Chapter 17: Questioned Documents Voice Analysis (Forensic Linguistics)

Transcription

1 Chapter 17: Questioned Documents Voice Analysis (Forensic Linguistics) CHE 113 1

2 Language Sometimes, however, the manner that we choose to communicate may be almost as important as the thoughts themselves. development of ways in which to extend and expand our ability to communicate with others far away as our needs and desires grew, so did the development of more complex forms of language and communication. The study of language is referred to as linguistics CHE 113 2

3 Written Word Handwriting, and later printing, provided humans with the ability to communicate easily across space and time. graphic forms of communication developed long ago and allowing individualism handwriting holds information quite personal beyond the actual words. these graphic forms of communication and expression extend to include both traditional forms of art and imagery as well as photographic, video and digital art. CHE 113 3

4 Written Word CHE 113 4

5 Written Word We are often greatly influenced by photographic and video images with almost instant access to visual media produced from across the world. given the availability and ease of use of computer photographic and video altering software, how do we know that what we are looking at is real a key forensic question that is increasingly being asked is whether images are authentic or somehow modified? CHE 113 5

6 Questioned Documents (Top) a composite photograph of Sen. John Kerry seemingly sharing the podium with Jane Fonda at a 1970s anti-war rally. The picture appeared during Kerry s 2004 presidential run. CHE 113 6

7 Questioned Documents The top composite was actually made up of a June 1971 image of Kerry preparing to speak to a Peace Rally in New York (Bottom left) with a August 1972 image of Jane Fonda from a Miami Beach, Florida political rally (bottom right) CHE 113 7

8 Questioned Documents (QD) Documents form the basis of a large part of our communication, providing permanent records of our thoughts, actions and transactions. Recording legal, personal, and financial information. Forgery is defined as the act of preparing or altering a document, signature, financial certificate, work of art, or other valued item with the intention to defraud, damage or cheat CHE 113 8

9 Questioned Documents (QD) In forensic science, the term questioned document refers to any document over which there is some legal dispute regarding its origin, authenticity, or authorship. Such documents might include financial checks, currency, wills, anonymous letters, agreements, passports, personal identification records, receipts, and many others. The field encompasses many components of document analysis but includes handwriting analysis, signature authenticity, and examination of a variety of printed materials. CHE 113 9

10 Questioned Documents (QD) the Wacker Case, one of the most famous frauds in art history The case involved 33 works allegedly painted by Vincent van Gogh and helped foster the development of scientific techniques, many based on chemistry, to examine paintings at the molecular level and determine their authenticity. CHE

11 Questioned Documents (QD) Frank Abignale Jr., who successfully performed cons worth millions of dollars before his 19th birthday! He managed to get away with it by posing as a Pan American World Airways pilot, a Georgia doctor, and a Louisiana parish prosecutor. he become so skillful that the FBI turned to him to help in catching other check forgers! CHE

12 Questioned Documents (QD) Physical Evidence : Determine if authentic (non forgery). Determine if a document has be altered. Match sample with suspect. CHE

13 Questioned Documents Physical examinations in QD involves scrutiny of surfaces and other items. Paper is the most typical surface examined. Examiners may focus on one or more of the following: Something on the surface, such as handwriting, typewriting, alterations, or obliterations. Something in the surface, such as indented writing, watermarks, or safety fibers. Damage to the surface, such as torn edges, moisture, or charring. CHE

14 Hand Writing Analysis Not all handwriting is identifiable to a specific writer or writers. Examination of handwriting characteristics can sometimes result in determining the origin or authenticity of questioned writing. Traits such as age, sex, personality, or intent cannot be determined from handwriting examinations. Personality traits do not normally show up until the 4 th grade when writing becomes a subconscious skill Handwriting comparisons based on the principle that no two people write exactly alike and that characteristics reoccur throughout every person's writing. A combination of characteristics is unique to every individual and is used by document examiners for comparison. CHE

15 Hand Writing Analysis Individualizing features are often divided into four main categories: form includes handwriting style, shape of the letters, slope and line locations, rhythm of the writing, and size of writing block, script, or cursive arrangement includes spacing of letters quality includes pressure and thickness content. - includes grammar, spelling, and syntax CHE

16 Hand Writing Analysis Handwriting Styles CHE

17 Hand Writing Analysis Handwriting Slope CHE

18 Hand Writing Analysis Handwriting Form Handwriting style (block, cursive, etc.) Shape of the letters Slope and line locations of the writing Rhythm of the writing Size of the writing Arrhythmic handwriting of massmurder Charles Manson CHE

19 Hand Writing Analysis sample copybook in the Zaner-bloser writing style commonly taught beginning in about the 1960s CHE

20 Hand Writing Analysis Handwriting examples based on where the author first learned to write. CHE

21 Hand Writing Analysis Handwriting analysis deals with determining the authorship of a document. Were two documents written by the same hand (identification) or were the two documents written by different people (forgery). comparison of the questioned document with handwriting examples known to have been written by the purported author of the document. Nine categories CHE

22 Hand Writing Analysis A definite opinion is not always possible when conducting a handwriting comparison. Reasons for an inconclusive result include: The questioned writing is limited. The known writing is limited in amount, comparability, or both. The writing is not naturally prepared. CHE

23 Hand Writing Comparison Compare Exemplar with Questioned Document CHE

24 Levels of individualization identification (highest degree of confidence that the handwriting belonged to the ascribed author) highly probable probable indications (some evidence for similarities exist but the connection is not relatively weak) no conclusion (unable to make a determination) indications did not (some dissimilarities exist but the evidence is not strong) probably did not (the two documents likely did not come from the same author), strong probability did not (almost certain that the two documents do not match), elimination (the two documents were definitely written by different authors CHE

25 Hand Writing Lab CHE

26 Comparison Microscope Important tool for document examiners Two compound microscopes combined into one unit When viewer looks through the eyepiece, a field divided into two equal parts is observed Bullet comparisons- requires reflective light Hair & Fiber comparisons Questioned documents CHE

27 Comparison Microscope Split-image comparison of banknotes: on the left the original, on the right the forgery CHE

28 Counterfeiting Creating fraudulent legal documents (e.g., money) CHE

29 Counterfeiting $50 Bill shows the words The United States of America printed on Pres. Grant s collar CHE

30 VICE NEWS Doc v=4rozrtbijry CHE

31 Hitler Diaries CHE

32 Hitler Diaries The Big "Discovery" In April 1983, the popular West German magazine Stern made a shocking announcement that sparked passionate debates throughout the world and temporarily challenged historical views concerning Germany s most notorious ex-chancellor. The periodical claimed that 62 handwritten volumes of secret diaries allegedly written by the founder of the Third Reich, Adolf Hitler, had been discovered in East Germany. According to Charles Hamilton s book, The Hitler Diaries, the volumes were reported to be one of the most-significant, historical discoveries in recent history. However, time proved the manuscripts instead were one of the biggest hoaxes of the century.

33 Hitler Diaries in an effort to set history straight, it was decided that the diaries would undergo more rigorous testing by scientists and scholars. It didn t take long for them to determine that the diaries were, in fact, elaborate forgeries and by no means the work of Hitler. Moreover, it was discovered that during the initial analysis by handwriting experts, the purported original documents that the diaries were compared against were also forgeries concocted by the same individual. Eventually, the world learned the identity of the mastermind behind the elaborate hoax, a petty criminal and Hitler enthusiast named Konrad Kujau. He later earned the reputation as one of the century s most notorious forgers, who successfully fooled millions with his reinvented account of history.

34 Questioned Documents Watermarks: A translucent design impressed on paper during manufacture and visible when the paper is held to the light. CHE

35 Questioned Documents Examination of indented writing (writing from pressure on underlying pages) using oblique lighting or electrostatic detection apparatus. Typewriting comparison and reconstruction may establish that a particular typewriter was used to type a particular document, or suggest a particular brand of typewriter was used. Determination of text from used ribbons. Examination of altered documents including the detection of additions, erasures, obliterations, and changes. Determination of fake documents including checks, wills, and bonds. CHE

36 Questioned Documents Oblique Lighting - Photographic techniques to enhance indented writing (top) using side lighting and special film. Bottom shows the apparent bank robbery note that was produced from the indentations in the paper. CHE

37 Questioned Documents Electrostatic Detection Apparatus - electrostatic detection apparatus (ESDA), an instrument that renders indented writing visible and provides a record of the writing. CHE

38 Typewriters The typewriter (L) identified with correspondence from the UNABOM case. Note the unique characteristic of the typed letter "u" (Middle) from the questioned document, which matches the unique characteristic of the "u" typewriter key (R) from the typewriter seized during the investigation. CHE

39 Altered Documents Hyperspectral imaging clearly shows the alteration to a document. (Top) the document as it appears visually and (bottom) a hyperspectral image showing the use of a different pen to make the alteration CHE

40 Voice Analysis Unique voice production to an individual is based on the physical process of speech itself CHE

41 Speech Production The probability that two people both have exactly the same physical make-up in their sound generating structures and employ the same speech articulations is extremely small. a method to measure and graphically display the differences that exist in the subtleties of our speech, is called a sound spectrograph or voiceprint. CHE

42 Speech Production A voiceprint displays three key components of speech in a single plot the vertical axis is used to display the different frequencies that make up the sound the horizontal axis shows time elapsed during the measurement the degree of darkness of the line at a particular point shows the intensity of that particular frequency at that one time CHE

43 Basic Concepts for Analyzing Voice Prints The process of identifying voices visually involves translating the wave patterns produced by the voice into a pictorial display called a spectrogram. The spectrogram serves as a permanent record of the words spoken and facilitates the visual comparison of similar words spoken by an unknown and known speaker's voice.

44 Basic Concepts for Analyzing Voice Prints Is it possible for a person to "fool" a spectrograph?