FORENSIC EXAMINATION OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS
Preet Kumar, Anmol Deshmukh, Priya Sharma, Deepika Bhandari · 2023
Forensic science integrates the fundamental principles of basic sciences and employs diverse analytical techniques to address issues related to investigation, analysis, and examination, thereby contributing to the justice system. Forensic science has formulated its own set of principles, drawing from various scientific disciplines to establish its foundation. These principles are of utmost significance. Within the legal framework, documents hold a crucial and urgent role in people's lives. Notably, instances of crime typically involve some form of document containing valuable evidence and clues. Document examination stands as one of the most challenging fields within forensic science when it comes to assessing evidence. With the emergence of technology and advanced tools, the creation of fraudulent and counterfeit documents has increased dramatically. Documents reflect individuals, their intentions, words, and actions, and they are encountered frequently in daily life. A document refers to any material carrying symbols, marks, or signs that convey meaning. While the majority of documents are handwritten or produced using printing devices, documents can take various forms, such as wills on wood or signs on various surfaces. Among these, a subset known as "Questioned Documents" is particularly interesting. These documents, while numerous, constitute a small portion of the whole. A "Questioned Document" refers to one whose source, authenticity, or genuineness is uncertain, doubted, or suspected of being fake. It's important to note that not all questioned documents are fraudulent, and not all serve as instruments of crime, but some do raise serious doubts.The study of questioned documents as a scientific discipline began with Albert Osborn. He established foundational principles of document examination that gained recognition as valid scientific evidence in courts of law. Questioned document examination, as a forensic discipline, deals with documents that raise doubts in legal proceedings. Handwriting analysis is a crucial component of this field, involving the comparison of handwritten samples based on the principle of recognition. Document examination holds a significant role within forensic sciences, particularly in legal proceedings involving criminal or civil matters. This field encompasses diverse activities, ranging from birth and death certificates to financial transactions and identification documents. Different materials used to create documents, including paper, ink, and writing instruments, are important considerations from a forensic perspective. The unavoidable engagement of documents in an individual's life results in the continuous influx of cases involving questioned documents into forensic science laboratories. Document analysis encompasses the scrutiny of diverse types of issues related to questioned documents across all forensic dimensions. This includes tasks such as identifying handwriting, typewriting, printed content, seals, and stamp impressions. Moreover, it involves uncovering and interpreting erasures, modifications, overwritings, additions, obliterations, establishing the sequence of strokes, determining document age, and more. The documents subject to examination come in various forms, such as bank drafts, checks, receipts, wills, affidavits, bail bonds, lottery tickets, anonymous or ransom letters, answer sheets from different exams, suicide notes, agreements, passports, currency notes, skin tattoo markings, and even unconventional surfaces like walls, doors, and cloth. In the rapidly evolving contemporary society, wrongdoers or counterfeiters are becoming increasingly astute and sophisticated as time progresses. Offenses or falsifications that revolve around any form of documentation fall within the realm of white-collar crimes. White-collar crimes encompass various categories such as banking frauds, fraudulent activities involving credit or debit cards, the production of counterfeit currency notes, the fabrication of diverse documents like wills, checks, deeds, property documents, suicide notes, menacing letters, and more. These sorts of instances are managed by forensic experts specializing in questioned document examination. This chapter aims to build a thorough understanding of the Questioned Documents for its readers and validate the never-ending scope of one of the branches of forensic science.