ASTM E444-09

Standard Guide for Scope of Work of Forensic Document Examiners (Withdrawn 2018)

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.
1.2 This document can provide guidance to anyone encountering matters involving forensic document examination.
WITHDRAWN RATIONALE
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.
Formerly under the jurisdiction of Committee E30 on Forensic Sciences, this guide was withdrawn in January 2018 in accordance with section 10.6.3 of the Regulations Governing ASTM Technical Committees, which requires that standards shall be updated by the end of the eighth year since the last approval date.

General Information

• Status: Withdrawn
• Publication Date: 14-Apr-2009
• Withdrawal Date: 18-Jan-2018
• ICS: 07.140 - Forensic science
• Technical Committee: E30 - Forensic Sciences
• Drafting Committee: E30.90 - Executive

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E444-07 - Standard Guide for Scope of Work of Forensic Document Examiners
• Effective Date: 15-Apr-2009

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E444 − 09
Standard Guide for
1
Scope of Work of Forensic Document Examiners
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E444; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 4.2 Questions about documents arise in business, finance,
civil and criminal trials, or in any matter affected by the
1.1 This guide describes, in general, the duties of forensic
integrity of written communications and records.
document examiners, also referred to as questioned document
4.2.1 Typical problems in this field are:
examiners, examiners of questioned documents, document
4.2.1.1 The identification of handwriting and typewriting.
examiners, or document analysts.
4.2.1.2 The identification or elimination of the source of and
1.2 This document can provide guidance to anyone encoun-
the output of other mechanical or electronic imaging devices
tering matters involving forensic document examination.
such as printers, copying machines, facsimile equipment, and
the like.
2. Referenced Documents
4.2.1.3 The identification or elimination of ink, paper, and
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
writing instruments.
E2388 Guide for Minimum Training Requirements for Fo-
4.2.1.4 The establishment of the date, source, history, se-
rensic Document Examiners
quence of preparation, alterations or additions to documents,
and relationships of documents.
3. Job Description
4.2.2 Other problems are the decipherment and sometimes
3.1 The forensic document examiner makes scientific
the restoration, or both, of obscured, deleted, or damaged parts
examinations, comparisons, and analyses of documents in
of documents.
order to: (1) establish genuineness or nongenuineness, or to
4.2.3 The work often includes a study of the information
expose forgery, or to reveal alterations, additions, or deletions,
carried by a document for discovery of evidence of
(2) identify or eliminate persons as the source of handwriting,
spuriousness, identification of persons, or to show significant
(3) identify or eliminate the source of typewriting or other
relationships.
impression, marks, or relative evidence, and (4) write reports
4.2.4 Document examination also includes the recognition
or give testimony, when needed, to aid the users of the
and preservation of other relevant physical evidence that may
examiner’s services in understanding the examiner’s findings.
be present on documents.
4. General Duties
4.3 Equipment used in forensic document examination in-
4.1 Examiners in this field are sometimes known by the
cludes: microscopes and other optical aids; photographic and
term “handwriting experts.” Forensic document examination other imaging devices, a wide variety of imaging materials
includes expertise in handwriting identification. Handwriting
adaptable for use with a variety of lighting methods, including
includes cursive or script style writing, handprinting, those involving radiant energy in the ultraviolet, visible,
signatures, numerals, and other written marks or signs. Foren-
infrared, and other regions of the electromagnetic spectrum; as
sic document examination does not involve the employment of
well as electrostatic or
...