PREPARATION OF STANDARD FOR COMPARISON What is a Standard Document? Standard” in questioned document investigation tefers to those things whose origin are known and can be proven and which can be legally used as samples to compare with other matters in questioned. In handwriting identification, the standard of ‘comparison or what is commonly referred to as the basis of comparison consists of known authenticated writing ofa person. A comparative examination of a questioned signature or writing is made with the standard of comparison in arriving at a conclusion or an opinion as to the genuineness or authorship of the questioned matter, A positive opinion on the genuineness oridentity of writing is not given orreached unless an adequate and appropriate standard writing for comparison is supplied. OAS TAA, The determination as to wi adequate and appropriate is to be ofa questioned document. hether the standards of comparison are made at the stage ofa preliminary examination As a basic requirement, the standard of comparison must contain appropriately prepared material or writing so asto indicate not only the individual writing characteristics of the writer but also the usual Variations in these habits from one writing to the other, . The standard of comparison need not embody all the innumerable Caracteristics of the person’s writing but only those which would occur i materia] exactly as that ina questioned or disputed document.Standards of comparison are classified into two groups as follows: J. Procured or Collected Standard — those which can be obtained from files of document executed in the course of a person’s day to day business, official, social or personal activities. They often Serve as the best or most appropriate standards in the determination of the genuineness ofa questioned signature or writing. 2. Requested Standard those which are given or made upon the request ofan investigator for Purpo: : : ses of making a comparative examination with the questioned ‘writing, They serve, in addition to collected standards that could be possibly obtained, as appropriate standard in determining the identity or authorship of anonymous letters (such as libelous or Poison notes, extortion notes, ransom notes, letters of threats, etc.) The procedure employed is not usually the same in collecting procured standard and in obtaining request standard. BASIC POINTS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN OBTAINING STANDARDS [Link] or Collected Standard |. Amount of standard writing available There is no fixed rule as to the definite number of standards that may be considered adequate or sufficient. Experience shows, however, that at least seven standards usually constitute a sufficient amount, but effort should not be made merely to FORENSIC QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATIONcomply with this minimum requirement, butas much as possible, more should be procured. As arule, 10is better than 7, 15 is better than ten and 20 is better than 15. Mor andards provide a wider field for selection of the more appropriate standar rds. 2. Similarity of subject matter Asarule, like things must be compared. A signature cannot be compared with an extended writing, neither a cursive writing witha block (or hand-lettered or hand-printed) writing, oranextended or conventional (lay hand) writing with block writing. Therefore, a signature should be compared witha signature, extended writing with an extended writing and soon. 3. Relative date of the questioned signature or writing with the standards. The standard must be those executed or affixed on documents with dates contemporaneous with, or close to the date of the questioned signature. The best standards are those made on dates, which comes during a period before, about, and after the date of the questioned signature. In some cases, where the standards do not show radical changes or variations in a few years, writings made before or after the date of the questioned signature may prove appropriate as standards. 4. Conditions under which known writing or signature is prepared haste, lack of care, or an unnal position as resting the paper on knee or magazine or back the other hand or writing while riding onamoving vehicle may 1m variations in writing which may render such writing not appr PEST unsuited standard for comparison with more carefully written " Serious illness, intoxication, {Mi} Ona OLe RTL eenaeWriting made under such unusual or unnatural conditions should not be solely the basis of comparative examination ofa writing made or done in anormal condition or position. The main difficulty encountered in a comparative examination of questioned writing, under unusual condition is that there are no available standards written under similar conditions. 5. Kinds of instrument and paper used The kind of writing instrument and paper used might influence or affect Pencil writing, for example may not entirely show the characteristics ofa fountain pen or ballpen writing. Asarule, some of the standards at least should be those which were written with the same instrument as that in the questioned document, and as far as possible, the paper used in the standard should be of the same size, shape, ruling and composition as the one used in the questioned document. B. Requested Standards The following steps are aimed at minimizing, ifnot eliminating, disguise in the writing of the subject or person being required to furnish his handwriting specimens: 1. Questioned material must be dictated. Never allow a suspect to see the questioned document. If dictation is not possible, a copy of the material (typewritten or in another person’s writing but not a photograph or similar reproduction) must be the one given to the subject.2. Dictated text must be carefully selected. It is not a good practice to dictate the ee pe ueaoned document. Therefore, a substitute text to be seven may | ea composition or paragraph which contains all oft ce 7 ati tters and other writing characters and which contains most of the words in the questioned document. 3. Adequate amount of writing must be included. 4. Some portions of dictation must be repeated at least three times, Writings should be made on three different sheets of paper, each sheet being removed from the writer’s view upon completion. 5. Writing instrument and paper used should be similar to those used in the questioned document. 6. Dictation should be interrupted at intervals so that the suspect will feel relaxed and will write his own natural writing. Rest between dictations usually makes a writer forget about his Previous writing. 7. Normal writing condition should be arranged. Ifa subject must be required to give a statement or make a written explanation, he must be required to make such statemtent or explanation in his own handwriting. Disguise is eliminated in writing, asattention 0 the writer is not focused in the act but on some other reasons that maj serve as his alibi. The sheets of paper containing the requested standard made fro dictation must contain some sort of certification made by the subject that the specimen given are his writings and must also contain the dateit was obtained and the identifi if possible he identification marks or signature of witne How to Take H: : Take Handw riting Samples in Court Frequei is quently it is necessary to take a handwriting sample In court sample is whose handwriting pprehensive The and Ape son, Whether innocent o} requested i 5 . Juested in open court, usually becomes nervous and aj fact that he is asked to give a sample of his handwriting implies suspic1on. tes a psycholc ygical having todo so ina courtroom, with all eyes on him, crea block which may affect his handwriting. and so will the guilty person andwriting of a me The innocent person will be nervous, The latter, however, will still try to disguise his handwriting. 1 can show the person under nervous tension and disguised handwritin or similar symptoms. appearance d controlling y mislead Disguised handwriting can be detected, because only the ofthe handwriting is changed, not the writer *s individual prim: writing characteristics. The “appearance” of handwriting can ¢ the layman, and therefore it is important to have proper and sufficient material d the slightest possibility of error. for comparison, to avoil To take a handwriting sample in court, it is advisable: 1. To ask the person to sit as comfortable as possible. 2. Ifhe has his own pen, he should use it. 3. Give him enough space to sit and enough space to write. 4. Explain the situation and reassure him that it is natural for everyone to be nervous in such a situation, but that he should try to w nt ¥naturally as possible under the circumstances. and ifhis handy rij shows any nervousness, that will change the handwriting on/ | appearance, but not in characteristics On the other hand, a disguised writing can be revealed and established An important condition is that people should not gather around him and wateh him while he is writing. be asked to write things which are familiar to him: his name, First, he should re Jan) address. telephone number, occupation, name of the family members. ete. Next, dictate to him an innocuous paragraph, for example, from the day’s newspaper. Then, ask him to write the text or signature in question at least six times. Finally, ask him to write anything he wishes. Then ask him to sign the paper. These simple instructions will give the natural writing of the person as accurately as it will be possible to obtain. AND PRESERVATION OF DOCUMENTS CARE IN HANDLIN' The improper or careless handling of a questioned document can lead to serious curtailment of certain technical examination. Most frequently, this condition H brought about by ignorance of the consequences of mishandling. Just the simple act of removing and replacing a letter in its envelope repeatedly can cause noticeable deterioration. 7 5 ead adequately, The care, handling, and preservation of documents can be discussed “ne ately setting fi . : . ry Q sten by setting forth certain positive rules of action in the form o! Do's” and liste to several admonitions in the form of “Don'ts”.“DO's” 1. Keep documents unfolded in protective envelope. 2. Take disputed papers to the document examiner’s laboratory at the first opportunity. 3. If storage is necessary, keep the document ina dry place free from excessive heat and strong light. “DON’Ts” 1. Do not handle documents excessively or carry them ina pocket fora long time. 2. Donot mark questioned documents (either by consciously writing or by pointing at them with writing instruments or dividers). 3. Do notallow anyone except qualified specialist to make chemical or other tests. Do not treat or dust for latent fingerprints before consulting adocument examiner. 4. Donot mutilate or damage by repeated refolding, creasing, and cutting, tearing, or punching for filing purposes. The Care of Disputed Documents and Documentary Evidence Itis a basic requirement, not only acommon sense principle, that when a document becomes disputed and deposited in court or with the lawyer to maintain its original Condition, it should be kept unfolded and ina separate, proper-size envelope, or folder. This is true not only for disputed documents, but for any other important documentary evidence. :It is also advisable and preferable in all instances that right after a document becomes disputed, questioned or important, to make not only the usual photostatic copy, but also a proper photograph or photo- enlargement, done if possible by a document expert, or under the supervision of a document expert. When working on the preparation of a case it is often necessary for the lawyer or court to handle repeatedly the disputed document. Should this be necessary, instead of handling and working with the original document, the photograph should be used. Every touching, folding, refolding, or pointing to certain parts ofa document can change the physical condition of that portion of the document. It can be decisive to the case. For example, touching with wet hands or fingers can create smearing in the ink; pointing witha pencil can leave marks that create a suspicion of “previous” pencil marks, or experiments as proof of attempted forgery. Pointing at a document with any other instruments, such as a sharp stick, can cause slight damage, which, although, cannot be seen by the naked eye, can show definite marks under the microscope or on the enlarged photograph.