ASTM_E_2331_-_04.pdf

Designation:E 2331 04Standard Guide forExamination of Altered Documents1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 2331;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon(e)indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This Guide provides procedures for examinations thatshould be used by forensic document examiners(E 444)forexaminations involving altered documents.1.2 These procedures are applicable whether the examina-tion(s)are of questioned and known items,exclusively ques-tioned items,or a single item.1.3 These procedures include evaluation of the sufficiencyof the material available for examination.1.4 The particular methods employed in a given case willdepend upon the nature of the material available for examina-tion.1.5 This Guide may not cover all aspects of unusual oruncommon examinations.1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory requirements prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2E 444 Descriptions of Scope of Work Relating to ForensicDocument ExaminersE 1422 Guide for Test Methods for Forensic Writing InkComparisonE 1732 Terminology Relating to Forensic ScienceE 2195 Terminology Relating to Forensic Document Ex-aminationE 2291 Guide for Indentation Examinations3.Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 For definitions of terms in this guide,refer to Termi-nologies E 1732 and E 2195.3.2 Definitions:3.2.1 alteration,na modification made to a document byphysical,chemical or mechanical means including,but notlimited to,obliterations,additions,overwritings,or erasures.3.2.2 digital image,nan image that is stored in numericalform.33.2.3 digital image processing,nany activity that trans-forms a digital image.3.2.4 electrostatic detection device(EDD),nan instru-ment that uses electrostatic charge as the mechanism tovisualize paper fiber disturbances(for example,indentations,erasures,typewritten material/lift off).3.2.5 erasure,nthe area where material has been removedfrom a document by chemical,abrasive,or other means.3.2.6 fluorescence,na process by which radiant flux ofcertain wavelengths is absorbed and reradiated non-thermallyat other,usually longer,wavelengths.E 14223.2.7 infrared(IR),nreferring to radiant flux havingwavelengths longer than the wavelengths of light,usuallywavelengths from about 760 nm to about 3 mm.E 14223.2.8 infrared luminescence(IRL),nthe emission of radi-ant energy during a transition from an excited electronic stateof an atom,molecule,or ion to a lower electronic state(fluorescence or phosphorescence,or both),where the spec-trum of the excitation source is in the ultraviolet(UV)orvisible region of the electromagnetic spectrum,or both,and thespectrum of the emitted energy is in the far red or infrared(IR)region of the electromagnetic spectrum.E 14223.2.9 side lighting,nillumination from a light source thatis at a low angle of incidence,or even parallel,to the surfaceof the item.Syn.,oblique lighting.3.2.10 transmitted light,nillumination that passesthrough a document.3.2.11 ultraviolet(UV),nreferring to radiant flux havingwavelengths shorter than the wavelengths of light,usuallywavelengths from about 10 to 380 nm.E 14221This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on ForensicSciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.02 on QuestionedDocuments.Current edition approved March 1,2004.Published April 2004.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3Scientific Working Group on Imaging Technologies(SWGIT)Definitions andGuidelines for the Use of Imaging Technologies in the Criminal Justice System,Forensic Science Communications,July 2001,Vol 3,Num.3.1Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959,United States.3.2.11.1 DiscussionLong-wave UV usually refers to thespectral range of UV-A,with wavelengths from about 315 to380 nm.Short-wave UV usually refers to the spectral range ofUV-C,with wavelengths from 100 to 280 nm.4.Significance and Use4.1 The procedures outlined here are grounded in thegenerally accepted body of knowledge and experience in thefield of forensic document examination.By following theseprocedures,a forensic document examiner can reliably reachan opinion concerning whether a document has been altered.5.Interferences5.1 Items submitted for examination may have inherentlimitations that can interfere with the procedures in this Guide.Limitations should be noted and recorded.5