NCJ Number
61695
Journal
Identification News Volume: 29 Issue: 8 Dated: (AUGUST 1979) Pages: 4-7
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
METHODS OF DETERMINING A DOCUMENT'S AGE IN ORDER TO DECIDE IF IT IS GENUINE OR A FORGERY ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE INVESTIGATOR SHOULD FIRST INTERVIEW THE PEOPLE CONCERNED WITH THE DOCUMENT TO HEAR THE ALLEGED STORY SURROUNDING THE DOCUMENT'S PRODUCTION, HISTORY, AND DISCOVERY. AMONG QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED ARE THE TYPE OF WRITING INSTRUMENT USED AND THE PLACE WHERE THE DOCUMENT WAS FOUND. TO DETERMINE THE AGE OF THE PAPER, AN EXAMINATION OF ITS COMPOSITION, SIZING, SHAPE, COLOR, ODOR, EDGES, RULING, PRINTING, WATERMARK, AND WATERLINES SHOULD BE MADE USING PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL MEANS. BOTH METHODS USED AND RESULTS OBTAINED MUST BE EXPLAINED TO THE COURT IN ORDER FOR RESULTS TO BE ACCEPTED IN COURT. DIFFERENT TYPES OF WRITING INSTRUMENTS PRODUCE DIFFERING LETTERING CHARACTERISTICS. ONLY WIDE VARIATIONS IN INK AGES CAN BE POSITIVELY DETERMINED. HOWEVER, PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL TESTS CAN DETERMINE THE TYPE AND AGE OF THE INK. FEATHERING EDGES OF AN INK LINE INDICATE ERASURE BY CHEMICAL OR MECHANICAL MEANS. FOLDS IN THE DOCUMENT AS WELL AS SIMILARITIES OR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN OUTER AND INNER SURFACES SHOULD BE EXAMINED FOR EVIDENCE THAT THE DOCUMENT WAS FORGED. AN OLDER DOCUMENT'S ODOR SHOULD BE LIKE THAT OF ITS IMMEDIATE SURROUNDINGS BEFORE DISCOVERY. FINALLY, SIGNATURE CHARACTERISTICS INCLUDING OVERWRITING OR RETOUCHING AND PROXIMITY TO THE BODY OF THE DOCUMENT SHOULD BE CLOSELY EXAMINED. THE INVESTIGATOR SHOULD EXAMINE BOTH SIDES OF EACH PAGE OF A DOCUMENT, IN DAYLIGHT, IN ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, AND IN INFRARED LIGHT. (CFW)