Chapter 16 Notes Part 1 The Unabomber In 1978 a package was sent to a professor at Northwestern University It exploded when it was opened by a campus security officer The Unabomber This started a series of bombcontaining packages sent to universities and airlines ID: 512528
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "Document examination" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
Document examination
Chapter 16 Notes Part 1Slide2
The Unabomber
In 1978, a package was sent to a professor at Northwestern University.
It exploded when it was opened by a campus security officer. Slide3
The Unabomber
This started a series of bomb-containing packages sent to universities and airlines.
UN (university) + A (airlines) =
UNAbomberSlide4
The Unabomber
The explosives were usually a pipe within a wooden box, filled with metal objects to create a shrapnel effect on explosion.Slide5
The Unabomber
In 1985, a computer store owner
was
killed after picking up a package outside his business.Slide6
The Unabomber
In 1993 two more of his attacks resulted in fatalities.Slide7
The Unabomber
In 1995, the Unabomber promised to end his spree if his 35,000 word (~150 page) “Manifesto” was published.Slide8
The Unabomber
David Kaczynski realized the writing style and philosophy closely resembled that of his brother, Ted Kaczynski.Slide9
The Unabomber
He was arrested in Montana in 1996.
Inside his cabin were writings similar to the manifesto, three typewriters, and bomb-making materials. Slide10
The Unabomber
Forensic document examiners were able to match the typewritten manifesto to one of the typewriters recovered from the cabin.Slide11
The Document Examiner
A document examiner ordinarily involves examining handwriting and typescript to ascertain the source or authenticity of a questioned document.Slide12
The Document Examiner
An experienced document examiner uses techniques such as microscopy, photography, and chromatography as part of their analyses.Slide13
The Document Examiner
Possible responsibilities of the examiner include:
identifying efforts to alter or obscure the original meaning of a document and trying to recover the original contents of the writing.Slide14
The Document Examiner
Reconstructing writing on charred or burned papers.Slide15
The Document Examiner
Uncovering the meaning of indented writings. Slide16
The Document Examiner
A
questioned document
is any object that contains writing whose source or authenticity is in doubt.Slide17
The Document Examiner
Questioned documents may include but are NOT limited to:
Letters
Checks
Licenses
Contracts
Wills
Passports
Petitions
Lottery Tickets
Writing on walls, doors, etc.Slide18
The Document Examiner
Gathering documents of known authorship or origin is critical to the outcome of a document examination.Slide19
Handwriting Comparisons
As children grow up and continue to learn and practice writing, each individual’s writing takes on habitual shapes and patterns that distinguish it from all others.Slide20
Handwriting Comparisons
The unconscious handwriting of two different individuals can never be identical.Slide21
Handwriting Comparisons
Variations in angularity, slope, speed, pressure, spacing, connections, pen movement, and writing skill all contribute to the distinguishable style of each person.Slide22
Handwriting Comparisons
The arrangement of writing on the page also varies, in factors such as:
Margins
Spacing
Crowding
AlignmentSlide23
Handwriting Comparisons
Differences between two writing samples strongly indicates two writers. Slide24
Handwriting Comparisons
Just like fingerprinting, there is no definitive number of common characteristics required to make an identification or exclusion between two writing samples.
The final decision relies on the expertise of the document examiner.Slide25
Handwriting Comparisons
Challenges faced by document examiners include:
Insufficient amount of known writing sample.Slide26
Handwriting Comparisons
Questioned documents containing only a few words.Slide27
Handwriting Comparisons
Questioned documents written to purposely disguise the author’s handwriting.Slide28
Handwriting ComparisonsSlide29
Handwriting Comparisons
When collecting known samples of writing from a suspect, a few requirements must be met:
The writing should be done with similar implements.Slide30
Handwriting Comparisons
The known writing sample should contain some of the same words and letters as the questioned document.Slide31
Handwriting Comparisons
Adequate number to show the natural variations in the individual’s handwriting.Slide32
Handwriting Comparisons
Adult handwriting changes very slowly, if at all.
Samples collected within 2-3 years may be considered valid for handwriting analysis.Slide33
Typescript Comparisons
The document examiner analyzes machine-created documents as well as handwritten ones.Slide34
Typescript Comparisons
Typescript comparisons include but are NOT limited to:
Computer printed documents
Photocopied pages
Faxes
Typewritten pagesSlide35
Typescript Comparisons
The continued emergence of new technology means the document examiner’s job is constantly evolving.Slide36
Typescript Comparisons
The first analysis done is the style, shape, and size against a collection of past and present typefaces. Slide37
Typescript Comparisons
Defect marks on the glass screens of photocopiers can link a document to a particular photocopier.Slide38
Typescript Comparisons
Visual and microscopic analysis of printed documents can determine the type of printer and ink used.
The analysis can yield specific results such as the make and model of the printer and brand of ink.Slide39
Typescript Comparisons
Variations in horizontal and vertical alignment can link a document to a particular typewriter. Slide40
Review
When comparing sample writing to a suspect document, the age difference should be no more than
Six to twelve months
Twelve to eighteen months
Two to three years
Five to seven yearsSlide41
Review
2. True or False: Because children are taught handwriting skills in school and are taught to copy this style, the use of examining handwriting has limited applicability in solving crimes.Slide42
Review
3. True or False: In the examination of questioned documents, the suspect should be furnished with a pen and paper similar to those that were used to create the original document.