ASTM E444-07
(Guide)Standard Guide for Scope of Work of Forensic Document Examiners
Standard Guide for Scope of Work of Forensic Document Examiners
ABSTRACT
This guide describes the general duties and scope of work of forensic document examiners, also referred to as questioned document examiners, examiners of questioned documents, document examiners, or document analysts. A forensic document examiner makes scientific examinations, comparisons, and analyses of documents for purposes that shall aid the users of the examiner's service in understanding the examiner's findings.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide describes, in general, the duties of forensic document examiners, also referred to as questioned document examiners, examiners of questioned documents, document examiners, or document analysts.
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Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:E444–07
Standard Guide for
1
Scope of Work of Forensic Document Examiners
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 444; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 4.2.1 Typical problems in this field are:
4.2.1.1 The identification of handwriting and typewriting.
1.1 This guide describes, in general, the duties of forensic
4.2.1.2 The identification or elimination of the source of and
document examiners, also referred to as questioned document
the output of other mechanical or electronic imaging devices
examiners, examiners of questioned documents, document
such as printers, copying machines, facsimile equipment, and
examiners, or document analysts.
the like.
2. Referenced Documents 4.2.1.3 The identification or elimination of ink, paper, and
2
writing instruments.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4.2.1.4 The establishment of the date, source, history, se-
E 2388 Guide for Minimum Training Requirements for
quence of preparation, alterations or additions to documents,
Forensic Document Examiners
and relationships of documents.
3. Job Description
4.2.2 Other problems are the decipherment and sometimes
the restoration, or both, of obscured, deleted, or damaged parts
3.1 The forensic document examiner makes scientific ex-
of documents.
aminations, comparisons, and analyses of documents in order
4.2.3 The work often includes a study of the information
to: (1) establish genuineness or nongenuineness, or to expose
carried by a document for discovery of evidence of spurious-
forgery, or to reveal alterations, additions, or deletions, (2)
ness, identification of persons, or to show significant relation-
identify or eliminate persons as the source of handwriting, (3)
ships.
identify or eliminate the source of typewriting or other impres-
4.2.4 Document examination also includes the recognition
sion, marks, or relative evidence, and (4) write reports or give
and preservation of other relevant physical evidence that may
testimony, when needed, to aid the users of the examiner’s
be present on documents.
services in understanding the examiner’s findings.
4.3 Equipment used in forensic document examination in-
4. General Duties
cludes: microscopes and other optical aids; photographic and
other imaging devices, a wide variety of imaging materials
4.1 Examiners in this field are sometimes known by the
adaptable for use with a variety of lighting methods, including
term “handwriting experts.” Forensic document examination
those involving radiant energy in the ultraviolet, visible,
includes expertise in handwriting identification. Handwriting
infrared, and other regions of the electromagnetic spectrum; as
includes cursive or script style writing, handprinting, signa-
well as electrostatic or other devices for the detection, or
tures, numerals, and other written marks or signs. Forensic
visualization, or both of indentations and other features present
document examination does not involve the employment of
in or on paper or similar substrata. Other analytical
...
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1.1 This guide is intended as an overview of the Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC) of fiber colorants (or individual dye components) present in dyed fibers. It is intended to be applied within the scope of a broader analytical scheme for the forensic analysis of fiber samples. TLC could provide information that cannot be obtained through other color analyses (such as microspectrophotometry (MSP)) (1).2
1.2 This standard is intended for use by competent forensic science practitioners with the requisite formal education, discipline-specific training (see Practice E2917), and demonstrated proficiency to perform forensic casework (see Practice E3255).
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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4.1 Color is an easily observable characteristic of soils and is integral to the taxonomic classifications of soils (6-8); factors including parent material, hydrology, vegetation, and extent of soil weathering, can affect soil color, making color a valuable diagnostic tool for forensic examination purposes.
4.2 Soil color is sufficiently variable among soils to be used for differentiation of many soils in forensic examinations (9, 10) (see Section 6 for the test method for color determination and comparison criteria) as determined by visual characterization in the Munsell color system.
4.3 Instrumental techniques are suitable for color determination of soil evidence but are not covered within this practice.
4.4 Color determinations of soil samples are also used within soil provenance assessments to provide investigative leads or aid in searches. Interpretation of soil color for soil provenance is case-specific and beyond the scope of this practice, but the methods of color determination (6.5.1 to 6.5.2) and documentation (6.7) described here should be applied to soil color within soil provenance cases.
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1.1 This practice covers visual color determination of soil/geologic material within the context of a forensic examination and is intended for use by laboratory personnel.
1.1.1 This practice recommends use of soil color for: the initial screening of soil samples in forensic casework, prioritization of known soil exemplars for detailed analysis, and includes a test method for color determination in the Munsell color system and comparison among samples.
1.2 Units—Units in the Munsell color system are used throughout this document.
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1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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