Course Objectives

• This study helps in understanding nature of paper and some other characteristics of written as well printed document with respect to class and individual characteristics and helps to examine fraud cases.

Learning Outcomes

• The importance of examining questioned documents in crime cases.
• The tools required for examination of questioned documents.
• The significance of comparing handwriting samples.
• The importance of detecting frauds and forgeries by analyzing questioned documents.

Course Syllabus

MODULE I : NATURE AND SCOPE OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS

Definition of questioned documents. Types of questioned documents. Preliminary examination of documents. Basic tools needed for forensic documents’ examination – ultraviolet, visible, infrared and fluorescence spectroscopy, photomicrography, microphotography, visible spectral comparator, electrostatic detection apparatus. Determining the age and relative age of documents.

MODULE II : COMPARISON OF DOCUMENTS

Comparison of handwriting. Development of individuality in handwriting. Natural variations and fundamental divergences in handwritings. Class and individual characterstics. Merits and demerits of exemplar and non-exemplar samples during comparison of handwriting. Standards for comparison of handwriting. Comparison of paper, ink, printed documents, typed documents, Xeroxed documents.

MODULE III : FORGERIES

Alterations in documents, including erasures, additions, over-writings and obliterations.
Indented and invisible writings. Charred documents.
Examination of counterfeit Indian currency notes, passports, visas and stamp papers.
Disguised writing and anonymous letters.

Text Books:
1. O. Hilton, Scientific Examination of Questioned Documents, CRC Press, Boca Raton (1982)
2. E. David, The Scientific Examination of Documents – Methods and Techniques, 2nd Edition, Taylor & Francis, Hants (1997).

Reference Books:
1. A.A. Moenssens, J. Starrs, C.E. Henderson and F.E. Inbau, Scientific Evidence in Civil and Criminal Cases, 4th Edition, Foundation Press, New York (1995).
2. 3. R.N. Morris, Forensic Handwriting Identification: Fundamental Concepts and Principles, Academic Press, London (2000).

Session Plan

Session 1

Definition of questioned documents. Types of questioned documents.

Definition of documents and questioned documents.

Session 2

Preliminary examination of documents.

Document Examination

Preliminary examination

Session 3

Basic tools needed for forensic documents’ examination – ultraviolet, visible, infrared and fluorescence.

Basic tools for forensic documents examination

Session 4

photomicrography, microphotography,

Session 5

visible spectral comparator, electrostatic detection apparatus.

Session 6

Determining the age and relative age of documents.

Age of document

Session 7

Comparison of handwriting.

Session 8

Development of individuality in handwriting.

Session 9

Natural variations and fundamental divergences in handwritings.

Session 10

Class and individual characterstics.

Session 11

Merits and demerits of exemplar and non-exemplar samples during comparison of handwriting.

Session 12

Standards for comparison of handwriting.

Session 13

Comparison of paper, ink, printed documents,typed documents

Session 14

Examination of photocopied documents

Session 15

Alterations in documents, including erasures, additions, over-writings and obliterations.

Session 16

Indented writings

Session 17

invisible writings.

Session 18

Charred documents.

Charred-Documents

Session 19

Examination of counterfeit Indian currency notes

Session 20

Examination of passports,

Session 21

Examination of visas

Session 22

Examination of stamp papers.

Session 23

Disguised writing and anonymous letters.

Case Studies

Case Studies