QUESTIONED DOCUMENT

MODULE 3

Title: Questioned Document

Course : Criminal Investigation
Course
 Introduction:
Questioned document is a crucial
part of an investigation of crime
incident which a diligent and
skilled investigator needs an effort
to gather as potential evidence.
Learning Goal:
•This module aims to
provide the participants
working knowledge on how
to deal with the technical
and examination of question
document as part of
investigation.
Training Objective:
•At the end of the course the
participants will be able to:
1. Know the different definition
of terms used in this subject.
2. Know how to preserve, collect and
handle questioned document
specimen.
3.Know how to investigate and to
acquire documents as potential
evidence.
4. Know the comparison of genuine
and disputed documents.
SESSION
4.5.1 DEFINITION OF TERMS

A.DOCUMENT – any material which

contains mark, symbols or signs,
either visible or invisible, that may
presently or ultimately convey
meaning or message to someone.
A.QUESTIONED DOCUMENT –
any document about which
some issue have been raised or
under scrutiny with respect to
its genuineness and its origin.
4.5.2 CARE, PRESERVATION AND HANDLING
OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS

The improper or
careless handling of a
disputed document can
lead to serious
curtailment of certain
technical examinations.
DO’s
1. Keep documents unfolded
in protective envelope.
The most useful and effective
protective covering of a
disputed documents is a
transparent plastic envelop.
2. Take disputed papers to the
documents examiners
laboratory at the first
opportunity.

3. If storage is necessary,
keep the document in a dry
place away from excessive
heat and strong light.
4 Proper Storage

Once a document is disputed

it is seldom stored or filed for a
long, but important documents
should be kept properly for a
long period of time.
DONT‘s

1. Do not handle disputed

papers excessively or
carry them in a pocket for
along time.
Avoid Excessive Handling
Repeated handlings of a
document can actually wear-it
out. In this way a paper
becomes dirty, frayed, and
stained
2. Do not mark disputed
documents (either by
consciously writing or by
pointing at them with
writing instrument or
dividers).
3. Do not mutilate or
damage by repeated
refolding, creasing, cutting,
tearing or punching for
filing purposes.
4.Do not allow anyone except qualified
specialist to make chemical or other do
not treat or dust for latent fingerprints
before consulting a document examiner.
Do not allow “Amateur Testing”
 When possible, the charred
documents should be moved in the
container in which they all found.
4.5.3 TWO KINDS OF STANDARD
DOCUMENTS

1. Procured or Collected –
Those which are obtain from
Files of document executed in
the persons day to day business,
official, social or personal
activities.
2. Requested – Those which
are given or made upon the
request of an investigator for
purpose of making comparative
examination with the request
writing.
 Basic Points that Should be
Considered in Obtaining standard

a. Collected Standards

b. Requested Standards
a. Collected Standard.
1) Amount of writing standard.
2) Similarity of the subject Matter.
3) Relative dates of the standards
with the questioned matter.
4) Kinds of writing instrument and
paper used.
2. Requested Standard
1. Dictate to the writer never allows a
suspect to see the questioned
document.
2.Text must be carefully selected - do
not dictate the questioned
document exactly all its content.
3.Dictation must be at least 3.
4. Writing instrument and paper
should be similar.
5. Dictation must be interrupted as
interval so that the suspect will feel
relax and write his own natural
writing.
6.Normal writing condition should be
arranged so that the writer fells to
write the dictation.
 3. Typewriting Standard

1.Use of about the same size as the

questions materials, type out a full
word copy of the message in
question, typographical errors, using
as nearly as possible the same
degree of touch as that used in
typing the questioned materials.
2.Make certain that each specimen
contain the make, model and serial
number of the typewriter from
which it was produced as well as
the date and initials of the offices.
3.Typewriter specimen should be
taken from suspect typewriter (s).
It is usually not necessary to
forward the typewriter to the
laboratory it complete known
exemplars are obtained.
TYPEWRITING IDENTIFICATION
 TYPEWRITING IDENTIFICATION

Note the unique characteristic of the typed letter "u" (left)

from the questioned document, which matches the unique
characteristic of the "u" typewriter key (right) from the
typewriter seized during the investigation
4.5.4 Source of Standards
Writing is a part of the daily life,
practically everyone. Consequently,
the potential sources of writing
standards are numerous, and those
who frequently investigate
handwriting cases soon develop a
comprehensive list of sources of
standards.
4.5.5 Searching for Evidential
Documents Dictated and Collected

Searching for evidential

documents primarily is the
investigators responsibility.
1. Dictated Standard - As a rule
investigator secretly obtain
suspects handwriting.

2. Collected Standards-
Investigator simply collect
documents on suspects writing.
4.5.6 Handwriting Analysis.

WRITING – is the result of a very

complicated series of acts, being as a
whole a combination of certain
forms of visible mental and muscular
habits.
 Kinds of Writing:

Cursive – letters are connected

Script – letters are disconnected

Block – letters are all capitalized

Classes of Writing

1. System of Writing

The combination of the basis

design of letter and the writing
movement as taught in school
make up the writing system.
 2. Natural Writing
Any specimen of writing executed
normally without any attempt to
control or alter its identifying
habits and its usual quality of
execution is natural writing.
 3. Disguised writing
Writers deliberately try to alter
his usual writing habits in hopes
of hiding his identity.
4. Cursive writing
Writing in which the letters are
for the most part joined
together.
 4.5.7 Steps in the development of
Handwriting
1. When a person begins to learn the art
of Handwriting.
2. As the person progresses, focus the
execution of various letters.
3. The execution of letters after more
progress the subjective rind.
 4.5.8 ANALYSIS OF DISPUTED
SIGNATURE

SIGNATURE – is the name

of the person written by
himself on a document as a
sign of acknowledgment.
TWO (2) STYLES OF SIGNATURE

•Conventional type – signature

with readable letters.
•Highly individualized type –
unreadable letters or have an
Intertwining strokes.
Forgery – the act of simulating or
copying or tracing somebody’s
signature without the permission of
the former, for profit.

Refers to the falsification and

counterfeiting of treasury or bank notes
or any instruments payable to the
bearer or order.
Classes of Signatures

•Formal or complete – class of signature

used in acknowledging important
document such as will, checks, contract
and business papers.

•Informal or cursory – a class of

signature for routinary document or made
for personal correspondence.
Oblique Light Examination –Decipherment
of faded handwriting, determination of
outlines in traced forgery, embossed
impression,.
 INSTRUMENTS AND TECHNIQUES
IN THE EXAMINATION OF
QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS
1. Microscopic Examination–
Stereoscopic examination with
low and high power objectives
is used to detect retouching,
patching and unnatural pen lift
in signature analysis.
Stereoscopic Examination
 2. Transmitted Light Examination –
Documents are subjected to this type
of examination to determine the
presence of erasures.
4. Photographic Examination – This
type of examination is very essential in
every document examination
 4.5.9 EXAMINATION OF DOCUMENTS
SUSPECTED AND HAVE BEEN ALTERED

Kinds of alterations:
1. Erasure – removal of writing, type
writing from a document.
a. Mechanical erasure – the writing is
effaced with a rubber eraser or scratching
out with a knife or other sharp instrument
.

b. Chemical erasure – the writing is

effaced by the used of liquid ink
eradicator.
2. Obliteration – the blotting out or smearing
over of writing to make the original invisible
or undecipherable.

3.Addition – any matter made a part of

the document after its original
preparation.
4. Subtraction – any matter rubbed out, strike
out or scratched out after its original
preparation.
5. Interlineations – the term insertion
or interlineations
includes the addition of writing and
other material between lines or
paging or the addition of whole page
to a document.
6. Superimposition – after
accomplished by covering or
smearing over or overlaying
the original writing.
1. Ultra-Violet Examination
This type of examination is
done in a darkroom after the
lamp has been warmed up
in order to give a maximum
output of the ultra-violet
light.
1. Ultra-Violet Examination
2. Electrostatic Detection Apparatus –
Detects indention/ indented writings.
4. Video Spectral Comparator (VSC)
Used in the examination of
masked or obliterated text,
watermarks, visible fluorescence,
paper fluorescence and oblique
illumination of indented writing and
embossing
4.5.10 DETECTION OF COUNTERFEIT
MONETARY, PHILIPPINE CURRENCY
NOTES AND COINS

•STEPS IN RECOGNIZING GENUINE

BANGKO SENTRAL NG PILIPINAS (BSP)
NOTES:
 COUNTERFEIT DETECTION
STEPS IN RECOGNIZING GENUINE BSP
NOTES:
“Study and familiarize yourself
with the characteristics, designs
and distinct features of BSP
banknotes by following these
steps”:
 PAPER
1. Feel the paper - The
genuine note is printed on a
special kind of paper which is
rough when you run your
fingers thru it. It does not glow
under the ultra- violet light.
During paper manufacture, the
watermark, security fibers,
security threads and iridescent
are included.
STEPS IN RECOGNIZING GENUINE BSP NOTES
WATERMARK
Examine the watermark on the
unprinted portion of the note. The
water mark is silhouette of the portrait
appearing on the face of the note.
 STEPS IN RECOGNIZING GENUINE BSP
NOTES
 2. SECURITY FIBERS
Inspect the security fibers.
Embedded red and blue visible
fibers are scattered at random
on both surfaces of a genuine
note and can be readily picked.
 STEPS IN RECOGNIZING GENUINE BSP NOTES

3. EMBEDDED SECURITY THREAD

- View the embedded security thread
. The embedded security thread is a
special thread vertically implanted
off center of the note during paper
manufacture
 STEPS IN RECOGNIZING GENUINE BSP
NOTES
4. WINDOWED SECURITY THREAD
View the windowed security thread
on the improved version of the 100’s,
500’s, and 1000 notes and the new 200
notes. The windowed security thread is
a narrow security thread vertically
located like “stitches” at the face of the
note.
 STEPS IN RECOGNIZING GENUINE BSP
NOTES
IRRIDESCENT BAND
Find for the iridescent band on the
improve version of 100’s, 500’s and
1000 notes and the new 200 notes. A
wide glistening gold vertical stripe
with the numerical value printed
series.
 STEPS IN RECOGNIZING GENUINE BSP
NOTES
5. PORTRAIT
Recognize the portrait.
Appears life-like. The eyes
“sparkle”. Shadings are formed
by the lines that give the portrait
a characteristics facial expression
which is extremely difficult to
replicate.
PORTRAIT
 STEPS IN RECOGNIZING GENUINE BSP
NOTES
SERIAL NUMBER
Check the serial number.
Composed of 1 or 2 prefix letters
and 6 or 7 digits. The letters and
numerals are uniform in size and
thickness.
 STEPS IN RECOGNIZING GENUINE BSP
NOTES
BACKGROUND/ LACEWORK
DESIGN
Scan the background/
lacework design are made up of
multicolored and well defined
lines.
 STEPS IN RECOGNIZING GENUINE BSP
NOTES
VALUED PANEL
Check the numerals found
at the four corners of the front
and back of the note.
6. Fluorescent printing – look for
the presence of fluorescent print
when the note is exposed under
the ultra-violet light.
 STEPS IN RECOGNIZING GENUINE BSP
NOTES
MICROPRINTING (l)
Verify under the lens the
presence of the micro printing on
the denominations 50, 100, 200,
500, and 1000.
 STEPS IN RECOGNIZING GENUINE BSP NOTES
CONCEALED VALUE
Check the concealed value on the
500 piso denomination. This
concealed value is located at the
lower left corner of the face of the
note and is recognizable when the
note is held at the eye level
 STEPS IN RECOGNIZING GENUINE BSP
NOTES
VIGNETTE
Verify the vignette. The lines and
dashes composing the vignette
are fine, distinct and sharp; the
varying color tone gives a vivid
look to the picture.
100 PESO BILL (Version 1)
100 PESO BILL (Version 2)
 RECOGNIZING GENUINE FROM
COUNTERFEIT PESO NOTES
COLOR
- Have a polychrome
background with one
predominant color for each
denomination.
1000-peso BLUE 20-peso ORANGE
500-peso YELLOW 50-peso RED
100-peso MAUVE
 RECOGNIZING GENUINE FROM
COUNTERFEIT COINS
1. GENUINE COINS
Genuine coins below show an
even of metallic grains. The details
of the profile , the letterings and
numerals are of high relief that they
can be felt distinctly by running the
fingers on these features. The
readings are deep and even.
2. COUNTERFEIT COINS
Most counterfeit coins feel
greasy and appear slimy. The
letterings and numerals are low and
worn out due to lack of sharpness
and show signs of filing. The readings
are irregular and uneven.
 Written
examination
 Written examination

Test I – Definition of Terms

1. What is document?
2. What is questioned document?
3. What is procured document?
4. What is requested document?
5. What is Signature?
 Test II – True or False

Write true if the statement is (True) or

(False) if the statement is wrong.
1. Genuine coins lettering and numerals are
high of relief that can be felt distinctly
running the figure on the features and the
reading are deep and even.
2. Counterfeit coins (fake) are not feel
greasy and not appear slimy when you
run your finger on it.
3. Embedded security thread is a special
tread vertically planted off center of the
note during paper manufactured.

4. Windowed security thread is a narrow

security thread vertically located like
stitches at the face of the note.

5. The fluorescent printing is a visible

numeral value located off center of the
face of the note that glows when
exposed to ultra violet lights.
ANSWER
ANSWER
TEST I- Definition of Terms

1. Document- any material which contains

mark, symbols, or signed, either
visible or invisible that may present or
ultimately convey a meaning or
message to same on.
2. Question Document- any document
about which some issue have been
raised or under security with respect to its
genuineness and its origin.
3. Procured or Collective document- those
obtained from files or document executed
in the persons day to day business,
official, social or personnel activities.
4. Requested document make upon the
request of investigation for purposes of
comparative examination with the request
writing.
5. Signature- is the name of person written
by himself on a document as a sign of
acknowledge.
ANSWER
TEST II- TRUE OR FALSE

1. True
2. False
3. True
4. True
5. False