Deck 18: Document Examination

Question 1

Document examiners frequently uncover the original writing of words that have been crossed out with the aid of:

A)Color photography.
B)Transmitted radiation.
C)Infrared radiation.
D)Side lighting.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

What is the process by which the image is stored in memory by scanning and converting by computer into an array of digital intensity values called picture elements?

A)Luminescence
B)Adobe Photoshopping
C)Digitizing
D)Pixelizing

Answer 2

C

Question 3

When dictating to a person in order to obtain samples of handwriting, one should NOT:

A)Use paper similar to that of the questioned document.
B)Use a pen similar to that of the questioned document.
C)Dictate the contents of the text at least three times.
D)Allow the suspect to view the questioned document before dictating it.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Some inks, when exposed to blue-green light, absorb ________ radiation and emit light.

A)Visible
B)Polarized
C)Ultraviolet
D)Infrared

Question 5

The writing characteristics of a person may be altered by whether:

A)The paper is ruled or unruled.
B)Pencil, ballpoint, or fountain pen is used.
C)The posture or stance of the author varies between writings.
D)All of the above

Question 6

Infrared luminescence is used to:

A)Detect if two different inks were used in the writing of a document.
B)Reveal writing that has been erased.
C)Prepare ink for thin-layer chromatography.
D)Both A and B

Question 7

In the case of ________, the Supreme Court held handwriting to be nontestimonial evidence not protected by Fifth Amendment privileges.

A)Gilbert v. California
B)Carmichael v. Kumho Tire Co.
C)United States v. Mara
D)United States Secret Service v. Mara

Question 8

Fax machines print a header known as the ________ at the top of each fax page, which may become a very important point of comparison.

A)ELD
B)HTTP
C)TLC
D)TTI

Question 9

Inks on handwritten documents may be compared for their chemical composition by the technique of:

A)Thin-layer chromatography.
B)Infrared spectrophotometry.
C)Ultraviolet spectrophotometry.
D)None of the above

Question 10

Defects that are reproduced by a photocopier onto a copied document may originate from defects in all of the following photocopier parts EXCEPT:

A)Glass plate
B)Feed tray
C)Inner cover
D)Mechanical portions

Question 11

A databank of ink dye patterns has been established by the U.S. Treasury Department using:

A)TTI.
B)TLC.
C)HPLC.
D)NAA.

Question 12

Questioned documents include:

A)Contracts and passports.
B)Petitions and lottery tickets.
C)Letters and checks.
D)All of the above

Question 13

The ease with which a child's handwriting can be individualized is ________ the ease with which one can individualize an adult's handwriting.

A)The same as
B)Greater than
C)Less than

Question 14

In dealing with fax machines, photocopiers, and computer printers, which class characteristics might be examined?

A)Type of paper
B)Chemical composition of toner
C)Type of toner-to-paper fusing method
D)All of the above

Question 15

When comparing sample writing to a suspect document, the age difference between the documents should be no more than:

A)Six to twelve months.
B)Twelve to eighteen months.
C)Two to three years.
D)Five to seven years.

Question 16

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)An inconclusive finding by a document examiner may be due to an insufficient number of known writings available for comparison.
B)Any object that contains handwritten or typewritten markings whose source or authenticity is in doubt is a questioned document.
C)Once adulthood is reached, an individual's handwriting generally will not change with age.
D)In the case of Gilbert v. California the court held that the taking of handwriting exemplars was not prohibited by the Fifth Amendment.

Question 17

The possibility of recognizing known writing habits in samples produced when a writer is under the influence of drugs or alcohol is ________ the possibility of recognizing known writing habits produced when the writer of a sample is not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

A)Less than
B)Greater than
C)The same as

Question 18

________ writings are partially visible impressions appearing on a sheet of paper underneath the one on which the visible writing was done.

A)Obliterated
B)Indented
C)Questioned
D)Charred

Question 19

When a suspect computer printer is not available, the examiner may need to analyze the document's ________ to identify the make and model of the machine.

A)Handwriting
B)Individual characteristics
C)TTI
D)Class characteristics

Question 20

The ease with which one can find individual variations in a typewritten document is ________ the ease of finding such defects in documents produced by business and personal computers.

A)Less than
B)Greater than
C)The same as

Question 21

The TTI is a characteristic used to distinguish:

A)Photocopiers.
B)Fax machines.
C)Computer printers.
D)All of the above

Question 22

Margins, spacing, crowding, insertions, alignment, spelling, punctuation, phraseology, and grammar cannot impart individual variations.

Question 23

The most common features associated with a paper examination are general appearance, color, weight, and watermarks.

Question 24

A questioned document would not include any markings or writing on doors, walls, or other objects.

Question 25

Angularity, slope, and speed are examples of individual variations.

Question 26

Two analytical techniques used to analyze writing inks are microspectrophotometry and thin-layer chromatography.

Question 27

When comparing sample writing to a suspect document, the age difference between the documents should be no more than six to twelve months.

Question 28

Which is an example of an impact printer?

A)Dot-matrix
B)Ink-jet
C)Laser
D)All of the above

Question 29

The two general categories of printers are impact and nonimpact printers.

Question 30

The property exhibited by some dyes that emit infrared light when exposed to blue-green light is known as:

A)Infrared luminescence.
B)Thin-layer chromatography.
C)Microspectrophotometry.
D)Digitizing.

Question 31

A TTI is a characteristic of a fax document.

Question 32

No two specimens of writing prepared by one person are ever identical in every detail.

Question 33

Nonimpact printers include thermal and dot-matrix printers.

Question 34

Indented writings are not readable under any typical examinations.

Question 35

Overwriting or crossing out writing is known as:

A)Erasure.
B)Alteration.
C)Obliteration.
D)Indentation.

Question 36

Examination of toner typically involves microscopic analysis followed by identification of the inorganic and organic components.

Question 37

An adequate number of exemplars is critical for determining the outcome of a comparison.

Question 38

Infrared luminescence can reveal writing that has been erased.

Question 39

Which are important characteristics of a printer, photocopier, or fax machine?

A)Printing technology
B)Type of paper
C)Type of toner or ink used
D)All of the above

Question 40

A TTI cannot be used to distinguish between a real and a fraudulently prepared fax document.

Question 41

Match the word in Column 1 to its definition in Column 2. Each answer can only be used once.

A)Any document that has become darkened and brittle through exposure to fire or excessive heat
B)The removal of writing, typewriting, or printing from a document, normally accomplished by either chemical means or an abrasive instrument
C)A property exhibited by some dyes that emit infrared light when exposed to blue-green light
D)Blotting out or smearing over writing or printing to make the original unreadable
E)A header that fax machines print
F)The process by which an image is stored in memory
G)Any document about which some issue has been raised or that is the subject of an investigation
H)An authentic sample used for comparison purposes, such as handwriting
I)Impressions left on paper positioned under a piece of paper that has been written on
J)Normal deviations found between repeated specimens of an individual's handwriting
Natural variations

Question 42

Match the word in Column 1 to its definition in Column 2. Each answer can only be used once.

A)Any document that has become darkened and brittle through exposure to fire or excessive heat
B)The removal of writing, typewriting, or printing from a document, normally accomplished by either chemical means or an abrasive instrument
C)A property exhibited by some dyes that emit infrared light when exposed to blue-green light
D)Blotting out or smearing over writing or printing to make the original unreadable
E)A header that fax machines print
F)The process by which an image is stored in memory
G)Any document about which some issue has been raised or that is the subject of an investigation
H)An authentic sample used for comparison purposes, such as handwriting
I)Impressions left on paper positioned under a piece of paper that has been written on
J)Normal deviations found between repeated specimens of an individual's handwriting
Infrared luminescence

Question 43

A(n)________ document is any object that contains handwritten or typewritten markings whose source or authenticity is in doubt.

Question 44

Match the word in Column 1 to its definition in Column 2. Each answer can only be used once.

A)Any document that has become darkened and brittle through exposure to fire or excessive heat
B)The removal of writing, typewriting, or printing from a document, normally accomplished by either chemical means or an abrasive instrument
C)A property exhibited by some dyes that emit infrared light when exposed to blue-green light
D)Blotting out or smearing over writing or printing to make the original unreadable
E)A header that fax machines print
F)The process by which an image is stored in memory
G)Any document about which some issue has been raised or that is the subject of an investigation
H)An authentic sample used for comparison purposes, such as handwriting
I)Impressions left on paper positioned under a piece of paper that has been written on
J)Normal deviations found between repeated specimens of an individual's handwriting
Exemplar

Question 45

Deviations that are found between the repeated writings of an individual are known as _________ variations.

Question 46

________ printers include inkjet and laser printers.

Question 47

Two analytical techniques used to analyze writing inks are microspectrophotometry and ________ chromatography.

Question 48

Match the word in Column 1 to its definition in Column 2. Each answer can only be used once.

A)Any document that has become darkened and brittle through exposure to fire or excessive heat
B)The removal of writing, typewriting, or printing from a document, normally accomplished by either chemical means or an abrasive instrument
C)A property exhibited by some dyes that emit infrared light when exposed to blue-green light
D)Blotting out or smearing over writing or printing to make the original unreadable
E)A header that fax machines print
F)The process by which an image is stored in memory
G)Any document about which some issue has been raised or that is the subject of an investigation
H)An authentic sample used for comparison purposes, such as handwriting
I)Impressions left on paper positioned under a piece of paper that has been written on
J)Normal deviations found between repeated specimens of an individual's handwriting
Obliteration

Question 49

Match the word in Column 1 to its definition in Column 2. Each answer can only be used once.

A)Any document that has become darkened and brittle through exposure to fire or excessive heat
B)The removal of writing, typewriting, or printing from a document, normally accomplished by either chemical means or an abrasive instrument
C)A property exhibited by some dyes that emit infrared light when exposed to blue-green light
D)Blotting out or smearing over writing or printing to make the original unreadable
E)A header that fax machines print
F)The process by which an image is stored in memory
G)Any document about which some issue has been raised or that is the subject of an investigation
H)An authentic sample used for comparison purposes, such as handwriting
I)Impressions left on paper positioned under a piece of paper that has been written on
J)Normal deviations found between repeated specimens of an individual's handwriting
Indented writings

Question 50

________ are authentic samples of an individual's writing used for comparison to suspect handwriting samples.

Question 51

Transitory defect marks originating from random debris on the glass platen are examples of points of comparison produced by a ________.

Question 52

Match the word in Column 1 to its definition in Column 2. Each answer can only be used once.

A)Any document that has become darkened and brittle through exposure to fire or excessive heat
B)The removal of writing, typewriting, or printing from a document, normally accomplished by either chemical means or an abrasive instrument
C)A property exhibited by some dyes that emit infrared light when exposed to blue-green light
D)Blotting out or smearing over writing or printing to make the original unreadable
E)A header that fax machines print
F)The process by which an image is stored in memory
G)Any document about which some issue has been raised or that is the subject of an investigation
H)An authentic sample used for comparison purposes, such as handwriting
I)Impressions left on paper positioned under a piece of paper that has been written on
J)Normal deviations found between repeated specimens of an individual's handwriting
TTI

Question 53

Match the word in Column 1 to its definition in Column 2. Each answer can only be used once.

A)Any document that has become darkened and brittle through exposure to fire or excessive heat
B)The removal of writing, typewriting, or printing from a document, normally accomplished by either chemical means or an abrasive instrument
C)A property exhibited by some dyes that emit infrared light when exposed to blue-green light
D)Blotting out or smearing over writing or printing to make the original unreadable
E)A header that fax machines print
F)The process by which an image is stored in memory
G)Any document about which some issue has been raised or that is the subject of an investigation
H)An authentic sample used for comparison purposes, such as handwriting
I)Impressions left on paper positioned under a piece of paper that has been written on
J)Normal deviations found between repeated specimens of an individual's handwriting
Questioned document

Question 54

________ luminescence can be used to detect alterations to a document made with ink differing from the original and can also reveal writing that has been erased.

Question 55

Match the word in Column 1 to its definition in Column 2. Each answer can only be used once.

A)Any document that has become darkened and brittle through exposure to fire or excessive heat
B)The removal of writing, typewriting, or printing from a document, normally accomplished by either chemical means or an abrasive instrument
C)A property exhibited by some dyes that emit infrared light when exposed to blue-green light
D)Blotting out or smearing over writing or printing to make the original unreadable
E)A header that fax machines print
F)The process by which an image is stored in memory
G)Any document about which some issue has been raised or that is the subject of an investigation
H)An authentic sample used for comparison purposes, such as handwriting
I)Impressions left on paper positioned under a piece of paper that has been written on
J)Normal deviations found between repeated specimens of an individual's handwriting
Erasure

Question 56

Match the word in Column 1 to its definition in Column 2. Each answer can only be used once.

A)Any document that has become darkened and brittle through exposure to fire or excessive heat
B)The removal of writing, typewriting, or printing from a document, normally accomplished by either chemical means or an abrasive instrument
C)A property exhibited by some dyes that emit infrared light when exposed to blue-green light
D)Blotting out or smearing over writing or printing to make the original unreadable
E)A header that fax machines print
F)The process by which an image is stored in memory
G)Any document about which some issue has been raised or that is the subject of an investigation
H)An authentic sample used for comparison purposes, such as handwriting
I)Impressions left on paper positioned under a piece of paper that has been written on
J)Normal deviations found between repeated specimens of an individual's handwriting
Digitizing

Question 57

________ printers include thermal and dot-matrix printers.

Question 58

Investigators can use a TTI to determine the model of ________ machine that produced the document.

Question 59

Match the word in Column 1 to its definition in Column 2. Each answer can only be used once.

A)Any document that has become darkened and brittle through exposure to fire or excessive heat
B)The removal of writing, typewriting, or printing from a document, normally accomplished by either chemical means or an abrasive instrument
C)A property exhibited by some dyes that emit infrared light when exposed to blue-green light
D)Blotting out or smearing over writing or printing to make the original unreadable
E)A header that fax machines print
F)The process by which an image is stored in memory
G)Any document about which some issue has been raised or that is the subject of an investigation
H)An authentic sample used for comparison purposes, such as handwriting
I)Impressions left on paper positioned under a piece of paper that has been written on
J)Normal deviations found between repeated specimens of an individual's handwriting
Charred document

Question 60

Applying an electrostatic charge to the surface of a polymer film that has been placed in contact with a questioned document can be used to read ________ writing.

Question 61

List five objects that may be referred to as questioned documents if they were to be discovered at a crime scene. What makes a document a questioned document?

Question 62

Name five important characteristics of a printer, photocopier, or fax machine that a document examiner must identify when analyzing a document in a situation where the suspect machine is not available.

Question 63

A threatening letter is received by a company CEO via fax. What characteristics can be examined to gain information about the sending machine, the sending individual, and fraudulent source information?

Question 64

A small piece of paper from a hotel notepad is found in the pocket of a potential "hit man" as he attempted to kill his "mark." The paper shows writing in various pen colors, some of which is obliterated and some of which was erased. The top corner of the paper also appears to possess intended writing. Discuss the methods investigators should employ to visualize the writing if possible.

Question 65

Describe two situations in which a document examiner may be prevented from coming to a positive conclusion about a questioned document.

Question 66

A warranted search of a victim's apartment yields three pages of exemplar handwriting samples written on ruled notebook paper with blue ballpoint pen. The investigators would like to compare the handwriting on these exemplars to a potential suicide note found with the dead victim written on unruled paper in pencil. Based on this information, which characteristics of the handwriting can be used to compare the exemplar documents and questioned document? Which characteristics cannot be used, and why?

Question 67

What are natural variations? How can they be useful for detecting forgeries?