Examination to determine the limitation of a document is a fairly popular type of research. The fact is that today the courts provide a large number of forged contracts, certificates, powers of attorney and contracts. Examination of the limitation of the document is able to identify a fake.
In doing so, it takes into account the date indicated on paper and the time the text was created. For such work, a technical examination of the limitation of the document is taken at the initiative of the investigator conducting the case. An application may also come from the person concerned.
Identification of invariable signs
How to determine the prescription of a document? Examination uses two approaches for this. The first of them consists in revealing signs that remain unchanged in time. These include the content of the document and its basics, due to the purpose of the used writing device, the characteristics of strokes, technical means and materials.
The study is aimed at establishing the relevance of attribution of signs to a specific time interval. What in this case does the examination of the limitation of the document draw attention to? The specialist examines the discrepancy between the date specified in the details of the text and the time interval. This approach is very effective if in a given period there have been significant changes in the range of writing materials and materials, as well as in the language.
So, an examination of the limitation of documents may reveal that:
- in the text provided, terms are used that do not correspond to the date of its compilation (for example, the names of departments, organizations, etc.);
- on the forms and in the impressions of the seals there is information about the organization, which was created later or abolished before the indicated time;
- in the content of the document there are indications of events that occurred at another time.
Also, an examination of the limitation of a document examines the morphology of strokes. Based on the data obtained, it is possible to completely exclude the possibility of the execution of handwritten details until the forties by a ballpoint pen, until the seventies by gel. But the creation of text using electronic typewriters became possible only after the 70s. This also takes into account the examination of the limitation of the production of the document.
The composition of the materials used to present the text is also subject to research. These are, in particular, dyes in letters and bleaches in paper. So, until the fifties, paste for ballpoint pens, which contains phthalocyanine dyes, was not used. In addition, there were no optical brighteners in domestic paper until the 1960s.
Examination of signs of temporary change
How else is the prescription of the document determined? Examination may use a different approach for its research. It consists in identifying those signs that have arisen in connection with operational changes in the properties of the writing devices used to apply the details. In addition, this approach takes into account the composition and properties of the document materials. In this case, knowledge about the laws of changes in the properties of writing instruments in the process of their use is used.
Also, with such an examination, those processes that occur in paper during its long-term storage are taken into account.
So, the examination of the limitation period of the execution of a document executed in a typewritten way examines the technological data that indicate the period of manufacture of a typewriter of a given brand and font, wear of the tape, etc. In addition, all changes that occur during the operation of this tool are taken into account. The conclusion about the period of compilation of the typewritten text is given on the basis of a whole complex of the obtained characteristics, which are compared with free samples. The accuracy of the time setting can be in the range from one day to a year.
Documents executed on a printer connected to a personal computer are also taken for examination. They are compared with free samples printed on the same technical tool. An analysis of research practice indicates that with the greatest accuracy an examination of papers made with an inkjet printer can be carried out. To do this, study the cartridge, the signs of which are displayed on paper in the form of "goose bumps".
Objects of study
Examination of the limitation of writing a document is applied to:
- handwritten inscriptions;
- texts printed using inkjet printers;
- handwritten notes;
- stamps, seals and stamps.
Research Methods
To determine the prescription of the document are used:
1. Organoleptic methods. With their help, the quality of objects is analyzed and evaluated on the basis of indicators obtained with the use of sensory organs (hearing, vision, taste, smell). Such studies provide a visual assessment of the document being examined. This is its brilliance, color, texture of the material, etc.
2. Microscopic methods. As a rule, they are used to clarify the order in which stamps are stamped and inscribed.
3 . Photographic methods. Their application was made possible thanks to the development of modern technology. Photographic methods are used in almost all areas of forensics, including in determining the limitation of the creation of a document.
4. Chemical methods. Their use allows the analysis of coloring and writing substances, predicting a change in their properties over time.
5. Chromatography methods. These methods allow you to determine the dynamics of the evaporation processes of those organic solvents that are in the composition of the writing materials.
6. Spectrographic methods. They use the examination to determine the composition of ink and writing substances. Using this method, the presence of impurities in the coloring materials is established, which is the basis for making this or that conclusion.
In addition, the modern examination of the limitation of the drafting of the document widely uses modern information technology. This, in particular, computer development for the analysis of documents.
The sequence of setting details
How can the age of a document be determined? Examination in the course of its research draws attention to the order of execution of strokes and prints in the text. Thus, stamps, seals and signatures are entered into a fake document at different times. Unfortunately, the definition of the period of application of superimposed strokes is not possible. However, the examination of the limitation of the preparation of the document can always establish which of the details was affixed in the first place - a seal or a signature.
Sample Comparison
How else is the prescription of a document determined? Examination in its studies often uses the method of comparing samples. This method can be applied with existing large arrays of documents. To carry out the work, they take samples of official documents of the organization, which were drawn up at different times.
Such an approach will allow the expert to determine the volume and level of changes that have taken place, drawing up a conclusion on the basis of these data on the period for the contentious text.
Samples of documents that are taken for comparison should be executed using the same technical means (copy machines, printers, etc.), and also written with the same pens (gel or ball). The stamp ink applicable for the seals should coincide. In the event that all of the above points on all submitted samples have nothing to do with the disputed document, then the examination uses other methods. In this case, a conclusion is made about the impossibility of solving the task.
Disputed Paper Matching Method
Recently, an examination of the statute of limitations of a document often uses a method of comparing a received copy of a text with specially collected materials of the same period containing samples of prints, inscriptions and other details.
The application of this method allows you to accurately determine the date of creation or change of official paper. However, this method has its drawbacks. They consist in the fact that the creation of a database will require a significant investment of time and labor. This, in turn, raises the price of expertise.
Materials (objects) of research
Determining the age of a document has another direction. It involves research on the study of changes affecting the composition and properties of writing materials, as well as details of official papers. Scientific experiments have proved that with particular accuracy these works can be performed when determining the period for creating documents with at least twenty percent organic high boiling solvents in their paint. The list of such materials includes ink for inkjet printers and pastes for ballpoint pens. It has a similar composition and ink stamp. The limitation period of the document is determined by the residual solvent content in strokes. This indicator is established by gas-liquid chromatography according to the spectrum obtained by absorption of the paste extract from official paper in dimethylformamide.
Examination of the limitation of the signature on the document uses a technique based on knowledge of the laws of aging of strokes made with a ballpoint pen paste, which contains benzyl alcohol, phenyl glycol, as well as aliphatic propylene glycol ethers. The age of the subject of study is determined by comparison. For this, the characteristics of the strokes of the controversial document and the sample are taken, made with an accuracy of one year, month or day in comparison with being checked.
Research stages
There is a general methodological scheme for the examination of the limitation of a document on the relative content of dyes of volatile components in a dye. It includes the following stages:
1. A preliminary study. It solves the problem of determining the method of performing strokes, as well as evaluating their suitability for a comprehensive study.
2. Solvent analysis. Such a study sets the task of determining the suitability of strokes to assess the time of their execution.
3. The study of non-volatile materials contained in strokes (resins and dyes). A similar analysis is performed to determine the type of material used and establish specific conditions for its evaluation.
4. Determination of the percentage in streaks of volatile materials.
5. Modeling the process of aging details.
6. Direct assessment of the period of execution of strokes.
Examination of “spoiled” documents
Often, the materials provided for research were previously exposed to any aggressive influences. The fact is that light, chemical or thermal influence allows you to give an official paper an aged look. This greatly complicates the conduct of expert work. But in such cases, the fact of such an impact already speaks of the criminal nature of the way the document is compiled.
For example, with a thermal effect on the text, the paper has a significant "mirror" gloss. However, it is not possible to view the graininess of the strokes. In addition, in this case, there are streaks of toner on the paper, and the display of characters is a blurry appearance. If such signs are found, the specialist concludes that the document was exposed to thermal effects in the form of heating over one hundred degrees.
Determination of the fact of making changes to the document
Often, fake official paper is made by painting, erasing, washing off or etching records. Sometimes changes to a document are made by overprinting words, letters and numbers, as well as by re-sticking stamps and photo cards. To determine such facts, the method of researching document materials is used. A verdict on an overprint or an additional copy can be reached using a comparative study of the coloring matter. Differences in its composition will indicate a fake. To determine the plywood of photographs, adhesives are examined. Only one view of the document must be present.
Sometimes changes to the text of one of the sheets of official paper are made using a scanner. The document is entered into the computer, edited and printed on the printer. In such cases, all sheets are examined, which allows you to determine the discrepancy between the time of their creation.
Definition of the original text
There are frequent cases when a forensic examination of the limitation of documents reveals the introduction of amendments to them. Then there is a need to determine the initial content of the paper. In such cases, research begins by examining the document in ultraviolet filtered light. The results of the work done can give an idea of the possible contact of the paper with any aggressive substance. If the original text of the document has been corrected by cleaning, then research under a microscope and in transmission will help to determine this. Restoring the original content of the text will become possible after photographing the paper in the reflected ultraviolet rays and applying computer processing techniques for the resulting image.
If the text on the paper has been crossed out or filled, smeared or sealed, then the examination may use various methods to identify the initial records. The choice of a particular research method will depend on the combination of those coloring substances that are used to write and close the text. The most commonly used method of computer processing is recording.
Inability to conduct an examination
Despite the rapid development of modern scientific and technological progress and a fairly large list of methods, a study to establish the limitation of the document may not always be carried out.
The task is impossible when:
- untimely provision of documents;
- lack of the required number of samples for comparison;
- improper condition of official paper (its significant modification).