistoric people.
Are called petroglyphs or petrograms
Were developed between 20,000 and 10,000 BC
Early writings
Paintings gradually developed into
word pictures or ideographs which
were used by the Sumerians,
Chinese, Aztecs, Mayas, and
Egyptians.
Early writings
Egyptian word pictures are called hieroglyphics.
Early writings
Word pictures developed into symbols which were then used to represent sounds
or syllables called phonographs. This then developed into simplified phonetic symbols
called phonetic alphabet, an alphabet of characters intended to represent specific sounds
of speech. The Sumerians are credited with the development of the first alphabet.
Early writings
The Phoenician alphabet was used and spread by them throughout the world
was between 1700-1500 BC. It consisted 22 letters and was written right to left.
Early writings
The Greek alphabet was derived from the Phoenician alphabet, and has been used by the
Greeks since the 8th Century BC. The word alphabet was derived from the Greek alphabet’s first 2
letters, alpha and beta. Their alphabet consisted 24 letters and included vowels. The Greeks
changed the writing direction from left to right.
Early writings
The Greek alphabet evolved into the Roman alphabet or the Latin alphabet,
which initially consisted of disconnected capital letters for several centuries. Roman
scribes invented the lowercase letters that were patterned from the capital letters. These
letters simplified the forms and made it easier to copy manuscripts.
History of Forgery
History of Forgery
The crime of Forgery has been practiced since ancient times where writing
existed. The following are important events in the history of forgery:
80 BC- Romans prohibited the falsification of documents that transferred land to heirs.
Middle Ages- Forgery became prevalent in Europe.
1562- England passed a statute prohibiting forgery publicly recorded and officially sealed
documents, specifically those pertaining to titles for land.
History of Forgery
1726- False endorsement on an unsealed private document became a crime punishable
by pillory, fines, imprisonment, and even death.
1823- The United States enacted the principal federal forgery statute that prohibited
false making, forgery, or the alteration of any writing for the purpose of obtaining financial
gain.
1962- The American Law Institute’s Model Penal Code simplified and defined the
elements of forgery and became the standard for defining the crime of forgery.
Expert Witnesses and
Pioneers of Document
Examination
Expert Witnesses and Pioneers of Document
Examination
In 539 AD in Rome, the Justinian Code permitted judges to appoint experts to
give testimony in court regarding the genuineness of a writing based on a comparison
with other admitted genuine writings.
Important events in the history of document
examination in the USA:
1812- The earliest record of expert comparison testimony in America was in Sauve v
Dawson, where a signature on a promissory note was proved genuine.
1814- In Homer v Wallis, 11 Mass. 309, the court permitted the submission of writings
and the evidence of witnesses on the comparison of disputed writing.
1914- Congress enacted the Statute of 1913, which accepted such comparisons to be
used as competent evidence in court to prove or disprove the genuineness of a person’s
handwriting.
1867- The first significant forgery case was tried in Massachusetts involving the traced
signatures of Sylvia Ann Howland of New Bedford. The most significant testimony came
from Dr. Benjamin Piece, a mathematician from Harvard who testified on the
mathematical probability of identical strokes being made in two signatures. He claimed
that the likelihood of 30 strokes occurring in two separate signatures could occur only
once in 931,000,000,000,000,000,000. His methodology was subsequently proven to be
inaccurate.
1894- Handwriting identification became sufficiently well-known that two New York
experts published books on the subject. William E. Hagan published Disputed
Handwriting and Persifor Fraser published A Manual for the Study of Documents (retitled
Bibliotcs or the Study of Documents).
1900- Daniel Ames wrote Ames on Forgery, one of the first books on document
examination. Around this time, handwriting experts who were mostly calligraphers began
to testify in court as expert witnesses.
1900- Roland B. Molineux was convicted for first degree murder. He mailed a bottle
labeled “Emerson’s Bromo-Seltzer” but had powder containing cyanide of mercury. It
was ingested by an innocent victim who died of poisoning. The landmark case involved
at least 17 handwriting experts, including Albert Osborn, the Father of Document
Examination.
1902- Albert T. Patrick was convicted for conspiring to murder his millionaire client,
William Marsh Rice. The Rice Will case required handwriting testimony to prove that
Patrick forged Rice’s name on several checks and a will after he had murdered Rice.
Albert Osborn testified in this case to the fact that the checks and will were traced
forgeries. He was allowed to use photographs on transparent paper to show that the four
questioned signatures were identical.
1904- John H. Wigmore wrote The Law of Evidence, which revolutionized the legal
profession regarding expert testimony.
1910- Albert Osborn published his seminal book Questioned Documents, the first
comprehensive book on the subject and considered as the “bible” of document
examination. The principles of handwriting identification that he described are still the
basis for comparison of handwriting today.
1930- The first scientific police laboratory was established.
1932- The FBI opened their laboratory with one document examiner.
Albert Osborn
Father of Document Examination.
The publication of Osborn’s book is considered the beginning of modern questioned
document examination.
Founded the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners in 1942.
Historical Cases of the 20 th
Century
Historical Cases of the 20th
Century
The Dreyfus Affair in 1894
The Bobby Franks kidnap and murder in 1924
The Lindbergh Kidnapping Trial in 1935
The Clifford Irving and the Howard Hughes Biography in 1972
The Mormon Will in 1978
The Hitler Diaries in 1983
Proper Care and Handling of
Questioned Documents
What is the effect of improper or
careless handling of a disputed
document?
It can compromise the forensic

examination.
When a questioned document is found at a crime scene, the document examiner
is usually not among the first responder to ensure its proper care and handling. It is
therefore important that first responders to crime scenes are properly trained to do this.
The process of proper handling of document evidence begins when a document
is first recognized as having some level of significance in a crime or other litigation or civil
inquiry.
From the moment that the genuineness of a document is questioned, it should be
handled and cared for in such manner as not to impair in the slightest degree its value as
evidence.
Precautions may seem unnecessary, but it frequently happens that through
carelessness or ignorance, the evidential value of an important document is seriously
impaired and the case becomes jeopardized.
As early as practicable, the exact physical condition of every part of a suspected
document should be carefully preserved. It is usually of special interest to one of the
parties to insist that the document be properly protected and cared for.
Questioned Document Examination must take place first before subjecting the
evidence to other forensic disciplines or processes such as taking latent prints, and thin-
layer chromatography. These processes may contaminate and destroy the evidence.
Therefore, the forensic document examiner has to have first priority in examining the
evidence in order to ensure a comprehensive document examination.
Recommendations to retain a Questioned
Document’s evidentiary value (Kelly & Lindblom,
2006)
DON’T
1. Use staples, pins, or clips.
2. Make perforations.
3. Create new folds.
4. Write on or otherwise mark the documents. If labeling and initialing is necessary,
then make identification marks in blank spaces.
5. Write on the evidence envelope if it contains the document
2006)
DON’T
6. Touch the document with a pencil, pen, or other pointed instrument.
7. Glue the pieces of a torn or fragmented document onto a background. Submit them “as
is” in a sealed evidence package.
8. Make erasures.
9. Make any tracings.
2006)
DON’T
10. Cut or tear the document. Also, do not attempt to repair the cut.
11. Underscore, highlight, or circle words.
12. Carry disputed documents loosely in pockets.
13. Allow other people to handle or tamper with questioned writings.
2006)
DON’T
14. Allow the suspect to handle or see the disputed document.
15. Allow anyone other than a properly trained forensic scientist to make chemical or
other tests.
2006)
DO
1. Use envelopes for storage and transportation. The enveloped should be large enough
to hold the document without folding. If the document is to be examined for fingerprints or
indented writing, wear gloves or hold it tightly between the sides of the fingers, but only
long enough to place it in the evidence envelope. Be sure to label the envelope for
fingerprinting.
2006)
DO
2. Photocopy, photograph, or scan the documents as required- the process will not
damage them in any way. Do not use the auto feed option on a photocopier.
3. Protect documents from excessive heat, light, or dampness
4. Prepare a complete history of each document showing date, place, and from whom it
was obtained.
2006)
DO
5. Handle documents as little as possible.
6. Remember: The document evidence must be examined first before it is subjected to
additional forensic examinations. Be sure to state in the evidence package or in the
request to the examiner that additional forensic testing is desired.
Classes of Questioned
Documents
Classes of Questioned
Documents
1. Document with questioned signature.
2. Document containing alleged fraudulent alteration.
3. Document questioned as to the material used in their production.
4. Document questioned as to its date or age.
5. Holographic document questioned or disputed.
6. Document questioned as to its typewriting- PICA or ELITE
Handwriting
Examination
Handwriting
is the result of a very complicated series of acts, being used as a whole, and
combination of certain forms of visible mental and muscular habits acquired by long,
continued painstaking effort.
In Wigmore’s Judicial Proof, handwriting is defined as a visible effect of bodily movement
which is almost unconscious expression of fixed muscular habits, reacting from mixed
mental impression of certain ideas associated with script form.
Handwriting
Some defined handwriting as “visible speech.”
According to Huber, handwriting is an acquired skill and clearly one that is a complex
perceptual motor task, sometimes referred to as “neuro-muscular task.” That our hand
contains 27 bones controlled by more than 40 muscles.
Early Forms of Writing/
Forerunners of Writing
Paleography- study of ancient handwriting.
◦ This focuses on deciphering historical text.
◦ The term came from the Greek words palaios meaning “old” and graphein meaning “to write.”
◦ It is the study of early writing, it embraces ancient and medieval scripts, primarily in Greek and
Latin and the languages that were derived from them.
Petrograms- If drawn or printed on the surface of rocks and petrolgyphs if cut into the
rock, primitive drawings like those in the ceilings of the cave of Altamira, Spain or on the
walls of barrier Canyon, Utah.
Pictographs- pictures that gradually became signs where each stood for a word or idea.
This kind of picture writing probably reached its highest point about 3000BC in Egypt.
Hieroglyphics- Egyptian picture writing.
Cuneiform- at the same time with Hieroglyphics, the Sumerians invented a system of
writing that used wedge-shaped symbols called cuneiform.
Alphabet- About 1500BC, Semitic people in the Middle East invented the alphabet. In
the alphabet, a written sign stands for a sound in the spoken language.
Iconographs- graphical representation of objects or ideas on walls. This is how
Neolithic man began written communication as long as 20,000 years ago.
Scribe- a person who writes books or documents as a profession.
Calligraphy- the art of beautiful handwriting.
Cacography- bad handwriting
Graffiti (singular graffito)- from the Italian word graffito meaning “a scratch.” It refers to
handwriting or images on the walls or surfaces of a public area, such as buildings, parks,
toilets, and trains, etc. The word was originally used by archeologists to describe
drawings and inscriptions scratched on walls and other surfaces in ancient Pompeii and
Rome.
Bernard de Montfaucon- laid the foundation for Greek studies with Paleographica
Graeca (1708) which is the oldest surviving Greek literary papyri to date 300BC or
earlier.
Jean Mabillon- a French monk, originated Latin paleography in 1861, when he
published De re Diplomatica, a study of forms of official documents.
Development of
Writing
Development of Writing
The following are the different steps in the development of a person’s handwriting:
1. When a person first begins to learn the art of handwriting, penmanship copybook
form or blackboard illustration of the different letters is placed before him. His first
step is imitation only or a process of drawing painstaking, laborious and slow copying
of the letter forms. The forms of each letter, at first, occupy the focus of his attention.
2. As the person progresses, the matter of forms recedes, and the focus of attention is
centered on the execution of various letters, that is, they are actually writing instead of
drawing.
3. The manual operation in the execution of letters, after more progress, is likewise 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.
Kinds of Writing
A. Cursive- means running, connected; writing in which one letter is
joined to the next.
B. Script- separated or printed writings
C. BLOCK- ALL CAPITAL LETTERS.
Physiological Basis of
Handwriting
Handwriting
The impulse to form a letter begins in the brain’s writing center in the cortex. The
importance of this center is that when it becomes diseased, one losses the ability to write
although the person could still grasp a pen
Since writing in the mind, emotion and attitudes both path of the mind influence
how we write.
In writing, the pen functions as an extension of the hand. 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.
Handwriting
The hands contain two kinds of muscle which function in the act
of writing: a group of extensor muscles push up the pen to form the
upward strokes and the flexor muscles push the pen to form downward
strokes. This flexor and extensor muscles combined with numerical
muscles are used to form lateral strokes.
The delicate way in which the various muscles used in writing
work together to produce a written form is known as motor
coordination.
Movement in
Handwriting
Movement in Handwriting
Kinds of Movement
1. Finger Movement- the thumb, the fist, the second and slightly the third finger are in
actual motion. Most usually employed by children and illiterates.
2. Hand Movement- Produced by the movement or action of the whole hand with the
wrist as the center of attraction.
Movement in Handwriting
3. Forearm Movement- the movement of the shoulder, hand and arm with the support of
the table.
4. Whole arm Movement- action of the entire arm without resting i.e. blackboard writing.
Rhythm in Handwriting
Rhythm is succession of connected, uniform strokes working in full coordination.
This is manifested by clear-cut accentuated strokes which increase and decrease in
which look like perfect cones. Pressure is always in a state of change moving from light to
heavy or from heavy to light.
A. Lack of Rhythm- characterized by a succession of awkward, independent, poorly
directed and disconnected motions.
B. Importance of Rhythm- by studying the rhythm of the succession of strokes, one
can determine if the writer normally and spontaneously or write with hesitation as if
he is attempting to go for another signature.
C. Letter Connections
1. Arcade- a rounded stroke shaped
like an arch. It is a slow mode of connection
resulting from controlled movements.
2. Garland- links the downward
strokes with a flowing curve swinging from left
to right.
C. Letter of Connections
3. Angular Connective Form- when
the downward strokes and upward strokes
meet directly. This type of connection imposes
a check on the continuity of movement which is
characterized by an abrupt stop and start in
each turning point.
C. Letter of Connections
4. Threadlike Connective Form- the
joining of downward and upward strokes is
slurred to a threadlike tracing or where rounded
turns used at both top and bottom a double
curve. These forms appear both in the shaping
of letters within the word.
School Copybook
Form
School Copybook Form
The standard of handwriting instruction taught in a particular school. Classes of
copybook depend on the standard copy adopted by a writer.
Early Forms of Copybook
Spencerian Script- is a script style
that flourished in the United States
from 1850 to 1895. The Spencerian
Script became the standard
Platt Rogers Spencer- whose name

the style bears, as impressed with the
idea that America needed a
penmanship style that could be written
quickly, legibly, and elegantly to aid in
matters of business correspondence
as well as personal letter-writing.
Palmer Method- developed by Austin Norman Palmer and was commonly used
in the United States prior to 1980. This is simpler and less elegant compared to
the Spencerian Script which it replaced.
D’ Nealian Copybook-
commonly used in the United
States since 1980.
Importance of the Design of the
Letters (System of Writing)
May point:
1. To the nationality of the writer
2. The system learned
3. The date when the writing was acquired
4. To some of the influences that have surrounded the writer
Principles Involved in
Handwriting Identification
Principles Involved in Handwriting
Identification
No two writers are exactly alike- this is the basis of all handwriting identification. Even
a single writer cannot perfectly duplicate his own handwriting. Each writer has their own
habit. The manner of holding the pen and the mental capability of the person including
the process of transmitting through the nerves, the impulse to produce a writing,
constitute a characteristic which are unique to a writer. The mental and physical
condition of a person as well as his emotional aspect affects the process of handwriting.
Identification
Habits are those elements of handwriting

that repeatedly appear.
Identification
The physical writing condition and position of the person including

his writing instrument may affect the handwriting characteristics
but they do not confine all its identifying elements- Both illness and
old age may be reflected in handwriting. A transitory change maybe
injected into handwriting by temporary physical and mental conditions
such as fatigue, nervous tension and intoxication or severe illness from
which the writer ultimately recovers. The writing position may also affect
the qualities of handwriting.
Identification
Transitory changes are those changes

which continue only while the basic cause is
affecting the writer.
Identification
A writer cannot exceed his maximum writing ability or skill without serious effort
and training applied over a period of time- no writer can spontaneously exceed his
best handwriting. Disguise for the most part is completely unpracticed and even if it has
been practiced, it will never develop to the point that the person’s writing ability and habit
are bound to bring about a less fluent and less skillful mode of writing. Even if practiced,
disguise hardly enables the writer to achieve his best writing.
Identification
The combination of handwriting characteristics including those derived from form
and writing movements are essential elements of identification- The elements of
movements such as skill, rhythm, writing pressure, emphasis and shading, location and
quality of starts and stops, pen lifts and the like, are reflected in the finished specimen.
The combination of these elements describe the fundamental writing movement.
Identification
Individuality in handwriting can only be determined through comparative
examination with the standard written or prepared under comparable conditions-
Writing standards are necessary to establish the individual’s normal writing habit and to
show the degree of variation common to his writing. Unless they completely fulfill these
conditions, their usefulness in any examination is limited. Standards which do not comply
with these requirements lead to erroneous conclusions.
Identification
Similarity does not mean identity- There are many handwritings which are similar to
each other in appearance, especially in the formation of letters, but no identical
individual handwriting characteristics, especially with regard to subconscious unique
writing characteristics and distinctly individual writing habits.
Identification
Complete identity means definite forgery- If a signature is geometrically identical with
another, it points inevitably to tracing; for neither the forger nor the owner of the
signature himself can produce such a perfect copy. No person writes his signature
precisely the same twice in succession. If a signature looks, on first impression, different
from other authentic signature, that fact may indicate genuineness.
Identification
A writing was written by one person when there is a sufficient number of identical writing
habits and identical primary controlling habits and identical primary controlling
characteristics and addition, the absence of divergent characteristics.
A 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.
Variation in
Handwriting
Variation in Handwriting
The hand ordinarily is not an instrument of precision and therefore we may not
expect every habitual manual operation to be absolutely uniform. The greater this skill in
the art of penmanship, the less the variations there will be in the form of individualized
letters as well as in the writing as a whole.
Causes of Variation
1. Function of some external element i.e. influence of the available space
2. Abnormal conditions such as physical injury, toxic effects, inebriations, emotion, and
deception.
3. Position of letter- all the letters are to be found initially, medially, and finally. The fact of
the different position, especially in combination with another and particular letter, may
modify any of them in some way or another.
Illnesses that may Affect
Handwriting of an Individual
Agraphia- refers to the inability to write in an orderly fashion, but can still be able to
manipulate writing materials. This may be due to brain lesions such as tumors, brain
infections, injuries, or head injuries.
Aphasia- refers to the impairment of the power to use and understand words in
communicating. Comes from the Greek word aphatos meaning “speechless.”
Dyslexia- refers to the inability to read misspelled words. This is considered to be a
learning disability.
Paragraphia- the inability to write the correct words but ability to copy text is retained.
Alzheimer’s Disease- is due to old age. A person who is above 60 years of age, due to
senility, reverts to childhood and loses memory and the ability to read and write.
Parkinson’s Disease- is due to old age as well but uncontrolled tremor is present.
ALS (Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis) or Lou Gherig’s Disease- includes weakening of
muscles.
Arthritis- affects the CNS which includes muscles, ligaments, and joints or writing hand.
Terminologies Related to
Handwriting Identification and
Examinations
Terminologies Related to Handwriting
Identification and Examinations
Alignment- is the relation of the parts of the whole writing or line of individual letters in
words to the baseline. It is the alignment of words. The relative alignment of letters.
Angular Forms- sharp, straight strokes that are made by stopping the pen and
changing direction before continuing.
Arcade Forms- forms that look like arches; rounded on the top and open at the bottom.
Collation- side by side comparison; the critical comparison of a side by side
comparison. (juxtaposition)
Comparison- the act of setting two or more items side by side to weigh their identifying
qualities; it refers not only to a visual, but also the mental act in which the element of one
item are related to the counterparts of the other.
Down strokes- the movement of the pen toward the writer.
Disguised Writing- a writer may deliberately try to alter his usual writing habits to hide
his identity. The results, regardless of their effectiveness are termed disguised writing.
Form- the writer’s chosen writing style. The way the writing looks, whether it is
copybook, elaborated, simplified, or printed. This refers to the shape or design of the
individual letters.
Garland Forms- a cup-like connected form
Gestalt- a German word meaning “complete” or “whole.” A good gestalt needs nothing
added or taken away to make it “look right.” It is also a school of handwriting analysis
that looks at handwriting as a whole picture.
Graphoanalysis- the study of handwriting based on the two fundamental strokes: the
curve and straight strokes.
Graphology- the art of determining character disposition and amplitude of a person from
the study of handwriting. It also means the scientific study and analysis of handwriting,
especially with reference to the forgeries and questioned documents.
Graphology
Graphology
Graphology
Hand lettering- any disconnected style of writing in which each letter is written
separately; also called hand printing.
Letter Space- the amount of space left between letters.
Line direction- movement of the baseline. It may slant up, down, or straight across the
page.
Line Space- the amount of space left between lines.
Line Quality- the overall character of the ink lines from the beginning to the ending
strokes. It is the visible records in the written stroke of the basic movements and manner
of holding the writing instrument. It is derived from a combination of actors including
writing skill, speed rhythm, freedom of movements, shading and pen position. There are
two classes: Good line quality and Poor line quality.
Margins- the amount of space left around the writing on all four sides.
Movement- it embraces all the factors which are related to the motion of the writing
instrument skill, speed freedom, hesitation, rhythm, emphasis, tremors, and the like. The
manner in which the writing instrument is moved by finger, hand, forearm, or whole arm.
Natural Writing- any specimen of writing executed normally without any attempt to
control or alter its identifying habits and its usual quality or 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 surface with
increased pressure.
Pen Hold- the place where the writer grasps the barrel and the angle at which he holds
it.
Pen Position- 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. Pen pressure
as opposed to pen emphasis deals with the usual or average force involved in the writing
rather than the period which increases.
Print Script- a creative combination of printing and cursive writing.
Proportion- individual characteristics in relative proportion of letters or proportion of a
part of a letter or relative height of one letter to another letter.
Ratio- the relation between the tall and short letters.
Quality- a distinct or peculiar character. This also refers to any identifying factor that is
related to the writing movement itself.
Rhythm- the element of writing movement, which is marked by regular or periodic
recurrences. It may be classed as smooth, intermittent, or jerky. This is the flourishing
succession of motion which are recorded in a written record. Periodicity alteration of
movement.
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.
Significant Writing Habit- any characteristic of handwriting that is sufficiently
uncommon and well fixed to serve as a fundamental point in the identification.
Simplification- eliminating extra or superfluous strokes from the copybook model.
Size- may refer to the overall size of the writing or the proportions between zones.
Skill- in any set there are relative degrees or ability or skill and a specimen of
handwriting usually contain evidences of the writer’s proficiency, degree, ability, or skill.
Slope or Slant- the angle or inclination of the axis of the letters relative to the baseline.
There are three classes: slant to the left, slant to the right, vertical slant.
Speed of Writing- the personal pace at which the writer’s pen moves across the paper.
System- combination of the basic design of letters and the writing movement as taught
in the school makeup the writing system. Writing through use diverges from the system,
but generally retains some influence of the basic training.
Tension- the degree of force exerted on the pen compared to the degree of relaxation.
Thread form- an indefinite connective form that looks flat and wavy.
Variability- the degree to which the writing varies from the copybook model.
Variation- the act or process of changing.
Word Space- the amount of space left between words.
Writing conditions- the circumstances under which the writing was prepared and the
factors influencing the writer’s ability to write at the time of execution. It includes the
writer’s position (sitting, standing, etc.), the paper support and backing, and the writing
instrument. Writing ability may be modified by the conditions of the writer’s health,
nervous state, or degree of intoxication.
Wrong-Handed writing- any writing executed with the opposite hand that is normally
used. It is also known as “with the awkward hand.” It is one means of disguise. Thus, the
writing of a right-handed person, which has been executed with his left hand accounts
for the common terminology for this class of disguise as “left-hand writing.”
Writing Impulse- the result of the pen touching down on the paper and moving across
the page, until it is raised from the paper.
Reprographic Examination- refers to examination of documents which includes
photocopies, facsimile, photographs, and the like.
Rubric or Embellishment- refers to the additional unnecessary strokes to legibility of
letterforms or writings but incorporated in writing for decorative or ornamental purposes.
This is usually added to signatures to enhance what is to the writer their “pleasing
appearance.” This serves as security to make a signature more difficult to imitate or
forge.
Stroke
Stroke
Is the path followed by the pen in the paper.
Stroke Characteristics
Arc- a curve formed inside the top curve of a loop as in small letters “h”, “m”, “n”, and
“p”.
Ascender- is the top portion of a letter or upper loop.
Baseline- maybe actually on a ruled paper, it might be imaginary alignment of writing; it
is the ruled or imaginary line upon which the writing rests.
Beaded- preliminary embellished initial stroke which usually occurs in capital letters.
Blunt- the beginning and ending stroke of a letter (without hesitation).
Body- the main portion of the letter, minus the initial of strokes, terminal strokes and the
diacritic, of any. Ex: the oval of the letter “O” is the body, minus the downward stroke and
the loop.
Bowl- a fully rounded oval or circular form on a letter complete into “O”
Buckle/Buckleknot- a loop made flourished which is added to the letters as in the small
letters “k” and “b” or in capital letters “A”, “k”, and “P”; the horizontal end loop stroke that
are often used to complete a letter.
Descender- lower portion of the letter.
Diacritic- “t” crossings and dots of the letter “I” and “j”. The matters of Indian script are
also known as diacritic sign; an element added to complete a certain letter, either a cross
bar or a dot.
Ending/Terminate stroke- the end stroke of a letter.
Eye/Eyelet/Eyeloop- a small loop or curve inside the letters. This may occur inside the
oval of the letters “a, d, o”; the small loop form by the stroke that extend in divergent
direction as in small letters.
Foot- lower part which rest on the baseline. The small letter “m” has three feet, and the
small letter “n” has two feet.
Habits- any repeated elements or details which may serve to individualize writing.
Hesitation- the term applied to the irregular thickening of ink which is found when writing
slows down or stop while the pen take a stock of the position.
Hook- it is a minute curve or ankle which often occurs at the end of the terminal stroke. It
also sometimes occurs at the beginning of an initial stroke. The terminal curves of letters
“a, d, n, m, p, u” is the hook. In the small letter “w”, the initial curve is a hook; the minute
involuntary talon-like formation found at the commencement of an initial up stroke or the
end terminal stroke.
Hump- upper portion of letters “m, n, h, k”. The rounded outside of the top of the bend
stroke or curve in a small letter.
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 the fountain pen.
Ligature/ connection/ ductus- the stroke which connects two strokes of the letter. It is
characterized by connected stroke between letters.
Long letter- those letters with both upper and lower loops.
Loop- an oblong curve ( f, g, l ) and letter stroke “f, “ has two. A loop may be blind or
open. A blind loop is usually the result of the ink having filled the open space.
Majuscule- a capital letter
Miniscule- a small letter
Movement impulses- refers to the continuality of stroke, forged writing is usually
produced by disconnected and broken movements and more motion or movement
impulses than in genuine writing.
Patching- retouching or going back over a defective portion of a stroke. Careful patching
is common defect on forgeries.
Pen lift- an interruption in a stroke caused by removing the writing instrument from the
paper.
Retrace/Retracing- any part of a stroke which is super imposed upon the original
stroke. Any stroke which goes back over another writing stroke. Ex: vertical stroke of the
letters “d, t” while coming downward to the top bottom will have a retracing stroke.
Shoulder- outside portion of the top curve. The small letter “m” has three shoulders,
small letter “n” has two, small letter “h” has one.
Spur- a short initial or terminal stroke.
Staff- any major long downward stroke that is the trunk or stalk, normally seen in capital
letters.
Tremor- a writing weakness portrayed by irregular shaky strokes.
Whirl- the upstroke of a looping ascender.
Linear letters- lower case letters having no ascending loops or stems, or descending
loops or stems, sometimes called miniscule. No capital letters.
Supralinear/Ascender- letters that extend a distance vertically above the linear letters
(b, d, h, k, l, t)
Infralinear/Descender- letters that extend a distance vertically below the baseline of the
writing or of the linear letters (g, j, p, q, y, z)
Double-length letters- those few letters that extend a distance vertically both above
and below the linear letters (f)
Handwriting
Examination
Characteristics
Handwriting Examination
Characteristics
General (Class) Characteristics- these refer to those habits that are part of the basic
writing system or which are a modification of the system of writing found among so large
of writers that it only have slight identification value.
Accidental Characteristics- these are isolated, brief, or temporary digression from
normal writing practices observed in writing standards.
Handwriting Examination
Characteristics
Individual Characteristics- are the result of the writer’s muscular control, coordination,
age, health, nervous, temperament, frequency, personality and character. They are
found in the following:
Writing movement, Form and design of letters, Motor coordination, Shading, Alignment, Pen Pressure,
Connection, Pen hold, Skill, Rhythm, Disconnections or pen lifts between letters, Muscular control or motor
control, Speed, Slant as a writing habit, Proportion of letters as an individual characteristic or habit, Quality
of stoke or line quality, Variation
Forgery
Forgery
Is a purposeful attempt to make a fraudulent copy of something, whether it is a signature,
money, or a piece of art.
Fraudulent- the origin is not what it is presented to be.

Forgery
Documents that have been established as not genuine and that actual fraud has been
determined.
Legally, forgery requires the element of intent to defraud.
Not all non-authentic signatures are signed with the intent to defraud.
Indication of Genuineness
To identify a signature as genuine or imitation, known genuine signatures of the person
whose signature is in question is needed.
To identify an unknown writer, the examiner needs known writing sample of suspects.
These known samples establish a writer’s unique identifying characteristics and
variations. These are called exemplars/standards.
Features of genuine writing
1. Smooth, rapid, nonstop, and free-flowing pen movement
2. Sweeping and unbroken starting and ending strokes in rounded forms
3. Sweeping, misplaced, and misshapen i-dots and t-crosses
4. Joining of initials or words
5. Wide writing and spacing
6. Simplification of forms, such as capitals.
7. Letters tapered illegibly toward the end of words
8. Marked difference in pressure on upstrokes and down-strokes
9. Delicate pressure at beginning and ending strokes to letters
10. Absence of carefully made repair and correcting strokes.
11. Letter formations and pen movements that show close similarity to the exemplars’
letter formations and pen movements.
12. Flying start and flying finishes or flourishing strokes
13. Vanishing terminal stroke
14. Hiatus
15. Broken and unfinished signature
16. Careless correction or careless retouching
Generally speaking, the more rapidly the writing is made, the more natural it is.
The absence of approach strokes to certain letters could also be indications of
naturalness when found in larger bodies of writing.
Although the genuine writing of aged, ill, or unskilled writers can be slow,
tremulous, and laboriously written, it will usually show a naturalness and consistency that
can be recognized by the experienced examiner.
Indication of Forgery
To identify a signature as genuine or imitation, known genuine signatures of the person
whose signature is in question is needed.
To identify an unknown writer, the examiner needs known writing sample of suspects.
These known samples establish a writer’s unique identifying characteristics and
variations. These are called exemplars/standards.
General indications of non-
genuineness:
Kinds and Methods of Forging
1. Simple Forgery- makes no attempt to imitate a genuine signature. It is the easiest
type of forgery to identify because it does not resemble a known signature.
Kinds and Methods of Forging
2. Simulated Forgery- the forger attempts to copy a known signature. The known
signature can be copied freehand or it may be traced from a model. This is the most
difficult of all methods to create and the most difficult to detect.
Types of Traced Forgery
1. Indentation Process- the outline of the writing underneath will then appear
sufficiently plain to enable it to be traced with pen or pencil, so as to produce a very
accurate copy upon the superimposed paper. If the outline is with a pencil, it is
afterward marked over with ink.
Types of Traced Forgery
2. Transmitted Process- It may be done by placing the writing to be forged upon a
transparency over a strong light, and then superimposing the paper upon which the
forgery is to be made.
3. Carbon Process- This is done with the aid of carbon paper interleave between a blank
paper, used with apparent force of writing, then afterwards marked over with ink.
Techniques of the Forger
A clever forger needs considerable knowledge and skills and uses a variety of
mechanical devices when attempting to make fraudulent copies of documents.
They may have knowledge of papers, inks, and computer technology.
They may be skilled in printing, engraving, or penmanship.
They may even have access to secured forms, check writers and rubber stamps.
They also sometimes use modern technology to duplicate forms, checks, and gift
certificates.
Some forgers attempt to imitate handwriting or signatures.
Some forgers disguise their own handwriting to prevent others from identifying it as
theirs.
Some alter documents by changing dates or raising amounts of money, or the whole
document.
Standards or Exemplar
1. Standard- They are known writings which indicate how a person writes. A writer manifests
fixed habits in his writing that identify him. This fact provides the basis for an opinion of
conclusion regarding any writing identification problem.
2. Exemplar- specimen of the writing of suspects are commonly known as exemplars. The term
standards is a general term referring to all authenticated writings of the suspects while exemplars
refers more especially to a specimens of standard writing offered in evidence or obtained or
request for comparison with the questioned writing.
3. Sample- a selected representative portion of the whole is known as a sample. In this text, the
term “sample” follows closely the statistical usage.
Sources of
Standards
Standards of Comparison
Standards or exemplars are legally admissible, authentic samples of handwriting used
for comparison with questioned writing to determine the authenticity or spuriousness of the
questioned writing. They are also called known samples. Their genuineness must be clear and
undisputed. (Koppenhaver, 2007)
Types of Standards
1. Collected Standards- documents previously written in the normal and day to day course of
business and known to be genuine; may include bank records, letters, legal forms, etc.; are
known genuine handwriting of an individual such as signature and endorsement on
canceled checks, legal papers letters, commercial, official, public and private document and
other handwriting such as letters, memoranda, etc. written in the course of daily life, both
business and socials.
Types of Standards
2. Requested Standards- samples that the subject is requested to give in order to facilitate the
document examination; are signatures or other handwritings or hand printings written by an
individual upon request for the purpose of comparison with other handwriting or for specimen
purposes.
Types of Standards
3. Post Liten Motan exemplars- writings produced by the subject after evidential writings have
come into dispute and solely for the purpose of establishing his contentions.
Standards
There must be no doubt about the authenticity of the standards. The document
examiner needs to be able to rely on the standards, and the standards may need to be accepted
as evidence in court.
Standards
Document examiners should automatically ask for original documents if they are not
provided. In most cases, original documents are the best evidence, both for standard and
questioned documents. If the original is not available, an early-generation photocopy or a
photograph of the original can be sufficient for examination.
Standards
Within the bounds of reason, there cannot be too many standards. Every handwriting
shows natural variation. In cases where varying letter forms is an issue and the examiner does
not see enough standard writing, he might not have the information needed to form a good
opinion.
Standards
The best standards are those that most closely emulate the time frame, circumstances,
materials, and content of the questioned document. Therefore, document examiners must look
for collected standards executed close in time to the questioned document. This is especially
critical in cases involving illness, death, accident, mental imbalance, substance abuse, or anything
likely to cause a dramatic change in the subject’s behavior.
Do’s and Don’ts for
collecting standards
(Koppenhaver, 2007)
Do’s and Don’ts for collecting standards
(Koppenhaver, 2007)
DO’s
1. Do obtain sufficient handwriting exemplars of at least 20 to 25 signatures or four to five
pages of handwriting or hand printing.
2. Do collect like samples of hand printing with hand printing, ink signatures with ink
signatures, lined paper with lined paper, same size with same size.
(Koppenhaver, 2007)
DO’s
3. Do collect standards dated at approximately the same time as the questioned writing.
4. Do collect documents that duplicate the writing environment, checks with checks, contracts
with contracts.
(Koppenhaver, 2007)
DON’TS
1. Don’t rely on too little writing. Make sure you have enough to identify the writer.
2. Don’t rely exclusively on writing that differs significantly from the questioned writing.
(Koppenhaver, 2007)
DON’TS
3. Don’t rely on documents recently written if the comparison questioned documents were
written many years ago.
4. Don’t compare writing written under abnormal conditions, such as intoxication, with normal
writing.
Guidelines as to the Types of
Standard Desirable for
Comparison
Guidelines as to the Types of Standard Desirable for
Comparison
A. Submit collected request standard signature from both individual involved
in the case.
B. When anonymous letter writings other than the signature are in question:
A. Submit requested standard writings of general nature from both victim and
suspects (as much standard writing as possible to obtain within reason)
B. Submit request standards of the questioned text written or printed at least
three writings by the suspect/s and some instance by the victim.
Suggested Procedure for
Taking Request Handwriting
Standards in all types of
Questioned Document
Problems
Suggested Procedure for Taking Request Handwriting
Standards in all types of Questioned Document
Problems
1. Have subject seated in a natural position at table or desk having smooth
writing surface.
2. Furnish subject with paper and writing instrument similar to those used in
questioned writings. The paper should be the same size, ruled/unruled.
3. Never permit the subject to see any writing on the questioned document.
Problems
4. Dictate material to be written or printed, if questioned material is hand
printed. Give no assistance in spelling or arrangement on page. Dictate at a rate
of speed which will produce the subject the natural writing habits. Too slow
dictation will enable subject to attempt disguise. Too rapid dictation will not
produce normal writing.
Problems
5. Remove each specimen upon completion by subject number in consequence,
date, time, and identify by initiating each, and request subject to sign each
specimen.
6. Observe all writing done by subjects and indicate any attempt of disguise as
well as whether subject appears to be normally right or left handed, etc.
Special procedure for taking request
handwriting standards where checks
forgery is suspected
Special procedure for taking request handwriting
standards where checks forgery is suspected
1. Furnish subjects with check blanks similar to the questioned check/s
2. Dictate the entries to be made or specimen checks as follows:
1. Date- same as showed as questioned check
2. Payee
3. Amount
4. Signature
5. Any other handwriting shown on questioned check
3. Give subject to help or suggestions in completing specimen checks.

Sources of Signatures
written in the course of
daily affairs
Sources of Signatures written in the
course of daily affairs
Cancelled checks
Signature cards for saving, checking, and charge accounts and safe deposit boxes
Signed receipts for telegrams, special delivery or registered letters, express and store packages,
etc.
Business and personal letters
Sources of Signatures written in the
course of daily affairs
Credit application and cards
Signature on sales slip-on job order slips, requisition slips, and purchase slips.
Lease, mortgages, agreement, bill of sale, contract, deeds, notes stock certificates and transfers
and other legal or business documents
Sources of Signatures written in the of
daily affairs
Court records and affidavit, such as naturalization papers, bankruptcy proceedings, divorce
papers. Probated wills and state files, powers of attorney, etc.
Passport, marriages applications, license, and affidavits.
Driver automobile chauffeur, and other types of license applications
daily affairs
Court records and affidavit, such as naturalization papers, bankruptcy proceedings, divorce
papers. Probated wills and state files, powers of attorney, etc.
Passport, marriages applications, license, and affidavits.
Driver automobile chauffeur, and other types of license applications
daily affairs
Application for gas, electricity, water, and telephone services.
Loan application and receipts
Tax return of affidavits
Insurances and license applications
Records from currency exchanges, check-cashing agencies and pawnshop
daily affairs
Time sheets, payroll, pay receipts, and personal forms
Barangay registration, petitions
Relief, unemployment and old age compensation records
Signature for certain drug purchases, hotel registrations
daily affairs
Church, club, and professional record
Veteran records
Fingerprint records
School or university class records and cards
Application for clearance like in the office of the municipal and city courts, city fiscal’s office,
police departments, office of the NBI and other government and private offices
daily affairs
Application for firearms and licenses
Application for commission and enlistment in the AFP and foreign armed forces offices
Application for export and import and dollar allocations
ID cards
Application for rights like copyrights, patents, franchises, etc.
How to prepare and
collect handwriting
standards
How to prepare and collect handwriting
standards
Factors to consider in the selection of standards:
A. The amount of standard written- Good writing standards should be sufficient to define
accurately both the identifying habits as well as the kind and extent of variation typical of
the writer’s handwriting under any specific writing condition.
A. At least 10-25 signatures
B. Writing- usually four or five pages of natural writing
standards
B. Similarity of Subject Matter- The style of writing contained in the standard
or exemplars should be similar to the style of the questioned writings. If the
questioned writings are hand printed, then get hand printed standard or
exemplar.
1. Compare conventional copy book from conventional to the
copybook from of standard; and compare highly in individualized standard
signature.
2. Extended writing- determined whether the questioned writing is
purely cursive or script or block or combination of three or two styles of writing
standards
C. Relative Dates of the Questioned and the Standards- writing standard signatures or writing
must be those written five years before or five years after the date of the questioned signature or
writing. The ideal standards are those before, on, and after the date of the questioned writing.
standards
D. Standards should not exceed more than five years.
Importance of
Contemporaneous
Standards
Importance of Contemporaneous
Standards
1. Helps to determine or trace gradual changes on one’s hand writing or signature.
2. Aids in tracing the development of any writing variation
a. Condition under which both the questioned and the standard prepared- If the questioned
handwriting is executed under abnormal conditions, it is necessary to look for standards prepared
under comparable circumstances such as paper rested on the knee, standing, sitting, lying down,
and/or while on moving vehicle
Importance of Contemporaneous
Standards
b. Writing instrument and paper- Same instrument used in the preparation of the questioned
document must be obtained in the standards. If the signature was written by ball pen in ruled paper
and above a type written name, standard prepared under similar conditions should be selected. If the
questioned handwriting was written by a pencil, then standard written should be contemporaneous
with the standard exemplars.
Handwriting signatures
that are difficult to solve
Handwriting signatures that are difficult
to solve
Issue What to do
Signature of the careless or highly erratic Collect standards
writer
Receipt signature Collect other receipt signatures
Near-illiterate writer Request standards if writer is still living
Signatures of physically impaired writer
Intoxicated signature Collect standards written in the same
situation
Old age deterioration Collect 2 or 3 times more standards
Sick bed signature Collect 2 or 3 times more standards
Disguised signature or writing Specimen written in normal condition
could not be used, therefore, consider
collected and requested standards
Legal aspects of Standard
Writing
Legal aspects of Standard Writing
If the standard used by the document examiner in an identification of writings on which
the document examiner bases his conclusion cannot be introduced, then the document examiner
may not be able to provide convincing demonstration or his testimony may be weakened.
Standard writing which is admissible for
comparison purposes
1. Standard writing witnessed
a. The court accepts a sufficient proof that evidence in the form of uncontradicted
testimony of a competent eyewitness to the execution of writing is sufficient to permit the use of
such writings as standard to test other writing.
b. It is not necessary for the witness to actually have watched the pen of the writer as it
passed over the paper where it appeared that there was no other person present at the time but
the writer and the witnesses, that the writing was done in the witnesses presence and that the
writer then gave them the little pe.
comparison purposes
c. Included in this class of admissible standards are writings voluntary prepared by a party in the
absence/presence of an investigator.
2. Standard writings admitted- if the party whom a handwriting standard is to be admitted, the
genuineness of the standards, the court could hold that further proof of genuineness is necessary
comparison purposes
3. Record maintained in regular course of business as standard writings- Generally, the context of
records maintained in the regular course of business are admissible as an exemption to the hearsay
rule, as proof of their contents.
4. Government documents as standard writings- signatures of government officials on document
treated as authentic and produced from official archives may be admitted as evidence as standard of
comparison.
comparison purposes
5. Ancient writings- the courts have admitted writings on ancient document as standard of comparison.
6. Familiarity sometimes establishes standard writings- testimony to the genuineness of a collection of
standards of writings by witnesses who are familiar with a person’s handwriting.
Techniques Used in the
Examination of Questioned
Documents
Microscopic Examination
Stereoscopic examination in low and high power objectives is used to direct retouching,
patching, and unnatural pen lifts in signature analysis. With proper angle and intensity of
illumination, it aids in the decipherment of erasures and minute manipulations not perfectly
pictured to the sequence of entries done by a different instrument.
Transmitted Light Examination
Documents are subjected to this type of examination to determine the presence of
erasures, matching of serration and some other types of alteration.
Oblique Light Examination
Documents are subjected to this type of examination for the decipherment of faded
handwriting, determination of outlines in traced forgery and embossed impression.
Photographic Examination
This type of examination is essential in every document examination. Actual
observations are recorded in the photograph.
Ultraviolet Examination
This type is done in the darkroom after the lamp has been warmed up in order to allow
maximum output from the ultraviolet light. Exposure to the ultraviolet light should be at the
minimum duration in order to prevent the writing ink and the typewriter ribbon from fading. The
exposure of a document to ultraviolet light is useful when it consists of several pages and
substitution is being suspected. The color and intensity of fluorescence reaction is very apparent
in case of substituted page. Mechanical and chemical erasures will certainly change the
reflectivity and fluorescence of the area affected.
Electrostatic Detection
The Electrostatic Detection Apparatus (ESDA) detects indented writings and records
transparencies of any indentions.
Video Spectral Comparator (VSC)
This is used in the examination of masked or obliterated text, watermarks, visible
fluorescence, paper fluorescence and oblique illumination of indented writing or embossing. It
detects variation if the infrared characteristics of inks and reveals alterations by eliminating
interfering background luminescence.
Preparation of Court Exhibits
After the document examiner has completed his examination and the laboratory report
has been submitted, he prepares the photographic exhibits for court demonstration and
illustration.
Procedure in Examining
Procedure in Examining Questioned
Documents
Activity:
1. Group yourselves into 5.
2. Illustrate/Draw each procedure in Examining Questioned Documents.
Instruments and Equipment in
Forensic Document Examination
Optical Aids
A microscope is an optical instrument that consists of a combination of lenses that allows the
user to view a magnified image of a small object.
The magnifying glass or hand lens is the simplest microscope. Light from the object is bent, or
refracted, as it passes through the curved lens and into the eye, where it forms a magnified
virtual image. The lens is usually mounted in a frame with a handle. Their magnification limit is
about five to ten times the true size of the object.
Optical Aids
A stereo or stereoscopic microscope is an instrument for blending into one image two pictures
of an object from slightly different points of view so as to produce upon the eye the impression
of relief and solidity and a three-dimensional viewing. This is the most important and the
commonly used equipment in forensic document examination.
Measuring Devices
Rulers, gauges, grids, and other accurate measuring devices are important for document
examiners to obtain precise measurements.
The typewriting test plate is used to detect any abnormal horizontal or vertical alignment of
typewritten characters. Ten characters per inch (cpi) is called Pica and twelve cpi are known as
elite. Placed over the typewritten page, these gauges need to be accurate to ensure a more
comprehensive analysis of a variety of situations. The printed image is on the bottom of the
clear plastic plate, which eliminates shadows and allows for direct photography.
Measuring Devices
The protractor measures angles and is also called a handwriting slope instrument. Other test
plates include the letter slant or handwriting comparison test plate and the type angle
measurement.
Duplicating Devices
Forensic document examiners need camera equipment for clear close-up photographs of
original documents. These photographs are useful in studying documents in place of the original
and in enabling a jury to see the characteristics of writing and the reasons for conclusions more
clearly than by looking at the original documents.
Proper Lighting
Different types of lights can reveal subtle details essential for revealing flaws and stains on
documents. Some examinations also require special lighting effects.
Transmitted light is light that is passed through a transparent or translucent medium. It is used
in the examination of documents to determine the presence of erasures, matching of serration,
and some other types of alteration.
Specialized Equipment
When documents are illuminated by ultraviolet light, certain inks and papers will glow, making
them visible to the naked eye in an otherwise darkened room. The ultraviolet light machine is
used to detect mechanical and chemical erasures, which certainly change the reflectivity and
fluorescence of the affected area. The exposure of the document to ultraviolet light is useful
when it consists of several pages and substitution is suspected. This machine is also used in the
examination of counterfeit bills. Genuine bills have distinct features like the serial number,
security fibers, fluorescent printing, special paper and other features that react and flourish
when subjected to ultraviolet light.
A comparator is a device for comparing a measurable property or thing with a reference or
standard.
A video spectral comparator consists of a camera, a video monitor, various light sources and
filters for exciting radiation and reflected or fluorescent light, an image integrator and
comparator, and a video recorder. It uses a variety of lighting conditions to differentiate inks and
paper on a document placed in the cabinet.
VSC testing is non-destructive and does not alter the appearance or condition of a document.
This is particularly effective in detecting alterations to documents; restoring erased entries;
revealing original writing that has been obliterated, obscured or overwritten; and differentiating
inks that cannot otherwise be distinguished by the naked eye.
Video spectral comparators include the VSC-1, VSC-2CX and VSC-4CX, which are designed to
detect the different optical properties of document materials. They are used in the examination
of masked or obliterated text and watermark. They can also be used in exposed oblique
illumination of indented writing, dry stamps, embossed features and intaglio script. They can
also be an incident visible and infrared light source with variable intensity controls for ink
reflectance.
The VSC-1 and VSC-2CX can easily detect when inks from different writing instruments are used
in a document because the inks react differently when illuminated with ultraviolet and infrared
light. The VSC-4CX is a portable instrument that can be taken outside the laboratory to examine
documents in law offices, court rooms, or other off-site locations.
The Electrostatic Detection Apparatus (ESDA) is used to detect indented impressions left from
writing on an overlaying page. When a document is placed on a vacuum plate that is covered
with thin polymer film stretched over it, the film is positively charged by passing a high-voltage
corona wire close to its surface. Glass beads containing negatively charged photocopy toner are
cascaded over the film, making indented writing appear gray to black tones. The resulting visual
image can be photographed and the film can be covered with a transparent sheet to preserve
the findings.
The ESDA provides the document examiner with a non-destructive technique for detecting
impressions in paper that are invisible to the naked eye. It can also reveal the relative sequence
of entries in ledgers, journals, or medical records. Restored impressions are preserved using
adhesive-coated acetate sheets.
A microfiche is a flat piece of microfilm on which many pages of printed material have been
photographed for storage in miniaturized form. The microfiche is placed under the lens of a
microfitche machine or microfiche machine to enlarge the images from 24 to 48 times.
Signatures and handwritings can also be photographed for larger and clearer images.
Portable equipment- document examiners also need portable equipment such as a
transportable microscope or the portable VSC-4CX because some documents cannot be released
for examination and must be examined at their location.
Portable equipment- document examiners also use protective equipment like cotton gloves to
handle original documents in cases in which fingerprints may be an issue. A fireproof safe or file
box is also useful to store and protect original documents from harm.
Photography in Forensic
Document Examination
Photography in Forensic Document
Examination
Photography serves three main functions in forensic document examination:
1. To make a permanent record of the document before it is damaged- Forensic document
examiners make sure to avoid damage to any document. However, techniques to gather
information may result changes to the document. Tests for inks and other materials that
appear on a document may require a small quantity to be removed from the paper.
Examination
2. To detect certain features that are not visible and for which other methods are unavailable- a
photograph also provides a recording of what the eye cannot detect in the original document. By
subjecting the document to ultraviolet and infrared radiation as well as to X-rays, the
photographed record of the document can provide a differentiation between inks, or reveal
erasures or watermarks. Using transmitted light photography is also helpful to achieve great color
saturation, show internal structure and get a distinctive look in photograph. In addition, a photo-
micrograph can provide proper magnification to a document so that certain microscopic
conditions can be clearly seen. They can be compared closely to view whether elements are alike
or different.
Examination
3. To prepare material for demonstration in courts
Signature
Signature
Is the name of a person written by him/her in a document as a sign of acknowledgment.
It is a name or a mark that a person puts at the end of a document to attest that he is its author
or that he ratified its contents.
Signed name: somebody’s name signed by him or her or by somebody authorized by him or her
to sign.
Signing of name
Signature
A distinctive mark, characteristic, or thing that identified somebody such as a signature song
Kinds of Signature
1. Guided Signature- a signature that is executed while the writer’s hand or arm is steadied in
any way. Such a signature authenticates a legal document provided it is shown that the writer
requested the assistance. Guided signatures are most commonly written during a serious illness
or on a deathbed.
Types of Guided Signature
a. Inert hand- refers completely involuntary; incapability of motor activity and signatory may
be conscious or even unconscious. (Illiterate persons)
b. Guided hand- situation is one in which the person providing the guidance usually dominates
the writing process and provides greater portion of control.
Types of Guided Signature
c. Forced Hand- signatory is forced to write against his will by threats, constraints, and the like.
d. Assisted hand- one in which the person assisting provides help to a lesser degree, perhaps
only to the point of steadying a tremulous arm or hand, without actually directing the movement
of the writing instrument.
Kinds of Signature
2. Imitated Signature- synonymous with freehand forgery.
3. Model Signature- a genuine signature that has been used to prepare an imitated or traced
forgery.
4. Theory of Comparison- the act of setting two or more signature in an inverted position to
weight their identifying significance, the reason being that those we fail to see under normal
comparison may readily be seen under this theory.
The examination of signatures is considered a specialized branch of
handwriting identification for the following reasons:
A. A signature is a word most practiced by many people and therefore most fluently written.
B. A signature is a means to identify a person and have a great personal significance.
C. A signature written with little attention to spelling and some other details.
The examination of signatures is considered a specialized branch of
handwriting identification for the following reasons:
D. A signature is a word written without conscious thought about the mechanics of its production
and is written automatically.
E. A signature is the only word the illiterate can write with confidence.
Types of Signatures
A. Formal (a.k.a. Conventional or Copybook form)- complete correct signature for an
important document such as will.
B. Informal (Cursory)- usually for routine documents and personal correspondence.
A. Personalized
B. Semi-personalized
Types of Signatures
C. Careless Scribble- for the mail carrier, delivery or the autograph collector.
Forgery
Is a legal term which involves not only a non-genuine document but also an intent to
fraud. However, it is also used synonymously with fraudulent signature or spurious document.
Classes of Forged Signatures
1. Simulated or Freehand Imitation Forgery- is a fraudulent signature which was executed purely
by simulation rather than by tracing the outline of a genuine signature. It refers to the freehand
drawing in imitation of a model signature.
2. Simulated with the model before the forger- The forger makes an effort to obtain a
reproduction of the model signature. He works slowly, stroke after stroke.
a. Direct Technique- forger works directly with ink.
b. Indirect Technique- forger works first with pencil and afterwards covers the pencil
strokes with ink.
3. Simulated Free Hand Forgery- used by forgers who have a certain skill in writing. After some
practice, the forger tried to write a copy of the model quickly.
4. Traced Forgery- any fraudulent signature which was executed by actually following the outline
of a genuine signature with a writing instrument.
4. Traced Forgery
a. Direct Tracing- tracing is made by transmitted light.
b. Indirect Tracing- forger uses a carbon paper and places the document on which he
will trace the forged signature under the document bearing the model signature with a carbon
paper between the two.
Types of Traced Signatures
A. Carbon Process- the forger places the document to be forged on the bottom, interleaves a
piece of carbon paper and places on top a document containing the genuine signature. The
forger then traces over the genuine signature with a pencil, pen stylus, or other sharp
pointed instrument.
B. Indentation Process- The document containing the model signature is placed on top of the
forged document. The forger traces with considerable pressure over the genuine signature using
pencil, pen stylus, or similar sharp pointed instruments and creates an indented signature outline
on the document being forged. Later, this impression outline is overwritten using pencil, or
directly with a fountain pen or any other similar writing instruments.
C. Transmitted Light Process- the document to be forged is placed on top of the document
containing the genuine signature. The two documents are superimposed over a light source on a
transparent flat surface. The forger traces the outline with either a pencil or pen following the
outline of the genuine signature set in bold relief by the light in the back of it.
5. Spurious Signature- a fraudulent signature in which there was no apparent attempt of
simulation or limitation. Forger does not try to copy a model but writes something resembling
what we ordinarily call a signature. For this, he uses a false (spurious) name and makes a rapid
stroke, disturbing his usual writing by adopting a camouflage called disguise. This kind of forgery
is easily detected as fraudulent in view of the fact that it is widely different from the other
genuine signature even in general appearance alone.
6. Forgery by means of a stamped facsimile of a genuine or model- some individuals very often
used a stamped facsimile of their signature.
7. Forgery by Computer Scanning
Suggested steps in the
examination of signature
Suggested steps in the examination of
signature
1. Place the questioned and the standard signatures in juxtaposition or side-by-side for
simultaneous viewing of the various elements and characteristics.
2. The first element to be considered is the handwriting movement or the manner of execution
(slow, deliberate, rapid)
signature
3. Second elements to examine is the quality of the line, the presence of tremors, smooth, fluent
or hesitation. Defect in line quality is only appreciated when simultaneous viewing is made.
4. Examine the beginning and ending lines, they are significant. Determine whether the
appearance is blunt, club-shaped, tapered or vanishing.
signature
5. Design the structure of the letters. Determine this as to roundness, smoothness, angularity and
direction. Each individual has a different concept of letter design.
6. Look for the presence of retouching or patching.
7. Look for Connecting strokes, slant, ratio, size, lateral spacing.
signature
8. Do not rely so much in the similarity or difference of the capital letters, for these are often
changed according to the whim of the writer.
Characteristic principles that
supply most cases
Characteristic principles that supply most
cases
A. Pen pressure
B. Movement
C. Proportion
D. Unusual distortion of the forms of letters
E. Inconspicuous characteristics
F. Repeated characteristics
G. Characteristics written with speed
Indications of
Genuineness
Indications of Genuineness
A. Carelessness
B. Spontaneity
C. Alternation of thick and thin strokes
D. Speed
E. Simplification
F. Upright letters are interspersed with slanting letters
G. The upward strokes looks like a threadlike tracing
H. Rhythm
I. Good line quality
J. Variation
Indications of Simulated (Direct &
Indirect Technique) and Traced
Forgeries
Indications of Simulated (Direct & Indirect Technique)
and Traced Forgeries
1. Tremulous and broken connecting strokes between letters, indicating points at which the
writer has temporarily 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 beginnings and endings
7. Placement of diacritical marks just over the stem of letters
8. Absence of spontaneity- lack of smoothness of letters
9. Restrained writing- there is lack of freedom inhibited movements. It gives the impression that
every stroke is made with great difficulty. This writing is small.
10. No variation
Indications of Simple or
Spurious Forgery
Indications of Simple or Spurious Forgery
Writing habits of the writer (forger) which include his general and individual
characteristics is evident in the forged signature.
Indications of Forgery by
Means of Stamped Facsimile
of a Genuine Signature
Indications of Forgery by Means of Stamped Facsimile of
a Genuine Signature
A. Flat strokes
B. No contrast between upstrokes and down strokes
C. Deposit of ink at the junction of two strokes or where two strokes cross each other
D. No variation- all signature will superimpose over each other
Typewriting Identification
Typewriter
A writing machine with a keyboard for reproducing letter, figures, symbols, and other resembling
printed ones.
A machine that can reproduce printed characters on papers or that can produce printed letters
and figures on paper
A machine designed to print or impress type characters on paper
Typewriter
a machine designed to print or impress type characters on paper, as a speedier and more legible
substitute for handwriting.
Is a hand-operated character printer for printing written messages one character at a time. It
can be either mechanical or electromechanical.
Typewriter
Characters are produced when the typist presses a key that strikes a ribbon to transfer ink or
carbon impressions onto the paper. Although almost entirely replaced by computers,
typewriters are still used in circumstances of criminal activity.
Evolution of
Typewriters
Evolution of Typewriters
A. Several typewriters like machines were developed during the latter part of the 17th Century.
The first patent however was granted by Queen Anne of England to Henry Mill in 1714 for a
machine designed to reproduce a letter of the alphabet.
B. Within the next 100 years, at least 50 attempts were made by various inventors to develop a
typing machine.
C. In 1829, William Austin Burt invented the Typographer.
D. In 1833, a French patent was given to the French inventor Xavier Progin for a machine that
embodied for the first time one of the principles employed in modern typewriters: the use for
each letter or symbol of separate typebars, actuated with separate keys.
E. In 1843, American inventor Charles Grover Thurber invented a typewriter which prints through
a metal ring that revolved horizontally above the plate and as equipped with a series of vertical
keys or plungers having pieces of type of the bottom. The machine was operated by revolving the
wheel until the correct letter was centered over the printing position of the platen, and then
striking the key.
F. Several attempted to produce machines designed to make embossed impression that could be
read by the blind. One such machine that could be developed by the American inventor Alfred
Ely Beach in 1856, resembled the modern typewriter in the arrangement of its keys and typebars,
but embossed its letters on a narrow paper strip instead of a sheet.
G. A similar machine created by the American inventor Samuel W. Francis, and patented by him
in 1856 had a circular arrangement of typebars, a moving paper holder, a bell that rang to signal
the end of a line, an inked ribbon. The keyboard arrangement of Francis’ machine resembled the
black and white keys of a piano.
H. The development of the first practical typewriter
begun in 1866 by Christopher Latham Sholes and was
patented in 1868. He developed the first practical
typewriter in cooperation with two mechanics, Carlos
Gliden and Samuel Soule.
I. In 1874, Christopher Latham Sholes entered an
agreement with Eliphalet Remington and Sons, Gunsmiths,
& Sewing Machines Manufacturers, the company produced
the Remington Model I.
J. 4 years later, Remington Model II was introduced having
both the lower and upper case of the alphabet.
K. Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) was among the first to buy a typewriter and the first to submit
a typewritten manuscript to a publisher.
L. George Bernard Shaw recognized the importance of typewriter when he became the first
playwright to use it as a stage prop in Canada in 1897.
M. When Thomas Edison visited Sholes to see his machine, he forecasted that typewriters would
one day be operated by electricity.
N. Soon afterwards, Edison built such typewriter. He used a series of magnet, which made the
machine cumbersome and too expensive to be marketed.
O. The first practical electric typewriter was invented in 1914 by James F. Smathers of Kansas City.
P. In 1933, the International Business Machines, Inc. (IBM), introduced the first commercially
successful electric typewriter in the business world.
Q. The latest development in electric typewriter is one which not only eliminates type bars and
movable carriages but can use six interchangeable type of type faces.
R. The first basic change in typewriting appeared in 1961. Despite of the revolutionary advances
in typewriting capabilities, one essential element has remained unchanged since the first
Remington. The keyboard arrangement, nicknamed QWERTY for the top line of letters, was
designed to make it easier for salesmen to use the machine.
S. A much more efficient arrangement was devised in 1936 by August Dvorak. The process of
changing over the DVORAK seemed so difficult that it was never even begun.
T. The earliest comment in writing by a document examiner on typewriting identification was
made by Hagan in 1894. He wrote that all typewriter machines even when using the same kind or
type become more or less peculiar by use as to the work done by them. These peculiarities
positively connect them with the printing done by the machine.
U. This exposition of the principles of typewriting identification was followed in 1900 by Ames
who wrote that the identity of writing by different operators as well as that done on different
machines can be done with considerable degree. Different operators have their own peculiar
methods which differ widely in the location of date, address, margins, punctuation, spacing,
signing, as well as impressions from touch.
V. In several articles written between 1901-1907, Albert Osborne, defined the principles of
typewriting identification used today. He called it “The Landmarks of Typewriting Identification.”
Types of Typewriters
A. Conventional Typewriters Using Type Bars
1. Pica Type- 10 CPI
- has big prints and can type 10 characters to an inch and 85 characters
on a sheet of paper.
2. Elite Type- 12 CPI
- is a type of typewriter that can type 12 characters to an inch and 102
characters on one whole sheet of paper.
3. 6 CPI
4. Teletype machine
5. Special typewriters- 14-16 CPI
B. Typewriter Using Single Element or Ball- All typewriter machine capable of typing 10 or 12
CPI. Changing the horizontal spacing is done easily by the flip of a switch.
C. Typewriter Using Print Wheel (Electronic Typewriter)- This is a typewriter equipped with a
disc type device called a print wheel. This contains all characters represented on the keyboard.
This machine has the capability of typing 10, 12 and 15 letters per inch.
Classification of Typewriters
Based on Letter Designs
Classification of Typewriters Based on
Letter Designs
A. The small “w”- depending on the presence or absence of a center serif, height of central peak
and design of the two central diagonals.
1. W-1- central peak is the same height as top of the outside stroke and is capped by a serif.
2. W-2- same with w-1 but has no central serif
3. W-3- central joining is below the two central diagonals join the sides well above the base of the
letter.
4. W-4- low center but the two central diagonals join the sides well above the base of the letter.
Letter Designs
B. Crossbar of small letter “t”- crossbar is either longer on the right or on the left side and or
equidistant on each side. The curved lower extension of the “t” is either turned upward at a point
the left of, to the right of, or about even with the right terminus of the crossbar of the “t.”
Letter Designs
C. The small letter “g”- upper oval is either much smaller or the same in shape than the lower
oval. Upper and lower ovals are either very closely spaced or not.
D. Small letter “r”- right arm is either long with very small curve at its end or a long right arm
with full curve at the end and/or the right arm is short with its curve moderate to full.
Letter Designs
E. Small letter “y”- has three distinctive designs:
1. lower stroke has a broad turn which forms a very shallow trough.
2. lower stroke has a deep full curve which clearly curves rightward.
3. lower strokes sharply upward like forming a narrow trough.
Letter Designs
F. Small letter “I”- has two distinctive designs:
1. center of the dot is set aligned with the central line of the vertical shaft.
2. center of the dot is set off to the left of the central line of the vertical shaft
G. Upper and Lower Strokes of Capital Letter “E”- maybe equal or the bottom stroke maybe
longer than the upper stroke. The serif either vertical or oblique. The small “e” may have its
straight either horizontal or oblique.
Letter Designs
H. Figure “7”- horizontal stroke is either straight or curve.
I. Figure “5”- horizontal stroke is either straight or slightly or fully curve.
J. The comma “,”- tail may extend to the left of the dot or only very slightly to the left of the dot
(.).
K. Parenthesis- may vary in curvature.
Each typewriter has its own individual characteristics that enable one to differentiate
the typed characters from a similar machine of the same make. Typewriter of the same make and
model but of different age have differences attributed to wear. The difference are still apparent
although not as pronounced when new typewriters involved belong to the same series of
manufacturers.
A typewriter coming out fresh from the factory has already some defects which give its
own personality. Whatever the quality of the manufacture, a typewriter is never absolutely
perfect.
Later, through faults of the typist and also by wear, the typewriter will acquire a stronger
individuality by new defects which become more and more prominent and in time, progressively
overcome the initial ones.
Identification of typewriting is done primarily to determine the make and/or model of
the typewriter used to produce a document, or whether or not a particular suspect typewriter
might have been used to produce a document.
The document examiner must have complete access to reference collection of typefaces
used by all typewriter manufacturers. These typefaces determine the structure of the letters and
provide the class characteristics for comparison purposes.
Identification of typewriting is generally requested in order to determine:
1. The type, make, and model of the machine that produced the questioned document
2. Whether a particular typewriter produced a specific document
3. When the questioned document was produced
4. Whether the typed material was produced continuously
Procedure:
1. Conduct preliminary examination of the QD to determine the make and model of the
typewriter.
2. Then study the defects of the stroke which will distinguish the suspected typewriter from
the others.
Significant Terms in
Significant Terms in Typewriting
Identification
Alignment defect/Typeface misalignments- alignment defects include characters which writes
improperly in the following respects: a twisted letter, horizontal mal-alignment, vertical mal-
alignment, and a character “off it’s feet.” These defects can be corrected by special adjustments
to the type bar and type block.
Identification
Carbon Impression- any typewriting in which it is placed on the paper by the action of the
typefaces striking through carbon paper. Generally, carbon impressions are “carbon copies,” but
sometimes original typewriting is made directly through a carbon ribbon.
Identification
Character- in connection with typewriting identification, the term “character” is used to include
letters, symbols, numerals, or points of punctuation.
Clogged (Dirty) Typefaces- with use, typefaces become filled with lint, dirty, and ink, particularly
in enclosed letters such as “o,” “e,” and “g.” This condition is allowed to progress without
cleaning. There comes a time when the written impression actually print with the clogged areas
shaded on a solid block.
Identification
Defects- describes any abnormality or maladjustment in a typewriter which is reflected in its
works and which leads to its individualization or identification.
◦ Permanent Defect- replacement of typewriter parts
◦ Transitory Defect- mere cleaning
Identification
Horizontal mal-alignment- occurs as typewriter individualities when a character defectively
strikes to the right or left of its normal allotted striking position.
Natural Variations- these are normal or usual characteristics found between specimens of any
individuals handwriting or in the product of any typewriters.
Identification
Off its feet- the condition of a typeface printing heavier on one side or corner than over the
remainder of its outline.
Permanent Defect- any identifying characteristics of a typewriter which cannot be corrected by
simply cleaning the type face or replacing the ribbon.
Identification
Platen- the cylinder which serve as the backing of the paper and which absorbs the blow on the
type face.
Proportional Spacing Typewriting- a modern form of typewriting which resembles printing in
that all of the horizontal space as they do with the conventional typewriter
Identification
Rebound- a defect in which a character prints a double impression with the lighter one slightly
offset to the right or left.
Ribbon Impressions- typewriting which is made through a cloth ribbon.
Ribbon Condition- typewriter ribbons gradually deteriorate with use and the degree of
deterioration is a measure of the ribbon condition.
Identification
San-serif- a type font which has no cross-strokes (serif); san means without
Serif- a serif font that has short cross strokes that project from the top and bottom of the main
stroke of the letter.
Identification
Transitory Defect- any identifying typewriter characteristics which can be eliminated by cleaning
the machine or replacing the ribbon. Clogged type is the most common defects in this class.
Twisted Letter- Each letter and character is designed to print a certain fixed angle to the base
line, due to wear and damage to the type bars and the type block, some letters become twisted
so that they lean to the right or left of their correct slant.
Identification
Type Face- the printing surface of the type block. With most modern typewriter, this block is
attached at the end of a movable arm or type bar which propels the type face against the ribbon
and paper to make the typewriter impression.
Identification
Type Face Defects- any peculiarity of typewriting caused by actual damage to the type face
metal. These defect may be actual breaks in the outline of the letter where the metal has been
chipped away sometimes referred to as broken type, or they may be distorted outlines of the
letter here the type face metal has become bent or smashed, they can only be corrected by
replacing the type block.
Identification
Vertical mal-alignment- a character printing above or below its proper position.
Warp- those threads that run horizontally toward the length of the ribbon
Woof- Threads that run vertically or cross-over the warp form the “woof” or filling of the ribbon.
“The Landmarks of Typewriting
Identification”
(Osborne)
Identification”
A. The type faces used by the different typewriter manufacturer can be differentiated on the
basis of design and have dating significance.
B. Through usage, typewriters develop individuality which can serve to identify the typewriting
of a particular typewriter.
Identification”
C. The gradual development of typewriting individuality plus ribbon condition and typeface.
Cleanliness can be used to date a document or fix it within a certain period of time.
D. Horizontal and vertical alignment, tilting, characters, lack of uniformity of impression (off-
footedness), typeface score, breadths, defects and deformities all serve to identify the
typewriting of a particular machine.
Identification”
E. Peculiar habits of striking the typewriter keys, spacing, arrangement, punctuation, mistakes,
corrections, can be used to identify a typist or differentiate typists.
F. A sheet of paper cannot be reinserted in a typewriter in exact register with previous typing
done on the sheet of paper.
Symptoms of Defects of a
Typewriter
Symptoms of Defects of a Typewriter
The defects of the typewriter may be compared to ailment or sickness and congenital
deformation, while its translation on the paper be compared to symptoms of the defects. This
comparison has the advantage of sorting out the exact conditions of the control of questioned
typewritten documents as follows:
A. First, it will show the actual state of the typewriter and consequently that the aspect of the
stroke is not immutable but evolves progressively so that a good identification needs the
comparison of documents from sufficient adjacent period.
The health of a typewriter tends to change and the defect become more and more
numerous. From time to time, repairs may help ailments definitely or at least give a temporary or
partial heading.
B. It will show that the expert does not see the defect of the typewriter right away but only its
translation on the paper by a writing anomaly of which he must appreciate the cause.
C. Lastly, it will explain that certain anomalies are not even ascribable to an organic cause of the
typewriter but to a phenomenon outside it.
Typewriting Standards or
Exemplars
Typewriting Standards or Exemplars
Procurement of typewriting exemplars are grouped as follows:
1. Study of the questioned document by the investigator
2. Procurement of the regular course of business typewriting
3. Preparation of exemplar typewriting by the suspected writer
4. Preparation of typewriting exemplar by the investigator on suspected typewriter and
5. The procurement of the suspected typewriter itself by the investigator.
Obtaining Known
Typewritten Exemplars
Obtaining Known Typewritten Exemplars
Properly prepared known typewriting samples not only facilitate the examination in the
laboratory but they aid immeasurably in the demonstration in the court room.
How to Obtain Exemplars of Typewriting
A. If the typewriter ribbon is obviously new, remove it from the typewriter and send it to the
laboratory with the typewriting exemplars prepared from another ribbon.
B. Use paper of about the same size as the questioned material, type out a full word for word
copy of the message in question, typographical errors, using nearly as possible the same
degree of touch as that used in typing the questioned material.
C. After placing the typewriter in a stencil position or removing the cloth ribbon, obtain samples
of each character on the keyboard by typing through carbon paper which has been inserted
carbon side down over a piece of white bond paper.
D. Make certain that each specimen contain a make, model, and serial number of the typewriter
from which it was produced as well as the date and initials of the officer.
E. Typewriter specimens should be taken from suspected typewriter/s. It is usually not necessary
to forward the typewriter to the laboratory if complete known exemplars are obtained.
F. If possible, after a written exemplar is obtained from a suspected typewriter, the investigation
should ensure that the typewriter is kept in its current condition.
G. With evidence obtained from type written documents, the laboratory experts are in position
to lend valuable assistance to the solution and subsequent prosecution of many cases.
Determining Document
Genuineness
Determining Document Genuineness
In the examination of questioned typewriting, the following points may be involved in
determining whether or not the document is genuine:
1. Whether the date, words, or figure of the document have been changed.
2. Whether the typewriting was done in one continuous operation or whether a part was
written at one time and another at a later time on one machine or a different machine.
3. Whether the addition, alterations or interlineations were written in the same time on the
same machine, or written at a different time on a different machine.
4. Whether typewritten pages have been substituted or inserted in the document without
authority, or after the document was formally executed.
5. Whether the typewriting is an original or a carbon copy.
6. Whether the typewriting corresponds with the date, number and model of the machine on
which it is purported to have been written.
Forensic Examination of Printed
and Photocopied Documents
Forensic Examination of Printed and
Photocopied Documents
In the digital era of computer typesetting, electronic fonts and graphical user interface,
modern digital computers and output devices can conveniently produce images and text on
documents.
Forensic Examination of Printed and
Photocopied Documents
The modern document examiner must have knowledge of operating systems, versions of
word processing programs, numerous digital fonts, printer drivers and their release dates, etc.
because these can have an impact on computer generated documents. He will also need to know
how devices place their images and text on documents.
Guidelines in the examination process
of computer generated documents
Guidelines in the examination process of
computer generated documents
Below are questions that can be used to guide the examination process: (Kelly & Lindblom, 2006)
1. Is the document an original or copy?
The FDE should attempt to determine if the evidence is an original machine-printed
document or a machine copy.
2. Can the printing technology be identified? Dated?
Identifying the printing technology means attempting to classify the printing process.
Microscopic examinations can help determine if the document has been printed (a) in color or
black & white, (b) using an impact or non-impact process, (c) with toner, wet ink or another
medium.
3. Has more than one technology been used to prepare the document?
This question usually applies to documents with reinsertions and page substitutions. In
reinsertion, a document is placed back into a printer after the parties have signed and agreed to
the terms in the document. The questioned portion is printed with a different printer and can
be differentiated from the surrounding text. In page substitution, one or more pages of the
original document were removed and different ones were inserted. For example, the signature
of a deed of sale is left intact, but the remaining pages are replaced.
4. In a multi-page document, is there evidence that one or more pages are prepared differently
than the others?
As opposed to the previous question, this one involves situations wherein entire pages
have been substituted within a document but printed in the same printer. Parts of the
document can be checked for consistency in terms of spelling, punctuation, staple holes,
formatting, etc. Another technique may also check for chronological inconsistencies, such as
when a questioned document printed in a four-color toner process was supposed to have been
printed on a date hen that type of printer was not yet purchased by the concerned office.
5. Is there any evidence that text has been altered or added to the document?
Examining alterations in computer generated documents means determining if text has
been altered or added in the same way that pages were substituted in the previous questions.
Any discrepancies in the line spacing, printer technology, fonts, or layout in the questioned text
may be proof that it was added by printer reinsertion. Discrepancies in line spacing, printer
technology, fonts, or layout can be checked to prove that a portion was added through printer
reinsertion.
6. Are there any obvious (gross) defects in the printing that might lead to the machine being
individualized?
Gross printer defects are rare and problems could point to ink or toner cartridges and
other replaceable components. This means that printing defects evident in a QD can disappear
when the defective components are replaced.
Examination of Photocopied
Documents
Examination of Photocopied Documents
The printing mechanisms of inkjet printers and photocopiers exhibit the same
characteristics and therefore require the same method of examination.
To identify individual copiers, the document examiner can do the following:
1. Determine whether or not two or more copies came from the same machine
2. Determine whether or not a particular machine produced the copies
3. Determine the approximate date of the copies
Similar with the typewriter, a copier will develop its own idiosyncrasies with time and
wear. This could result in certain marks printed onto a copy. By finding and interpreting these
marks, a forensic document examiner can associate a copy with the machine that made it. It
should be noted, though that some idiosyncrasies in copiers could be eliminated by repair or
service on the machine. In such cases, the document examiner could check the copier’s repair
record.
Unique marks can occur in the platen or the glass imaging window of the copier.
Marks include debris, dirt, and smudges from fingerprints or adhesives from tapes or labels.
Because cleaning can remove the marks, it is prudent to obtain known samples prepared on
the machine close to the same time as the questioned copy.
Scratches could also result in more permanent marks on the photocopier’s glass
window. Sometimes, the rubber backing blanket that holds the original document in place on
the glass window will reproduce marks on the copies.
Forensic Examination of
Alteration
Alteration
This is any changes which give the document a different effect from that which is
originally possessed.
Alteration
As a legal term, alteration means an act purposely done on an instrument by a party
thereto or one beneficially interested therein which effects a change in the sense or language of
the instrument.
Alteration
It is distinguished from the spoliation of an instrument which is a change made
accidentally or unintentionally, or by one having no beneficial interest in the instrument.
Spoliation does not invalidate the instrument or changes the rights and liabilities of the parties.
Alteration
If changes are made after execution of a document and without the consent of the other
party, then such change is called fraudulent alteration. Identifying document alteration requires
focus, attention to detail and in some cases, forensic technology and assistance.
Alteration
Document alterations can occur in a number of forms including erasures, water damage,
charring, ink differentiation and handwriting discrepancies.
Alteration
Documents are altered for various reasons, ranging from simple corrections to
intentional fraud. Alterations involving handwriting, erasures, and water damage are easy to
spot, but often require forensic equipment and expertise to fully analyze the cause or origin.
Kinds of Alteration
Kinds of Alteration
1. Interlineation
Kinds of Alteration
2. Superimposition
Kinds of Alteration
3. Erasure- this is the most common way to alter a document.
Kinds of Alteration
3. Erasure
Erasure can be divided into two groups:
a. Physical/mechanical erasures- physical removal
of writing, impressions, or parts thereof may be
accomplished by the abrasion of the surface of
paper with the help of rubber erasure or sharp
instruments such as razor, blades, scalpel, knife,
etc.
Kinds of Alteration
3. Erasure
Erasure can be divided into two groups:
b. Chemical erasures- are those in which some chemicals are used to
erase part of the document. The chemical applications are usually strong
oxidizing agents that conceal the ink by changing the properties of the colored
substance. These may include acids or alkali as oxalic acid, potassium
permanganate.
Kinds of Alteration
3. Erasure
b. Chemical erasures- Microscopic examination
of erasures may show discoloration or staining on the
paper where the treatment was carried out. Ultraviolet
lighting and infrared luminescence can also be used to
reveal erased writing by highlighting invisible residues of
the original ink left embedded in the paper.
Kinds of Alteration
3. Erasure
b. Chemical erasures- Chemical tests should never be applied on the document itself.
The better way is to punch out small dots of paper from the affected area with the help of a
hypodermic needle and test them on microscopic slides.
Obliteration
Is the process of writing over text with the intention of hiding or destroying the original
information.
To obliterate means to blot out so as not be readily or clearly readable.
Obliteration
This may be intentional or unintentional. Writing may be intentionally obliterated to render them
indecipherable by covering or obscuring with marking, overwriting, blots of ink or rubbing with
pencil or carbon paper, etc.
Obliteration
Whether at the time the document was created
or at a later date, obliteration made with the
same ink used in the original is virtually
impossible to recover. If a different ink was used
to obliterate the text, illumination with
alternative light sources may show differences in
reflection or infrared luminescence which can be
photographed.
Indented Writing
These are impressions of the original made in the next sheet of paper in a pad. These
indentions or impressions may not be visible with the unaided eye but can be viewed using an
Electrostatic Detection Apparatus (ESDA). The ESDA works by creating an invisible electrostatic
image of indented writing, which is then visualized by the application of charge-positive toners.
Indented Writing
The sensitive imaging process reacts to sites of microscopic damage to fibers at the
surface of a document, which have been created by abrasive interaction with overlaying surfaces
during the act of handwriting.
Elements of Proof
The following facts and circumstances tend to prove that an instrument has been
altered:
1. Instrument executed on other form than that normally used for the type of instrument it
purports to be.
2. Writing extending outside of boxes provided on form
3. Cramped or “squeezed” appearance of portions of writing.
Elements of Proof
4. Misspelling of words common to both disputed and non-disputed portions in one portion of
the instrument and not in order.
5. Peculiarities of composition which may identify portions of the instrument as the work of
particular persons.
6. Handwriting characteristics tending to identify the writer or show document to have been
written by more than one person.
Elements of Proof
7. Inks of different types used on different portions of instrument.
8. Variations in color, shading, and other characteristics of ink in different portions of instrument.
9. Writing done after paper folded.
10. Use of blotter on some portions of the instrument and not on others.
Elements of Proof
11. Sequence of strokes in writing (may show certain words written before others)
12. Erasure marks
13. Residual or prior writing
14. Type characteristics identifying portions of writing as products of different makes or models
of machines.
15. Type characteristics peculiar to a particular machine which identify product of that machine.
Elements of Proof
16. Variations in all alignment of typewritten portions of instrument (may show removal and
replacement of paper in machine)
17. Opinions of persons familiar with handwriting of purported maker of instrument or of a
person suspected of altering it.
18. Arrangement between parties to instrument at variance with instrument as altered.
Elements of Proof
19. Acts of parties inconsistent with belief in genuineness or validity of instrument as altered.
20. Acts of parties inconsistent with belief in genuineness or validity of instrument as originally
executed.
Kinds of Alteration
Kinds of Alteration
1. Erasure
1. Mechanical
2. Chemical
2. Addition- words/figures
3. Substitution- on pages
4. Interlineations or intercalation- between lines
5. Superimposition
6. Obliteration- masking, smeared- overwriting with black or opaque materials
7. Cancellation- to remove by cutting out or stamping lines across written matter to
signify its omission.
Points to be considered in
Alteration
Points to be considered in Alteration
All alteration must be countersigned alongside them
Always require a counter-signature, not a mere counter-initial
The counter-signature must be in the same form as the main signature
Points to be considered in Alteration
The counter-signature must be examined/verified separately from, and as carefully as the main
signature
The three other parts of the check posting media, the date, the payee, and the amount in words
and figures must be examined in chronological, systematic matter.
Crimes Against Public
Interest
Section One
Forging the seal of the Government of the Philippine Islands, the
signature or stamp of the Chief Executive
Art. 161. Counterfeiting the great seal of the Government of the Philippine Islands, forging the
signature or stamp of the Chief Executive. — The penalty of reclusion temporal shall be imposed
upon any person who shall forge the Great Seal of the Government of the Philippine Islands or
the signature or stamp of the Chief Executive.
Art. 162. Using forged signature or counterfeit seal or stamp. — The penalty of prision mayor
shall be imposed upon any person who shall knowingly make use of the counterfeit seal or
forged signature or stamp mentioned in the preceding article.
Section Two
Counterfeiting Coins
Art. 163. Making and importing and uttering false coins. — Any person who makes, imports, or utters, false
coins, in connivance with counterfeiters, or importers, shall suffer:
1.Prision mayor in its minimum and medium periods and a fine not to exceed P10,000 pesos, if the
counterfeited coin be silver coin of the Philippines or coin of the Central Bank of the Philippines of
ten centavo denomination or above.
2.Prision correccional in its minimum and medium periods and a fine of not to exceed P2,000 pesos,
if the counterfeited coins be any of the minor coinage of the Philippines or of the Central Bank of
the Philippines below ten-centavo denomination.
3.Prision correccional in its minimum period and a fine not to exceed P1,000 pesos, if the
counterfeited coin be currency of a foreign country. (As amended by R.A. No. 4202, approved June
19, 1965).
Section Two
Counterfeiting Coins
Art. 164. Mutilation of coins; Importation and utterance of mutilated coins. — The penalty of
prision correccional in its minimum period and a fine not to exceed P2,000 pesos shall be
imposed upon any person who shall mutilate coins of the legal currency of the United States or
of the Philippine Islands or import or utter mutilated current coins, or in connivance with
mutilators or importers.
Art. 165. Selling of false or mutilated coin, without connivance. — The person who knowingly,
although without the connivance mentioned in the preceding articles, shall possess false or
mutilated coin with intent to utter the same, or shall actually utter such coin, shall suffer a
penalty lower by one degree than that prescribed in said articles.
Section Three
Forging treasury or bank notes, obligations and securities; importing and uttering false
or forged notes, obligations and securities
Art. 166. Forging treasury or bank notes on other documents payable to bearer; importing, and uttering such false or forged notes
and documents. — The forging or falsification of treasury or bank notes or certificates or other obligations and securities payable to
bearer and the importation and uttering in connivance with forgers or importers of such false or forged obligations or notes, shall be
punished as follows:
1. By reclusion temporal in its minimum period and a fine not to exceed P10,000 pesos, if the document which has been
falsified, counterfeited, or altered, is an obligations or security of the United States or of the Philippines Islands. The word
"obligation or security of the United States or of the Philippine Islands" shall be held to mean all bonds, certificates of
indebtedness, national bank notes, fractional notes, certificates of deposit, bills, checks, or drafts for money, drawn by or
upon authorized officers of the United States or of the Philippine Islands, and other representatives of value, of whatever
denomination, which have been or may be issued under any act of the Congress of the United States or of the Philippine
Legislature.
2. By prision mayor in its maximum period and a fine not to exceed P5,000 pesos, if the falsified or altered document is a
circulating note issued by any banking association duly authorized by law to issue the same.
3. By prision mayor in its medium period and a fine not to exceed P5,000 pesos, if the falsified or counterfeited document was
issued by a foreign government.
4. By prision mayor in its minimum period and a fine not to exceed P2,000 pesos, when the forged or altered document is a
circulating note or bill issued by a foreign bank duly authorized therefor.
Section Three
Art. 167. Counterfeiting, importing and uttering instruments not payable to bearer. — Any
person who shall forge, import or utter, in connivance with the forgers or importers, any
instrument payable to order or other document of credit not payable to bearer, shall suffer the
penalties of prision correccional in its medium and maximum periods and a fine not exceeding
P6,000 pesos.
Art. 168. Illegal possession and use of false treasury or bank notes and other instruments of
credit. — Unless the act be one of those coming under the provisions of any of the preceding
articles, any person who shall knowingly use or have in his possession, with intent to use any of
the false or falsified instruments referred to in this section, shall suffer the penalty next lower in
degree than that prescribed in said articles.
Section Three
Art. 169. How forgery is committed. — The forgery referred to in this section may be committed
by any of the following means:
1. By giving to a treasury or bank note or any instrument, payable to bearer or order
mentioned therein, the appearance of a true genuine document.
2. By erasing, substituting, counterfeiting or altering by any means the figures, letters,
words or signs contained therein.
Section Four
Falsification of legislative, public, commercial, and private documents,
and wireless, telegraph, and telephone message
Art. 170. Falsification of legislative documents. — The penalty of prision
correccional in its maximum period and a fine not exceeding P6,000 pesos shall be
imposed upon any person who, without proper authority therefor alters any bill,
resolution, or ordinance enacted or approved or pending approval by either
House of the Legislature or any provincial board or municipal council.
Section Four
Falsification of legislative, public, commercial, and private documents, and wireless,
telegraph, and telephone message
Art. 171. Falsification by public officer, employee or notary or ecclesiastic minister. — The penalty of prision mayor and a fine not to exceed
P5,000 pesos shall be imposed upon any public officer, employee, or notary who, taking advantage of his official position, shall falsify a
document by committing any of the following acts:
1. Counterfeiting or imitating any handwriting, signature or rubric;
2. Causing it to appear that persons have participated in any act or proceeding when they did not in fact so participate;
3. Attributing to persons who have participated in an act or proceeding statements other than those in fact made by them;
4. Making untruthful statements in a narration of facts;
5. Altering true dates;
6. Making any alteration or intercalation in a genuine document which changes its meaning;
7. Issuing in an authenticated form a document purporting to be a copy of an original document when no such original exists, or
including in such a copy a statement contrary to, or different from, that of the genuine original; or
8. Intercalating any instrument or note relative to the issuance thereof in a protocol, registry, or official book. The same penalty shall be
imposed upon any ecclesiastical minister who shall commit any of the offenses enumerated in the preceding paragraphs of this
article, with respect to any record or document of such character that its falsification may affect the civil status of persons.
Section Four
Falsification of legislative, public, commercial, and private documents,
and wireless, telegraph, and telephone message
Art. 172. Falsification by private individual and use of falsified documents. — The penalty of
prision correccional in its medium and maximum periods and a fine of not more than P5,000
pesos shall be imposed upon:
1. Any private individual who shall commit any of the falsifications enumerated in the next
preceding article in any public or official document or letter of exchange or any other kind of
commercial document; and
2. Any person who, to the damage of a third party, or with the intent to cause such damage,
shall in any private document commit any of the acts of falsification enumerated in the next
preceding article. Any person who shall knowingly introduce in evidence in any judicial
proceeding or to the damage of another or who, with the intent to cause such damage, shall
use any of the false documents embraced in the next preceding article, or in any of the
foregoing subdivisions of this article, shall be punished by the penalty next lower in degree.
Writing materials, Tools,
and Equipment
Development of Paper
Manufacturing
Development of Paper Manufacturing
It is widely claimed that invention of paper is generally attributed to a Chinese court official, CAI
LUN (TSAI Lun) in about AD 105. He is the first to succeed in making paper from vegetable fibers,
tree barks (mulberry tree), rags, old fish nettings.
The art of paper making was kept secret for 500 years. The Japanese acquired it in the 7th
Century AD
In AD 751, the Arab City of Samarkand was attacked by marauding Chinese and some Chinese
taken as prisoners were skilled in papermaking and were forced by the city Governor to build
and operate a paper mill and Samarkand soon became the papermaking center of the Arab
world.
Knowledge of papermaking traveled westward, spreading throughout the Middle East, the
Moorish invasion of Spain led to the invention (AD 1150) or erection of the first European paper
mill, at Jativa, province of Valencia.
Knowledge of the technology spread quickly and by 16th Century paper was manufactured
throughout most Europe.
The first paper mill in England was established in 1495.
The first such mill in America in 1690.
The first practical machine was made in 1798 by the French inventor Nicholas Louis Robert. The
machine reduced the cost of paper it supplants the hand-molding process in paper manufacture
Robert’s machine was improved by the British stationers and brothers Henry Fourdrinier and
Sealy Fourdrinier, who in 1830 produced the first of the machines that bear their name.
The solution of the problem of making paper from cheap raw material was achieved by the
introduction of the ground wood process of pulp making about 1840 and the first of the
chemical pulp processes approximately ten years later.
.
Writing surfaces
Writing surfaces of prehistoric man included rocks, clay, and similar
substances found in nature.
Papyrus was then made by Egyptians by mashing reeds together into a
flat sheet of pulp and drying them. Their pen was a sharpened reed and
their ink was a mix of soot and water
Paper
Came from the Egyptian writing material called papyrus which
was woven from papyrus plants.
Vellum
In the second century BC, vellum was created as a
writing surface made from skins of goats and lambs.
During the first century, the Chinese began making paper from the inner bark of bamboo and
hemp. The Arabs learned this when they conquered the Chinese in 751.
William Rittenhouse
Founded the first paper plant in America in
1960.
Types of Paper
Types of Paper
1. Newsprint- the least expensive paper manufactured; composed mostly of ground wood
causing it to discolor easily; high opacity is a result of the impurities of the wood.
Types of Paper
2. Offset- uncoated paper that usually contains fillers and additives; bleached and sized to resist
water; more expensive than newsprint; used for publication of books, catalog sheets, loose-leaf
inserts and tablet paper.
Types of Paper
3. Bond paper- originally used to print stocks and bonds; popular in the modern business office;
the higher the rag content, the more expensive the paper.
Types of Paper
4. Lightweight, uncoated paper- example is the onionskin which comes in smooth or cockle
finishes and snap-out forms which are frequently made with manifold papers made from wood
fibers; another example is bible paper.
Types of Paper
5. Specialty paper- includes carbonless paper which is coated on both sides to transfer data from
one page to another; contains special finishes that must come in contact with each other to
transfer the writing or typing to the subsequent page.
Types of Paper
6. Gummed papers- used primarily for labels; curl proof
Types of Paper
7. Text paper- the most expensive, uncoated paper because of its superior grade; comes in
antique, vellum, or smooth finishes; used for promotion pieces, announcements, invitations,
greeting cards.
Types of Paper
8. Coated paper- goes through several layers of coating, some of which are dull-coated to cut
down the glare; used primarily in textbook publications.
Types of Paper
9. Bristol- used to make index cards and tag paper which is used for file folders; strength is its
most important feature.
Types of Paper
10. Kraft paper- coarse, unbleached, heavy paper; noted for strength; used for paper bags,
package wrapping, and corrugated boxes.
Types of Paper
11. Tyvek- new kind of paper strengthened with plastic filaments; repels most ink; principally
used in the manufacture of large mailing envelopes.
Types of Paper
12. Safety paper- designed to reveal alterations; used principally for checks. This are printed with
fugitive inks (or invisible inks) that develop a strong color when treated with an ink eradicator. For
example, the word “VOID” appears when ink eradication solutions are applied to the paper. The
word “VOID” also appears in photocopies of some modern safety papers.
Types of Paper
12. Safety paper- Another security feature are invisible fluorescent designs that can only be
revealed through fluorescent light.
Properties of Paper
Properties of Paper
(Koppenhaver, 2007)
1. Weight- Papers are weighed by the ream. Letterhead stationery is usually 25 pounds per
ream.
2. Strength- Paper is categorized by its strength. Strength is measured as tensile strength (or
the amount of force parallel to the plane of the specimen required to produce failure) and
as tear strength (or the internal tearing resistance). Tensile strength is used to determine the
durability of paper. Bursting tests and puncture tests are used to measure paper strength.
3. Corrugation- Corrugated paper is used when tensile strength becomes an important factor.
Cardboard boxes are made of paper that has corrugation on one side or are sandwiched
between two sheets of heavy Kraft paper.
Properties of Paper
(Koppenhaver, 2007)
4. Durability- Durability is used to ascertain the wearability of books, book covers, and edges.
Newspaper has short durability, while high-quality papers are designed to last a very long time.
5. Thickness- The thickness of paper can be measured with calipers to determine if substitution
has been made in a set of papers.
6. Finish- Paper finishes include coated or uncoated, dull or shiny, smooth or rough, and glare
proof. They are added for brightness and opacity.
Properties of Paper
(Koppenhaver, 2007)
Other properties include water absorbability/resistance/repellency and ink absorption.
Paper may also be stiff or limp, porous or impermeable, and/or soil resistant. Forensic document
examiners need to know these properties to aid in the identification of paper when questions are
raised about it in a document case.
Writing Instruments
Writing Instruments
May also be called Writing implements.
Writing implements, manual devices used to make alphanumeric marks on or in a surface.
Peculiar to inscription is the removal of part of a surface to record such marks. The writing tool is
usually controlled by movement of the fingers, hand wrist, and arm of the writer.
Writing Instruments
Writing instruments in early history ranged from chiseled marks in stones, stylus pressed into
clay, and reeds used on papyrus.
Today, instruments for writing include chalk, paint, crayons, pencils, and various types of pens.
Writing Instruments
Writing is applied to a surface by adhesion or absorption. When a pencil is pushed against a
writing surface, pieces of graphite at the tip of the pencil cling to the paper through adhesion.
The same principle applies for charcoal, chalk, and crayons.
Writing Instruments
On the other hand, when ink flows from the pen onto the paper, the liquid penetrates the paper
through absorption and dries quickly to prevent smearing.
Pencils
Pencils are typically made with graphite mixed with varying amounts of clay or other
fillers. Colored pencils or crayons are made of wax and colored pigments. They are rarely the
subject of forensic investigation because most documents nowadays use ink.
Pencils
Graphite particles from pencils do not penetrate in writing surfaces which make them
removable by pressure from a rubber eraser. Although small amounts of graphite or wax are
present in paper, there is most likely adequate material to distinguish between different
products.
Pencils
When writing is erased, traces of the graphite can be detected by increasing the contrast
between their absorption of light and that of the paper.
Pencils
Other ways to detect what was erased include photography using appropriate filters
allowing infrared to pass, electronic means of detection, and computer-based image
enhancement methods.
Pen
a tool for writing or drawing with colored fluid such
as ink;
a writing instrument used to apply inks to the
paper.
It came from the Latin word “Penna” which means
“feather”.
Pen Nibs
the tow divisions or points which from the writing portion of a pen are its nibs.
Ballpoint Pen
Ball point pens did not appear in the European
market before 1945. The development of the
present pen was accomplished during World War II
because the Army and the Air Force needed a
writing instrument which would not leak at high
altitude and which supplied quick drying water
resistant writing.
In principle, the construction of all ballpoint
pens is the same. The differences are in the finish,
the precision with which the instrument is made the
size and the material of the ball and the composition
of the ink.
Fountain Pen
is a modern nib which contains a
reservoir of ink in a specially designed chamber.
After complete filling the pen is capable of
writing a number of pages without refilling.
Reed Pen/Swamp Reed
It came from especially selected water grasses found in Egypt,
Armenia, and along the shores of the Persian Gulf.
Prepared by leaving them under dung heaps for several
months.
It was the first writing tool that had the writing end slightly
frayed like a brush.
About 2000 BC, this was first used in the Near East on Papyrus
and later on parchment.
Quill pen
Made from the outer wing feather of any bird.
Those of goose, swan, crow, and later turkey
were preferred.
The earliest reference to quill pens was made
by the Spanish Theologian St. Isidore of Seville,
and this tool was the principal writing
implement for nearly 1300 years.
Quill pen
To make a quill pen, a wing feather is
first hardened by heating or letting it
dry out gradually. The hardened quill is
then cut to a broad edge with a special
pen knife.
The writer had to re-cut the quill pen
frequently to maintain its edge.
Fiber Tip Pen
The first Fiber Tip Pen was invented by Yukio Horie of Japan in 1962.
The tip is made of fine nylon or other synthetic fibers drawn to a point and fastened to the
barrel of the pen. Dye is fed to the point by elaborate capillary mechanism.
Felt Tip Pen
Are made of dense or artificial fibers impregnated with a dye. These markers can be cut to a
variety of shapes and sizes, some up to an inch in width.
Ink
Ink
1. India Ink- a suspension of carbon black in a binder solution; the oldest form of ink; the most
permanent of all ink colors.
Ink
2. Logwood Ink- the main color ingredients are hematoxylin and potassium chromate.
Ink
3. Iron Gallotannic Ink- composed of tannic acid, gallic acid, ferrous sulfate, and an aniline-based
dye; penetrates and reacts with paper fibers and the basis for many commercial writing inks.
Ink
4. Nigrosine Ink- a nearly black ink made from reacting aniline and nitrobenzene; now used
infrequently due to its water solubility and weathering effects.
Ink
5. Dye inks- composed of a basic, acidic, or neutral organic dye, derived mainly from coal, tar, or
petroleum, which are the main sources of color in most inks; can be readily removed from an ink
mark and the colors separated by thin layer chromatography.
Questioned
Document
Examination
LABORATORY MANUAL
Prepared by:
Leslie Gechelle B. dela Cruz, LPT, RCrim, MSCJ
Questioned Document Examination Laboratory Manual

Prepared by: Leslie Gechelle B. dela Cruz, LPT, RCrim, MSCJ
Table of Contents
Laboratory Exercise No. Title

1 Documents
2 Kinds of Documents
3 Handwriting Movement
4 Kinds of Writing
5 Variation in Writing (Handwriting)
6 Variation in Writing (Signature)
7 Early Forms of Copybook I
8 Early Forms of Copybook II
9 Stroke Characteristics
10 Handwriting Characteristics
11 Handwriting Comparison
12 Graphology
13 Standards
14 Do’s and Don’ts for Collecting Standards
15 Sources of Signatures Written in the Course of Daily Affairs
16 Legal Aspects of Standard Writing
17 Instruments and Equipment in Forensic Document Examination
18 Kinds of Signatures
19 Types of Signatures
20 Methods of Forging
21 Classes of Forged Signatures
22 Indications of Simulated and Traced Forgeries
23 Evolution of Typewriters
24 Classification of Typewriters Based on Letter Designs
25 Typewriter
26 Typewriting Identification I
27 Typewriting Identification II
28 Typewriting Identification III
29 Kinds of Alteration
30 Crimes Against Public Interest
31 Designs of the New Generation Currency Notes
32 Level I Security Features Philippine Bank Notes

Questioned Document Examination
Laboratory Exercise No. 1
Documents
Name: ______________________________________________________________________________________
Section: ______________________ Score: ______________________ Date: ______________________
What is the definition of a document based on People v Moreno, CA 338 OG 119?
What is the definition of a document based on People v Nillosquin, CA 48 OG 4453?
What is the definition of a document based on Frial v Fadrigo, Dec. 26, 1974?
Based on People v Camacho, 44 Phil 484, what is not considered as a document?
Based on People v Santiago, CA 48 OG 4558, what is not considered as a document?
Based on People v Agnis, 47 Phil 945, what is not considered as a document?

Kinds of Documents
Name: ______________________________________________________________________________________
Section: ______________________ Score: ______________________ Date: ______________________
What is the definition of a Public Document based on US v Asensi, 34 Phil 765?
What is the definition of a Public Document based on Cacnio v Baens, 5 Phil 742?
What is the definition of an Official Document based on US v Asensi, 34 Phil 765?
What is the definition of an Official Document based on People v Uy, 101 Phil 159?
What is the definition of a Private Document based on US v Orera, 11 Phil 596?
What is the definition of a Commercial Document based on People v Co Beng, 1913?

Handwriting Movement
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
Section: ______________________ Score: ______________________ Date: __________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Copy the sentence indicated below. Write it three times according to the corresponding
handwriting movement and speed of execution.
“Questioned Document is a document which some issue has been raised or is under
scrutiny.”
1. Finger Movement
A. Slow:
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
B. Moderate:
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
C. Fast:
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
2. Hand Movement
A. Slow:
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________

B. Moderate:
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
C. Fast:
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
3. Forearm/Wrist Movement
A. Slow:
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
B. Moderate:
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
C. Fast:
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________

4. Whole Arm Movement
A. Slow:
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
B. Moderate:
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
C. Fast:
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________

Kinds of Writing
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Write the following paragraphs according to the kind of writing stated.
“Handwriting is the result of a very complicated series of acts, being used as a whole,
and combination of certain forms of visible mental and muscular habits acquired by long,
continued painstaking effort.:
“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”
A. Script:
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
B. Cursive:
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
C. Block
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Variation in Writing (Handwriting)
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Write the paragraph below three times according to the following circumstances.
“It is improbable that the variety and extent of the variation in handwriting will be exactly duplicated in
two individuals that such a coincidence becomes practically impossible and this multitude of possible
variations when combined is what constitutes individuality in handwriting.”
A. Sitting
B. Standing

C. Lying
What are your observations in the different positions and in your handwriting?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________

Variation in Writing (Signature)
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Write your signature nine times according to the following circumstances and observe how
your signatures vary.
A. Sitting
B. Standing
C. Lying
What are your observations in the different positions and in your signatures?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Illustrate the following stroke characteristics in three different letters/words/examples. Draw
an arrow to point at the specific part of the letter/word/example to which you are pertaining to.
1. Arc
2. Arch
3. Ascender
4. Baseline
5. Beaded

6. Beard
7. Blunt
8. Body
9. Bowl
10. Buckle/Buckleknot
11. Descender

12. Diacritic
13. Ending
14. Eye/Eyelet/Eyeloop
15. Foot
16. Habit
17. Hesitation

18. Hook
19. Hump
20. Knob
21. Ligature/ connection/ ductus
22. Long letter
23. Loop

24. Majuscule
25. Miniscule
26. Movement impulses
27. Patching
28. Penlift
29. Retrace/Retracing

30. Shoulder
31. Spur
32. Staff
33. Tick
34. Tremor
35. Whirl

36. Linear letters
37. Double-length letters

Handwriting Characteristics
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Illustrate the following bases of handwriting identification three times using your first name,
middle name, and last name.
1. Slope or slant
a. Slanting to the left
b. Slanting to the right
2. Alignment
a. Ascending
b. Descending
c. Even

d. Arched
e. Irregular
3. Ratio of Writing
a. Irregular ratio
b. Regular ratio
4. Size of Writing
a. Large/Tall
b. Medium

c. Regular
5. Stroke structure
a. Long and short hook
b. Rounded top of the humps
c. Deep valley between the humps
d. Blunt initial stroke
e. Blunt terminal stroke

f. Tapered/Flying initial stroke
g. Tapered/Flying terminal stroke
h. Embellishments
i. Spur
6. Pen pressure
a. Light
b. Medium

c. Heavy
d. Even
7. Tracing
8. Line quality in Writing
9. Speed in Handwriting
10. Lateral Spacing

11. Hesitation
12. Tremors
13. Pen Lift
14. Hiatus
15. Terminal Spur
16. Connecting Strokes

Early Forms of Copybook I
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Copy the following early forms of copybook system.
Spencerian Script
Capital Letters
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Small Letters
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

Numbers
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Palmer Method
Capital Letters
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Small Letters
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

Numbers
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
D’Nealian Style Manuscript Font
Capital Letters
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Small Letters
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

D’Nealian Style Cursive Font
Capital Letters
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Small Letters
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Early Forms of Copybook II
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Write the paragraph below according to the early form of copybook system indicated.
“The school copybook form is the standard of handwriting instruction taught in a particular school.
Classes of copybook depend on the standard copy adopted by a writer. Spencerian Script is a script
style that flourished in the United States from 1850 to 1895. The Palmer Method was commonly used in
the United States prior to 1980. The D’ Nealian Copybook was commonly used in the United States
since 1980.”
Spencerian Script
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Palmer Method
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
D’Nealian Style Manuscript Font
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
D’Nealian Style Cursive Font
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________

Handwriting Comparison
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Compare the first group of words below and write the corresponding letters to the second
group of letters where the handwriting is a match.
A _____
B _____
C _____
D _____
E _____
F _____
G _____
H _____
I _____
J _____

Graphology
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Write the phrase/word/letters on the left side according to the descriptions on the right side.

Standards
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Draw the following.
Standard
Exemplar

Sample
Collected Standards

Do’s and Don’ts for Collecting Standards
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Illustrate the following do’s and don’ts for collecting standards
Do’s
1. Do obtain sufficient handwriting exemplars of at least 20 to 25 signatures or four to five pages
of handwriting or hand printing.
2. Do collect like samples of hand printing with hand printing, ink signatures with ink signatures,
lined paper with lined paper, same size with same size.

with contracts.
DON’TS
3. Don’t rely on documents recently written if the comparison questioned documents were written
many years ago.
writing.

Standards
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Draw the following.
Standard
Exemplar

Sample
Collected Standards

Do’s and Don’ts for Collecting Standards
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Illustrate the following do’s and don’ts for collecting standards
Do’s
5. Do obtain sufficient handwriting exemplars of at least 20 to 25 signatures or four to five pages
of handwriting or hand printing.
6. Do collect like samples of hand printing with hand printing, ink signatures with ink signatures,
lined paper with lined paper, same size with same size.

with contracts.
DON’TS
7. Don’t rely on documents recently written if the comparison questioned documents were written
many years ago.
writing.

Sources of Signatures Written in the Course of Daily Affairs
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Illustrate the different sources of signatures written in the course of daily affairs.

Legal Aspects of Standard Writing
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer the following questions regarding the legal aspects of standard writing.
What are the standard writings which are admissible for comparison purposes?
___________________________ ___________________________ __________________________
___________________________ ___________________________ __________________________
___________________________ ___________________________ __________________________
What is/are the rule/s on standard writing that are witnessed?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
What is/are the rule/s on familiarity as a basis of declaring a document as standard?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________

Instruments and Equipment in Forensic Document Examination
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Draw and describe the following instruments and equipments in Forensic Document
Examination.
Optical Aids
Microscope Magnifying glass Stereoscopic microscope
____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________
Duplicating Device
Camera
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________

Measuring Devices
Protractor Ruler Gauge
____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________
Grid Typewriting test plate
____________________________ ____________________________

Kinds of Signatures
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: This is a group exercise. Group yourselves into four and illustrate the different Types of
Guided Signatures. The owner of this laboratory exercise should always be the person being guided in guided
hand, and the person being assisted in assisted hand. The other group members should always be the one
giving guidance in guided hand, and giving assistance in assisted hand. One item is dedicated to one member
of the group giving guidance and assistance.
1. Name of the person being guided and assisted: _____________________________________

Name of the person giving guidance and assistance: _________________________________
Guided Hand Assisted Hand
2. Name of the person being guided and assisted: ___________________________________

Name of the person giving guidance and assistance: _______________________________
3. Name of the person being guided and assisted: ___________________________________

Name of the person giving guidance and assistance: _______________________________

Types of Signatures
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Illustrate your own signature according to its type.
Formal Signature
Informal Signature
Careless Scribble

Methods of Forging
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Create the following signature using the different methods of forging.
Model Signature:
Simple Forgery Simulated Forgery
________________________________ ___________________________________
Model Signature:
Simple Forgery Simulated Forgery
________________________________ ___________________________________

You may cut/trace these:

Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Create your own model signature. Create the following classes of forged signature using
your model signature.
Model signature:
Simulated or Freehand Imitation Forgery using Direct Technique
Simulated or Freehand Imitation Forgery using Indirect Technique

Traced Forgery (Direct Tracing)
Traced Forgery (Indirect Tracing)
Traced Forgery Using Carbon Process
Traced Forgery Using Indentation Process

Traced Forgery Using Transmitted Light Process
Spurious Signature

Indications of Simulated and Traced Forgeries
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Illustrate the following indications of simulated forgeries. Use an arrow or a circle to indicate
the part you are specifically pertaining to.
1. Tremulous and broken connecting strokes between letters, indicating points at which the writer
has temporarily 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 beginnings and endings
7. Placement of diacritical marks just over the stem of letters
8. Absence of spontaneity- lack of smoothness of letters

9. Restrained writing- there is lack of freedom inhibited movements. It gives the impression that
every stroke is made with great difficulty. This writing is small.
10. No variation

Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Make a timeline on the evolution of typewriters.
Year
________________________________________________________________________________
Significant
Event
Year
________________________________________________________________________________
Significant
Event
Year
________________________________________________________________________________
Significant
Event
Year
________________________________________________________________________________
Significant
Event
Year
________________________________________________________________________________
Significant
Event
Year
________________________________________________________________________________
Significant
Event
Year
________________________________________________________________________________
Significant
Event
Year
________________________________________________________________________________
Significant
Event
Year
________________________________________________________________________________
Significant
Event
Year
________________________________________________________________________________
Significant
Event
Year
________________________________________________________________________________
Significant
Event
Year
________________________________________________________________________________
Significant
Event
Year
________________________________________________________________________________
Significant
Event
Year
________________________________________________________________________________
Significant
Event

Classification of Typewriters Based on Letter Designs
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Illustrate the following typewriting letter designs.
W-1- central peak is the same W-2- same with w-1 but has no W-3- central joining is below the
height as top of the outside central serif two central diagonals join the
stroke and is capped by a serif. sides well above the base of the
letter.
T crossbar is longer on the right T crossbar is longer on the left T crossbar is equidistant on
each side
Small G upper oval is smaller Small G upper oval the same in Small R right arm is long with
than the lower oval. shape than the lower oval. very small curve at its end
Small R right arm is a long right Small R right arm is short with Small R right arm is short with
arm with full curve at the end its curve moderate its curve full

Small letter y lower stroke has a Small letter y lower stroke has a Small letter y lower strokes
broad turn which forms a very deep full curve which clearly sharply upward like forming a
shallow trough. curves rightward. narrow trough
Small letter i center of the dot is Small letter i center of the dot is Upper and Lower Strokes of
set aligned with the central line set off to the left of the central Capital Letter “E” maybe equal
of the vertical shaft. line of the vertical shaft
Upper and Lower Strokes of Upper and Lower Strokes of Upper and Lower Strokes of
Capital Letter “E” bottom stroke Capital Letter “E” serif vertical Capital Letter “E” serif oblique
maybe longer than the upper
stroke.
The comma tail may extend to The comma tail may extend
the left of the dot very slightly to the left of the dot

Typewriter
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Identify all of the parts of a typewriter in the image below. Put an arrow to indicate the part
you are referring to.

Typewriting Identification I
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer the following questions regarding typewriting identification?
What things are determined in typewriting identification?

________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
How do you obtain typewriting exemplars?

________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Typewriting Identification II
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: The following are words typewritten during March and October. Write the words on the box
according to the respective month it was written.
Words created in March Words created in October

Typewriting Identification III
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Assign a number for each character. 2. Determine what letters are produced by the same
typewriter and what letters are produced by another by writing their assigned number.
Caapital Letters
Letter Letters made by one typewriter Letters made by another typewriter

A
B
C
D
E
H
I
K
L
M
N
O
R
S
T
U

Capital and Small Letters, Numbers, and Punctuation Marks
Letter Letters made by one typewriter Letters made by another typewriter

A 68
H
K
M
O
a
c
e
g
h
i
l
n
o
r
s
t
u
w
y
1
5
6
8
,

Kinds of Alteration
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Write the statement below in each box. Use the statement to illustrate the respective kind of
alteration. Encircle the alteration you made.
“Alteration means an act purposely done on an instrument by a party thereto or one

beneficially interested therein which effects a change in the sense or language of the
instrument.”
Interlineation
Superimposition
Erasure
Obliteration

Crimes Against Public Interest
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer the following questions about crimes against public interest.
What are the crimes against public interest?

____________________________________ ____________________________________
____________________________________ ____________________________________
____________________________________ ____________________________________
____________________________________ ____________________________________
____________________________________ ____________________________________
____________________________________ ____________________________________
____________________________________ ____________________________________
____________________________________ ____________________________________
____________________________________ ____________________________________
____________________________________ ____________________________________
____________________________________ ____________________________________
____________________________________ ____________________________________
____________________________________ ____________________________________
____________________________________ ____________________________________
____________________________________ ____________________________________
What are the penalties for the following Articles of the Revised Penal Code?
Art. 171
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Art. 172.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
How is forgery committed according to the Revised Penal Code?

________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

Designs of the New Generation Currency Notes
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Illustrate and label the designs of the following NGC notes.
20-piso Obverse
20-piso Reverse
50-piso Obverse

50-piso Reverse
100-piso Obverse
100-piso Reverse

200-piso Obverse
200-piso Reverse
500-piso Obverse

500-piso Reverse
1000-piso Obverse
1000-piso Reverse

Level I Security Features Philippine Bank Notes
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Illustrate and label the level I security features using 50-piso NGC Note and 1000-piso NGC
Note.
50-piso Obverse
50-piso Reverse

1000-piso Obverse
1000-piso Reverse


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Questioned Document

LE S LI E G E CHE LLE B. DE LA CRUZ, RCRI M, LP T, MS CJ

Forensic Science- is the application of scientific techniques and principles in order to

3. Handwriting P3,500 10 working • 4 copies of letter request

It can compromise the forensic

Platt Rogers Spencer- whose name

Habits are those elements of handwriting

The physical writing condition and position of the person including

Transitory changes are those changes

Fraudulent- the origin is not what it is presented to be.

3. Give subject to help or suggestions in completing specimen checks.

Questioned Document Examination Laboratory Manual

Laboratory Exercise No. Title

Questioned Document Examination Laboratory Manual

What is the definition of a document based on People v Moreno, CA 338 OG 119?

What is the definition of a document based on People v Nillosquin, CA 48 OG 4453?

Based on People v Camacho, 44 Phil 484, what is not considered as a document?

Based on People v Santiago, CA 48 OG 4558, what is not considered as a document?

Based on People v Agnis, 47 Phil 945, what is not considered as a document?

Questioned Document Examination Laboratory Manual

What is the definition of a Public Document based on US v Asensi, 34 Phil 765?

What is the definition of an Official Document based on US v Asensi, 34 Phil 765?

What is the definition of a Private Document based on US v Orera, 11 Phil 596?

What is the definition of a Commercial Document based on People v Co Beng, 1913?

Questioned Document Examination Laboratory Manual

Questioned Document Examination Laboratory Manual

Questioned Document Examination Laboratory Manual

Questioned Document Examination Laboratory Manual

“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”

Questioned Document Examination Laboratory Manual

Questioned Document Examination Laboratory Manual

Questioned Document Examination Laboratory Manual

Questioned Document Examination Laboratory Manual

Questioned Document Examination Laboratory Manual

Questioned Document Examination Laboratory Manual

21. Ligature/ connection/ ductus

22. Long letter

Questioned Document Examination Laboratory Manual

26. Movement impulses

Questioned Document Examination Laboratory Manual

Questioned Document Examination Laboratory Manual

37. Double-length letters

Questioned Document Examination Laboratory Manual

b. Slanting to the right

Questioned Document Examination Laboratory Manual

Questioned Document Examination Laboratory Manual

b. Rounded top of the humps

c. Deep valley between the humps

d. Blunt initial stroke

e. Blunt terminal stroke

Questioned Document Examination Laboratory Manual

g. Tapered/Flying terminal stroke

Questioned Document Examination Laboratory Manual

8. Line quality in Writing

10. Lateral Spacing

Questioned Document Examination Laboratory Manual

13. Pen Lift

15. Terminal Spur

16. Connecting Strokes

_____________ _ ______________

_____________ _ ______________

_____________ _ ______________