Questioned Document Examination Overview

The examination of documents to determine their authenticity, authorship, or alterations.

A document that is suspected of being forged, altered, or otherwise not genuine.

Known samples of a person's handwriting used for comparison with a questioned document.

Determining if a document's author is who they claim to be.

Examining the materials used to create a document.

Identifying any changes or alterations made to a document.

Determining if a document is genuine or counterfeit.

An expert skilled in examining questioned documents to analyze handwriting, alterations, and other document-related evidence.

The study of handwriting to analyze a person's personality, skills, and emotional state.

A document expert who analyzes questioned documents to determine their authenticity, origin, or authorship.

The preliminary examination of a questioned document involves initial assessments by a QDE. It includes identifying the document, its content, and its potential issues.

The PNP-QDED (Philippine National Police - Questioned Documents Examination Division) is responsible for conducting examinations of questioned documents.

The PNP-QDED conducts document examinations based on requests from government agencies, courts, private investigators, and individuals.

Documents previously examined by a competent government agency are generally not re-examined by the PNP-QDED, unless ordered by a court.

Disputed documents in a court case can be examined only upon the order of the court having jurisdiction over the case.

The PNP Crime Laboratory provides initial services for the examination of questioned documents.

A technique used to visualize faint or hidden writings on a document by illuminating it with ultraviolet light.

An instrument that allows simultaneous viewing of two samples side by side under magnification, enabling detailed comparison of their features.

A device that casts shadows of an object, typically hands, onto a surface or screen.

The purposeful act of making a document appear genuine when it is not. This can involve altering an existing document or creating a fraudulent one.

A form of falsification where something is copied or imitated to deceive others.

A light source placed at a low angle to the document, illuminating it from the side.

A device that projects light from beneath or behind a document placed on a glass surface, allowing for examination of the document's features.

A type of microscope that allows for viewing three-dimensional objects, providing depth and perspective.

The process of examining a document with light hitting it from one side at a very low angle to help identify alterations or erasures.

Examining documents under infrared light to reveal hidden information or alterations.

Employing photographs to record details of a document for closer analysis or to show alterations.

Examining disputed handwriting to determine its authenticity, authorship, or alterations.

The ability to read and understand faded handwriting.

Examining the physical features of handwriting, like the shape of letters, pressure, and spacing, to determine authenticity or authorship.

The visible result of a complicated series of actions, combining physical and mental habits, forming unique writing styles.

The visible effect of body movement, often subconscious, reflecting a person's unique writing style.

Invisible light that occurs just below the visible blue-violet end of the spectrum. It can make certain substances glow, known as fluorescence.

The distinct characteristics of handwriting, like letter shape, slant, and spacing.

Handwriting characteristics common to a group, like a specific writing system or foreign language.

Handwriting characteristics unique to an individual, like specific letter combinations or quirks.

Factors that affect the way someone writes, like the writing instrument or paper used.

The phenomenon where some substances emit visible light when exposed to ultraviolet light.

The time it takes to write something can be an indicator of authorship, especially when considering developmental stages like childhood, adulthood, and old age.

Changes in health, like illness, injury, or medication, can alter your normal handwriting style.

Physical limitations caused by blindness can impact a person's handwriting ability.

Mental health issues like depression can affect handwriting, making it more illegible. However, it doesn't completely destroy individual handwriting characteristics.

Drugs and medication can have side effects that distort handwriting. This is often seen with alcohol and drugs.

The muscles responsible for writing are the flexors (for downward strokes) and extensors (for upward strokes) in your hand.

Handwriting development starts with imitation, then progresses to executing letters with focus on their form.

Handwriting changes throughout life, going through different stages like imitation and execution.