Basically, a Questioned Document refers to any signature, handwriting, typewriting whose source or authenticity is in dispute or doubtful. I am an Independent Questioned Documents and Handwriting Expert. Examination Services. Questioned Documents: Document Analysis: Forensic Handwriting Expert: Handwriting Analyst: Forgery: Past Cases: About Us: Past Forensic Document Analysis Cases . Invisible evidence can also be revealed by examining a page for the presence of indented impressions of handwriting, that have been created on the pages below while the page that is being written out is resting on top of the other pages. A document is said to be questioned if its origin, contents, authorship, etc arouse suspicion as to it genuineness. Expert forensic analysts closely examine individual characteristics on a microscopic level to identify criminals and verify document authenticity. “questioned#documents,”isfrequently#associated#with#white?collar#crimes# such#ascheck#fraud;#however,#in#practice,#thisarea#of#forensic#science#can#be# used#ina#wide#array#of#cases#from#medical#malpractice#toart#forgeries#to homicides.# Armed#with#sophisticated#technology,#forensic#document#examiners#can# peer#into#the#visible#and#invisible#marks#ona#document… Forensic Document Examination or Questioned Document Examination involves the scientific examination of suspicious documents. As well as the content of the document, examiners will analyse the paper and inks used. It can simply be defined as any document that may be disputed or queried, especially as to its source and/or authenticity, is a questioned document. Our lead Forensic Document Examiner, Kate Strzelczyk, has given expert witness evidence on behalf of both the prosecution and the defence at a number of Crown and Magistrates' courts across the UK. Questioned documents include letters, cheques, driver license, passbooks, passport, wills, suicide notes, threatening letters, marks/symbols on walls, windows, doors, etc. Case Studies. 25th March, 2020. Many questioned document cases are proven on evidence other than handwriting examination. Case law regarding Questioned Document Examination (QDE) ... Several skills in questioned document were involved besides handwriting identification, which appears to be incidental and only supportive of the writer’s own testimony. In today's financial crisis and with the growing number of cases of identity theft and fraud, individuals need to protect their personal identity information more than ever. Case Studies. £11.08 £ 11. Forensic document analysis is the scientific study of handwriting, signatures, typed, printed or photocopied information, and can involve the examination of partial characters for the presence of alterations, paragraphs of text for insertions, through to whole bound volumes for added pages or to detect forgeries. A questioned document investigation is an in-depth look into a document that is being questioned in the case of fraud, forgery, etc. If police think that a document is suspicious, they call in a section of the forensic team called 'Questioned Document Examiners'. A state of the art forensic laboratory and an experienced expert witness. Sir Winston Churchill Forgeries. Where official paperwork needs to be verified, our expert will study microscopic features of the inks and paper to determine whether the documents are genuine. whose credibility is in question in a court of law. If you have a document that has been called into question, or paperwork which bears a suspicious signature, it may reveal crucial forensic evidence when examined by a trained professional. Forensic science - Forensic science - Questioned-document analysis: Questioned-document analysis involves a number of areas of forensic inquiry. Case Studies. As a matter of fact, preliminary examination is the key to the final result. During this time I examined documents and handwriting in thousands of cases, wrote hundreds of Reports and gave evidence in Court on countless occasions. Cases involving questioned handwriting or signatures may include items such as wills, threat letters, cheques, company accounts, job applications and letters of reference, contracts of sale, marriage or divorce papers, invoices, insurance paperwork, bank account applications and graffiti. They will also undergo mock expert witness cross examinations and accompany colleagues to court hearings. Document examiners examine 3 basic components of a dubious document – signature, handwriting, and typewriting. StocktonPugh Innovation Centre York Science Park Heslington York YO10 5DG. It is a precise science that looks at scientific methods of examining a document for a criminal investigation. 25th March, 2020. Your solicitor will need to include a covering letter formally instructing our expert, together with the items for examination. The writing may not even be on paper such as the case of graffiti, we still refer to … The easy availability and interface of photo editing software have made editing/altering typewritten documents an effortless task for unscrupulous agents. INTRODUCTION SINCE its invention in 1868, the typewriter has become almost indispensable for transacting business affairs.' For example, a person may commit murder and forge a suicide note. Document Examination. 1109, 801 N.E.2d 802, 2003 Mass. Questioned document examination (QDE) is known by many names including forensic document examination, ... but most of the forensic document examiners inspect the whole document. Our lead Forensic Document Examiner, Kate Strzelczyk, has given expert witness evidence on behalf of both the prosecution and the defence at a number of Crown and Magistrates' courts across the UK. Examination Services. In this case handwritten entries, including those of one of the alleged witnesses to the will, were matched with a high degree of probability to samples of his son's handwriting. Over this time they will practice with mock cases and shadow the real case work of a mentor; they will continue to be supervised with real cases until their senior practitioners are satisfied with their scientific observations, analyses, findings and final strength of opinion levels reached. Whether your case revolves around a questioned signature, handwriting analysis, anonymous writing or a possible forged document we are here to help. High Court, Dublin. I was employed and trained by Grampian Police for 13 years. On a daily basis, document examiners are faced with a multitude of questioned-document problems. A4 Document File Business Briefcase Bag Portable Black Filing Folder Waterproof Zipper Tot Expanding Wallet Laptop Notebook Handbag Men Storage Organiser Large Capacity Case with Handle. Kate was a member of the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners for a number of years, for which members regularly had their forensic casework peer reviewed, before it was disbanded in 2009. document case usually is the consult- ing of an attorney and an expert. Although questioned documents examiners are often referred to in the media as “handwriting experts”, they frequently examine evidence with no hand writing at all. Document Examination Ireland provides questioned document expertise to the legal community, companies and private individuals. Signature comparisons / forgery. Your solicitor can then contact us, either by e-mail, post or phone to discuss the best way to submit your case. 25th March, 2020. It may be only part of the document is questioned such as a signature. Such evidence may link documents or suspects, indicate the age of a document, detect alterations or discover re-written paragraphs or pages in existing documents such as tenancy agreements or police statements. The following cases provide some guidelines on how the courts have decided on the particular facts in each case. Cases involving internal company investigations or family disputes can also be examined on behalf of private corporations and members of the public. A collection of personal handwritten notes were found in his possession which described several of crimes in detail and were linked conclusively to his handwriting samples. She was also an assistant to the late Mr Hall, who was the lead forensic document examiner involved in the Harold Shipman Enquiry. Guilty of Murder in the absence of a body. Commonwealth v Murphy, 59 MA App Ct 571, 797 NE 2 394, 2003 MA App LEXIS 1096 (Ap Ct MA 2003); review denied, 440 Mass. Handling of Questioned Documents The improper or careless handling of a questioned document can compromise the examination and hence forth the entire case. Questioned document examination (QDE) is a forensic science discipline pertaining to documents that are potentially disputed in a court of law. The main focus of forensic document examination casework is the study and comparison of questioned handwriting and signatures. Anonymous Letters – Central Criminal Court Old Bailey. Today, it’s forensic science 101. The Mark Hofmann forgeries and murders (1980-84) The Hitler Diaries (1983) The Paul Jennings Hill murders (1994) The Howland will forgery trial (1868) The JonBenét Ramsey murder (1996) The … Forensic Document How We Help. The most common cases, for example, involve forged checks, forged wills, graffiti, credit-card fraud, leases, deeds, contracts to purchase items—including homes, cars, and businesses—mortgage fraud, disguised writing, and poison-pen letters (hate letters). Previous cases include benefit fraud investigation work for the Department of Work and Pensions, prosecution work involving handwriting, signatures, altered and forged documents for many of the police forces across the UK and in Scotland, handwriting analysis for the NHS which included the comparison of job application form handwriting to the associated references, case work for local councils, graffiti authorship identification for the British Transport Police and signature analysis for the military police. Chromatography is one of several techniques that can be used with ink. THE IMPORTANCE OF PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENT. Some of the common cases of documents subjected to questioned document analysis are bank drafts, checks, wills, suicide … If you have a forensic document query, please contact us on 07583 019421 or seek the advice of a trained solicitor who will advise you on the legal issues of your case. Impressions can sometimes be recovered several pages below the one written out, and can survive for well over 30 years. Cases frequently involve handwriting comparisons, typewriting comparisons, physical alterations to a document, and many variations on these themes. Contested wills, business contracts, sales receipts, company paperwork and items of personal correspondence can all be analyzed to determine a signature's authenticity. She also presented crucial forensic document evidence regarding the forgery of a multimillionaires signature on a will in the case of the late Mr Swanston in 2008 at Reading Crown Court. For example, in 1928 there was a famous case known as the Duke "Lost Heirs Case" which was tried in Somerville, NJ. ESDA examination for indented impressions. Documents play an important part in solving crimes. A questioned document is any signature, handwriting, symbol, typewriting, painting, etc. Most cases can be completed within the 3 hour retainer fee of $900.00, including a full forensic report . Items such as passports, bank notes, degree certificates, celebrity signatures, tickets, driver's licences and other certification can all be sent in for analysis.>, For free phone advice call now on 07583 019421, Document Analysis Forensics | Handwriting Analysis Signatures | Forensic Handwriting Analysis |. Working with questioned documents goes far beyond identity theft, though. A questioned document examiner examines documents in cases where foul play is suspected. Please also refer to our guidelines on how to submit a case to ensure that your paperwork is packaged correctly and dispatched to us safely. As a result, lawyers have come to depend to a great extent upon … Kate has examined thousands of cases involving disputed documents in the UK and Ireland, for both the prosecution and defence, and also as a single joint expert witness. In most cases, protocol for handling document evidence is known and expected to follow. This is an example where a document is produced directly as a fundamental part of a crime. It is an apprenticeship field, requiring years of practice and work with an experienced examiner. The original document will need to be examined microscopically and then compared to known sample material from the suspects in the case. The FBI Questioned Documents Unit may be best known for handwriting analysis. Forensic Document A questioned document is any document that is potentially disputed in the court of law. Case Studies. This investigation started with the analysis of a single signature on a disputed will in the name of Mrs Kathleen Grundy, which, together with other forensic evidence, led to the conviction of the UK’s most prolific serial killer of our time. Unusual cases have included the matching of printer defects on a series of forged £20 banknotes, the analysis of handwritten drug payment lists, the authentication of immigration and identity documents and the reconstruction of damaged documents. Handwriting Comparison & Questioned Document Examination. Cases are won or lost not go much so in the court room but in the attorney’s or document expert’s office at the time of presenting and discussing the result of the preliminary examination. The Questioned Documents Unit (QDU) provides forensic support to the FBI and federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies by conducting forensic … The methods of questioned document analysis vary as per the different types of questioned documents. FREE Delivery. A Questioned Document can be Some document examiners are involved with chemical testing of documents, while others concentrate on physical and mechanical testing. Other options New from £11.07. Forensic Document Examiner is a small but efficient company for scientifically examining forensic documents in the UK. Dorothy Allan, Louise Floate and Karen Caramiello are highly experienced forensic scientists who are experts in: Handwriting comparison / analysis. Paperwork may bear suspect date entries or amounts in figures or words, such as those found on financial documents. It may also be necessary to examine writing samples from the victim of a crime in order to authenticate their writing or exclude them from possible authorship, depending on the circumstances of the case. Winsor C. Moore* I. Additional evidence in the form of recovered indented impressions using the ESDA technique was recovered by Kate, which revealed a number of practice attempts at the forged signature whilst resting on the contested will. Historical cases. The numerous criminals suspected, caught and convicted based on nothing more than a writing sample or a single strand of hair is astounding, a number that will continue growing. All three experts worked at the Forensic Science Service (FSS) for over 25 years where … Premier Stationery Premier Depot Foolscap Expanding Document Case with 26 Pocket. I am an expert in handwriting and questioned document evidence and have been a forensic scientist since 1982. Questioned Document Examination The Clifford Irving Case Early in 1972 a Federal Grand Jury heard the testimony of a Questioned Document Examiner from the Crime Laboratory of the U.S. 08 £11.53 £11.53. Ink analysis can also reveal evidence of alterations or additions to word or amount entries, or the insertion of sentences or paragraphs of text where a different ink formulation has been used. It turns out there are a group of specialists called Questioned Document Examiners whose job it is to tackle tasks such as examining handwriting in suspected forgery cases and examining altered or fake documents. The most familiar area of questioned-document examination is handwriting analysis. For free phone advice call now on 07583 019421, Document Analysis Forensics | Handwriting Analysis Signatures | Forensic Handwriting Analysis |. Simple examination techniques may reveal alterations made in a different ink or by a different individual's handwriting. Postal Inspection Service regarding questioned documents allegedly written by Howard R. Hughes. A forensic scientist specializing in questioned documents usually work cases involving alleged forgery, blackmail, kidnapping and death threats. Cases involving questioned handwriting or signatures may include items such as wills, threat letters, cheques, company accounts, job applications and letters of reference, contracts of sale, marriage or divorce papers, invoices, insurance paperwork, bank account applications and graffiti. A family Bible was introduced inscribed with the birth dates of children of the family. Other techniques employed include the reading of carbon film typewriter ribbons, the reconstruction of torn or shredded documents, the enhancement of faded inks on old documentation and the recovery of obliterated and overwritten entries. Questioned documents are often important in other contexts simply because documents are used in so many contexts and for so many purposes. This field is separate from forensic graphology that analyzes the handwriting to determine the culprit. 25th March, 2020. Please remember that wherever possible our expert will need to examine the original versions of all paperwork, rather than copy documents, to obtain the best evidence possible in your case. Often expert reports are read to the court and occasionally experts are required to attend court to present their own evidence and answer questions in person. 4.6 out of 5 stars 17. A court-worthy report is then prepared which can be used as expert witness evidence in a court of law. She has also worked on the handwriting evidence and submitted forensic reports in the Robert Napper trial in the case of Rachel Nickell, who was murdered on Wimbledon common in 1992. Forensic document examiners, or questioned document examiners, are called upon to find forged and non-genuine signatures and documents in criminal cases. A forensic document examiner studies documentation which is suspected of being forged or counterfeit in order to present their findings in a legal context. I previously worked for the FSS, and in private practice, and have specialised in the field of handwriting and documents examination since 1992. Established 1995 A questioned document is a document whose authenticity is being questioned also called a suspect document. the rudiments of a questioned document case, suggesting some of the more apparent indications of irregularity and forgery, and the steps to be taken in preparation of the case. Our primary scientist, Kate Strzelczyk BSc (Hons), MSc, RFP is one of the few experienced and accomplished Forensic Document Examiners available in the UK to scientifically assess the validity and authenticity of a document. Experts should be qualified to degree or ideally postgraduate degree level in science, and have completed two years in-house training as a trainee document examiner at a recognized forensic laboratory.