Crucial Information About Forensic Document Examination
A Forensic Document Examiner is a person who has received the proper education and analyzes documentary proof to determine authenticity or origin. They are a crucial part of the success of the forensic science community. An FDE’s main responsibility is examining typed, printed, or written documents using scientific equipment and methodologies. Their essential duties go beyond assessing various documents; they also prepare demonstrative exhibits, write professional reports, and give their opinions concerning the documents being analyzed. This implies they appear in court proceedings if the matter goes to trial. A successful FDE will work on the proof following recognized practices and standards, being able to write as well as explain his findings to non-professionals in a relatable, professional way.
Why and When to Work with a Forensic Document Examiner
Questioned document examination
Examinations done by FDEs are multi-faceted and cover several areas, for example, signatures, indented impressions, paper, evidence of alterations, security and identity documents, and printing processes. Most examinations compare a questioned document to recognized standards for authentication. Original documents are taken for the examiner to evaluate as much info as possible. If originals aren’t available, high-quality copies could be utilized depending on the case. Scrutiny, comparison and the assessment of the characteristics the examiner observes will be noted and weighty findings will get produced in a statement with descriptive exhibits. Working in a non-destructive setting, examiners will safeguard the documents obtained by ascertaining the integrity of the pieces received.
Perform evidence examination
There are various kinds of evidence an FDE examines, for example, loan and bank documents, contracts, checks, wills, deeds, and others. It is important for an FDE to excel in scrutinizing all sorts of documentary proof to better serve the customers who hire them.
Handwritten evidence
Most FDEs analyze handwritten evidence. Signatures are the most usual form of evidence that requires to get analyzed. Particularly, the court often questions the authenticity and authorship of a written letter or signature. Other handwritten pieces of evidence are contracts, deeds, and wills. FDEs also examine other critical documents, including medical charts to establish authorship of handwritten items or dating concerns about when the item was produced. They also compare suspected handwriting to known suspects on timesheets, tax returns, checks, and anonymous correspondence.
Typed evidence
An FDE may also help with a suspected document that was produced with a typewriter. An expert FDE might be able to identify the model of the typewriter that was used to make the suspected document. Some typewriters develop a matchless set of characteristics that assist the FDE identify which model produced the typewritten text. Other analyses include identifying ribbons, ink, and font type. FDEs can also know if any erasures and alterations were perceived on the typewritten item.
Detecting forged signatures
Examining the signature of a suspect on a document is a common request that FDEs receive. Determining whether the signature is genuine or not needs careful analysis of many elements of the signature, for example, line quality, height relationships, size, speed, and letter formations. Since signatures are the most common kind of forgery, suspicious signature cases appear in the verification of contested deeds and wills, checks, employment contracts, and sports memorabilia.