Priority Action Report

Forensic Document Examination

Pattern/Physics

Rigo Vargas

2/14/2017
Subcommittee Leadership

Position Name Organization Term Email

Chair Rigo Vargas MS Forensic Lab 3 rvargas@mcl.ms.gov

Vice Chair John Osborn Private Examiner 2 Jposborn@aol.com

Executive 

Secretary

Thomas Riley Private Examiner 3 Tomriley57@gmail.com

2
3

Position Name Organization Term Email

KAVI Liaison Mark Goff Michigan 

Department of State 

Police

3 Goffm3@michigan.gov

Quality Liaison Peter Tytell [Individual] 4 Typeter@aol.com

Legal Liaison David Parrett Forensic Document 

Examination

Services, LLC

3 Davparqde@gmail.com

Human Factor 

Liaison

Mara Merlino Kentucky State 

University

4 Mara.merlino@kysu.edu

Subcommittee Members (Liaisons)
Subcommittee Members

4

Name Organization Term Email

Donna Eisenberg U.S. DHS/ICE Forensic Lab 3 donna@donnaeisenberg.com

Lisa Hanson Bureau of Criminal Apprehension 

Forensic Science Laboratory

3 Lisa.hanson@state.mn.us

Kevin Kulbaki Internal Revenue Service 3 kkulbackifde@gmail.com

Mark Lancaster Northern Kentucky University 3 markjlancaster@gmail.com

Elaine Wooton Department of Homeland Security 4 Elaine.wooton@ice.dhs.gov

Hector Maldonado Federal Bureau of Investigation 2 Hector.maldonado@ic.fbi.gov

Kesha White Florida Department of Law 

Enforcement

3 Keshawhite@fdle.state.fl.us
Subcommittee Members

5

Name Organization Ter

m

Email

Karen Nobles Forensic Document Services 3 Karennobles@cox.net

Gary Licht Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation 

Criminalistics Laboratory

4 Licht@dps.state.i.us

Chris Saunders South Dakota State University 2 Chrostopher.saunders@sdstate.edu

Derek 

Hammond

United States Army Criminal 

Investigation Laboratory

2 Derek.l.hammond4.civ@mail.mil

Joseph Stephens United States Secret Service 4 Joseph.stephens@usss.dhs.gov

Brett Bishop Washington State Patrol 4 Brett.bishop@wsp.wa.gov
Discipline Description

6

Questioned Documents

The Subcommittee on Forensic Document 

Examination will focus on standards and 

guidelines related to the discipline, including:

(1) source of handwriting, (2) source of 

machine-produced documents, typewriting, or 

other impressions and marks, (3) materials and 

devices involved in the production of 

documents, (4) genuineness and alterations, (5) 

preservation and/or restoration of legibility, (6) 

documentation and reporting, and (7) training 

and competency.
Summary of Standards/Guidelines 

Priority Actions

7

• Standard Guide for Minimum Training Requirements for 

Forensic Document Examiners

• Scope of Expertise in Forensic Document Examination 

• Standard for Examination of Handwritten Items

• Standard for Examination of Indented Writing

• Standard for Examination of Alterations and Obliterations

• Standard Terminology Relating to The Examination of 

Questioned Documents

• Standard for Source Conclusions

• Forensic Document Examination Bibliography
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 1 Document (Training)

Document Title: Standard Guide for Minimum Training Requirements 

for Forensic Document Examiners

Scope: This guide provides minimum requirements and procedures

that should be used for the fundamental training of forensic document 

examiners

Objective/rationale:

Issues/Concerns:

Task Group Chair Contact Information: Rigo Vargas

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: N/A

8
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 1 Document (Training)

Key Components of Standard: Document lists all of the necessary 

topics one must become well versed in to be a forensic document 

examiner. 

Document illustrates the necessary qualifications of the principal 

trainer, the one-on-one apprentice style format, and the length of 

time necessary to complete the training. 

Other fields of expertise utilize an apprenticeship style training 

program to include, iron workers, construction workers, doctors, 

and pilots. 

9
Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan (Training)

Priority 1: Document Title

10

•Document tied up by members of the LRC

•Course of action still being decided
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 2 Document (Scope of Expertise)

Document Title: Scope of Expertise in Forensic Document 

Examination 

Scope: This guide describes the responsibilities and general qualifications 

of individuals engaged in the scientific practice of forensic document 

examination. This document can provide guidance to anyone 

encountering matters involving forensic document examination.

Task Group Name: Scope of Work

Task Group Chair Name: Lisa Hanson

Task Group Chair Contact Information: Lisa.hanson@state.mn.us

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: 1/29/2016

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Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 2 Document (Scope of Expertise)

Key Components of Standard: Forensic Document Examination is a 

forensic science discipline with an ever-expanding and complicated range of 

questions that are raised concerning documents. In addition to the varied 

materials that may be considered a “document,” the methods by which 

documents are manufactured continues to develop with technology 

advancements. The skill set required to apply scientific and technical 

approaches followed by proper interpretation is substantial and includes 

expert knowledge of materials analyses, critical reasoning, written and verbal 

communication and scientific practice. A misconception is that this expertise 

is “handwriting analysis” while examination considerations are far greater.

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Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan (Scope of Expertise)

Priority 2: Document Title

13

•This document has been submitted to the ASB 

for vetting. 
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 3 Document (Handwriting)

Document Title: Standard for Examination of Handwritten Items

Scope: This standard provides procedures that should be used by 

forensic document examiners (Scope of Expertise in Forensic 

Document Examination) for examinations and comparisons 

involving handwritten items and related procedures.

Task Group Name: Handwriting

Task Group Chair Name: Gary Licht

Task Group Chair Contact Information: Licht@dps.state.i.us

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: 1/29/2016

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Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 3 Document (Handwriting)

Key Components of Standard: The procedures outlined here are 

grounded in the generally accepted body of knowledge and 

experience in the field of forensic document examination. These 

procedures shall be used by a forensic document examiner in the 

analysis, comparison, and evaluation of handwritten items.

15
Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan (Handwriting) 

Priority 3: Document Title

16

•Document in final stages of review in the 

Subcommittee.

•A New Work Proposal has been submitted to 

the ASB. 
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 4 Document (Indentations)

Document Title: Standard Guide for Indentation Examinations 

Scope: This standard provides procedures that should be used by 

forensic document examiners (Scope of Expertise in Forensic 

Document Examination) for examinations and comparisons 

involving visualization and recording of indentations. 

Task Group Name: Indentations

Task Group Chair Name: Gary Licht

Task Group Chair Contact Information: Licht@dps.state.i.us

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: N/A

17
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 4 Document (Indentations)

Key Components of Standard: When sheets of paper are in direct 

or indirect contact with one another, impressions on the top sheet 

can produce indentations on the sheet(s) below. This standard 

establishes procedures for visualizing those indentations. 

18
Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan (Indentations)

Priority 4: Document Title

19

•Document finished at the Task Group level

•Needs Subcommittee review and approval 
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 5 Document (Alterations)

Document Title: Standard Guide for Examination of Altered 

Documents 

Scope: This standard provides procedures for examinations that 

should be used by forensic document examiners (Scope of 

Expertise in Forensic Document Examination) for examinations 

involving altered documents. 

Task Group Name: Alterations & Obliterations

Task Group Chair Name: Lisa Hanson

Task Group Chair Contact Information: Lisa.hanson@state.mn.us

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: N/A

20
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 5 Document (Alterations)

Key Components of Standard: The procedures outlined here are 

grounded in the generally accepted body of knowledge and 

experience in the field of forensic document examination. By 

following these procedures, a forensic document examiner can 

reliably reach an opinion concerning whether a document has been 

altered. 

21
Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan (Alterations)

Priority 5: Document Title

22

•Document finished at the Task Group level

•Needs Subcommittee review and approval 
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 6 Document (Terminology)

Document Title: Standard Terminology Relating to the 

Examination of Questioned Documents

Scope: This technical report includes terminology that relates to 

the examinations performed by forensic document examiners.

Task Group Name: Terminology

Task Group Chair Name: Carl McClary

Task Group Chair Contact Information: Carl.mcclary@atf.gov

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: 1/28/2016

23
Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan (Terminology)

Priority 6: Document Title

24

•This document is being combined with the 

Terminology lists submitted from the other 

Physics/Pattern subcommittees. 
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 7 Document (Source Conclusions)

Document Title: Standard for expressing source conclusions

Scope: This document defines standard terminology and usage for 

forensic examiners expressing source conclusions:

Task Group Name: Source Conclusions

Task Group Chair Name: Austin Hicklin

Task Group Chair Contact Information: hicklin@noblis.org

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: Unknown

25
Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan (Source Conclusions)

Priority 7: Document Title

26

•This document is still in the vetting process
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 8 Document

Document Title: Forensic Document Examination Bibliography

Scope: Create a detailed, searchable list of research performed in 

the Forensic Document Examination field

Task Group Name: Bibliography

Task Group Chair Name: Joe Stephens

Task Group Chair Contact Information: Joseph.Stephens@ic.fbi.gov

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: N/A

27
Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan

Priority 8: Document Title

28

•Research publications are being collected

•Searchable platform being decided

•Vetting of research being performed 
Summary of Standards/Guidelines 

Priority Actions

29

• Standard Guide for Minimum Training Requirements for 

Forensic Document Examiners

• Scope of Expertise in Forensic Document Examination 

• Standard for Examination of Handwritten Items

• Standard for Examination of Indented Writing

• Standard for Examination of Alterations and Obliterations

• Standard Terminology Relating to The Examination of 

Questioned Documents

• Standard for Source Conclusions

• Forensic Document Examination Bibliography
Priority Action Report

Forensic Document Examination

Pattern/Physics

Rigo Vargas

2/14/2017
31