3.Act as interpreter:

Что значат термины «судебная экспертиза» и «экспертиза документов»?

Forensic science is the application of various sciences to the law. The application of allied sciences and analytical techniques to questions concerning documents is termed forensic document examination. The examination of questioned documents consists of the analysis and comparison of questioned handwriting, hand printing, typewriting, commercial printing, photocopies, papers, inks, and other documentary evidence with known material in order to establish the authenticity of the contested material as well as the detection of alterations.

Каким образом специалист, проводящий экспертизу документов, может помочь судам иправоохранительным органам?

Forensic document examiners (FDEs) help lawyers by examining and offering written opinions on a variety of disputed document problems including: wills, deeds, medical records, income tax records, time sheets, contracts, loan agreements, election petitions, checks, and anonymous letters.

Lawyers benefit from an FDEs specialized knowledge of literature in the questioned document field. This knowledge will assist lawyers in preparing meaningful direct examination questions for their own experts and cross-examination questions for opposing experts.   

Какое образование должен иметь специалист, проводящий экспертизу документов?

There is no college degree or major in forensic document examination. The majority of FDEs have undergraduate or master's degrees, however. Most of the recognized regional and national forensic science organizations require a baccalaureate degree as a condition of membership.

А получают ли эти специалисты какую-то специальную профильную подготовку?

Like most forensic disciplines, on-the-job specialized training from experienced examiners is the only way to acquire expertise. No substitute exists for a legitimate structured training program. Forensic document examination does not lend itself to autodidactic learning or to correspondence courses.

Графология и экспертиза документов – это одно и тоже?

Graphology or graphoanalysis attempts to predict character traits from handwriting examination. Forensic document examination involves the analysis and comparison of questioned documents with known material in order to identify, whenever possible, the author or origin of the questioned document. Some graphologists call themselves handwriting analysts or document examiners and are therefore confused with FDEs. In U.S. the court rejected the testimony of a proffered handwriting examiner, in part, because his training was completed through a correspondence school and strongly emphasized graphoanalysis. But it also pointed out that the witness was not certified by the ABFDE.

4. Test youselves:

1. Choose the right answer

1. …. includes comparison, identification of handwriting, verification of the author and analysis of questioned documents.

a) Graphology

b) Handwriting examination

c) Forensic science

d) Forensic linguistic

2. …. is the study and analysis of handwriting especially in relation to human psychology.

a) Graphology

b) Handwriting examination

c) Forensic science

d) Forensic linguistic

3. Handwriting features that examiners evaluate include ….

a) the analysis of semantic meaning in words and pragmatic meaning in words

b) the comparison of speech patterns

c) the size and slope of the writing, pen pressure, the spacing between words and letters, height, beginning and ending strokes, and line quality.

d) the physical evidence of a document

4. Everyone's writing consists of a combination of …

a) letters and sounds

b) class and individual characteristics

c) dots and commas

d) letters and numbers

5. …. studies all aspects of a document to determine its authenticity and origin, including handwriting, typewriting, fingerprinting, commercial printing, photocopies, inks and papers.

a) a graphologist

b) a criminalist

c) a forensic document examiner

d) a scientist

6. …. is a means of identifying forgery and establishing the authenticity of documents in dispute.

a) Crime scene examination

b) Speech examination

c) Handwriting examination

d) Document examination