Forensic Document Examination Subcommittee

The Forensic Document Examination Subcommittee focuses on standards and guidelines related to the forensic analysis, comparison, and evaluation of documents.

Officers | Members | Standards | Other Work Products

Officers

Lisa Hanson, Subcommittee Chair, Midwest Questioned Documents, LLC

Miriam Angel, Subcommittee Vice Chair, Los Angeles Police Department

Kelsey Osborn, Subcommittee Executive Secretary, Osborn & Son

Members

Forensic Document Examination Affiliates

Standards

On the OSAC Registry

• ANSI/ASB Standard 011, Scope of Expertise in Forensic Document Examination, 2022, 1st Ed. (added April 4, 2023).
•  ANSI/ASB Standard 044, Standard for Examination of Documents for Indentations, 2019, 1st Ed. (added September 5, 2023).

Published by a Standards Developing Organization (SDO) & Eligible for the OSAC Registry

• ANSI/ASB Standard 035, Standard for the Examination of Documents for Alterations, 2020, 1st Ed. 
• ANSI/ASB Standard 070, Standard for Examination of Handwritten Items, 2022, 1st Ed.
• ANSI/ASB Standard 117, Standard for the Examination of Stamping Devices and Stamp Impressions, 2020, 1st Ed. 
• ANSI/ASB Standard 127, Standard for the Preservation and Examination of Charred Documents, 2022, 1st Ed.
• ANSI/ASB Standard 128, Standard for the Preservation and Examination of Liquid Soaked Documents, 2022, 1st Ed.

Sent to an SDO for Further Development & Publication

• Forensic Document Examination Terms and Definitions.
• Standard Guide for Minimum Training Requirements for Forensic Document Examiners.

Under Development

• OSAC 2022-S-0034, Standard for the Expression of Conclusions in Handwriting Examinations. 
• Standard Test Methods for the Comparison of Writing and Inkjet Inks (destructive testing).
• Standard Test Methods for the Comparison of Writing and Inkjet Inks (non-destructive testing).
• Standard for the Physical Examination and Comparison of Cut, Torn, and Perforated Paper by Forensic Document Examiners.
• Standard for Initial Evidence Assessment for Forensic Document Examiners.
• Standard Collection for Known Writing.
• Standard for the Development of a Training Program for Forensic Document Examiners. 
• Use of Image Capture and Storage Technology in Forensic Document Examination.
• Standard for the Examination of Financial, Identification, and Other Authorized Documents.

Other Work Products

Research & Development Needs

• See the research and development needs identified by the Forensic Document Examination Subcommittee.

Discipline-Specific Bibliographies and Bibliographic References

These documents may contain information to help forensic scientists, judges, lawyers, researchers, and other readers better understand the nature, scope, and foundations of the individual disciplines as currently practiced. The identification of these documents does not represent an endorsement by OSAC or NIST. Only standards that are posted on the OSAC Registry and Technical Guidance documents, are endorsed by OSAC. The referenced documents may be subject to copyright. Note: Subcommittee position statements or responses to data collections by the subcommittee do not necessarily represent the position of OSAC or NIST.

• SWGDOC Standard for Examination of Documents Produced with Liquid Ink Jet Technology
• SWGDOC Standard for Examination of Documents Produced with Toner Technology
• SWGDOC Standard for Examination of Dry Seal Impressions
• SWGDOC Standard for Examination of Fracture Patterns and Paper Fiber Impressions on Single-Strike Film Ribbons and Typed Text
• SWGDOC Standard for Examination of Handwritten Items (superseded by ANSI/ASB Standard 070, Standard for the Examination of Handwritten Items, 2022, 1st Ed.)
• SWGDOC Standard for Examination of Mechanical Checkwriter Impressions
• SWGDOC Standard for Examination of Typewritten Items
• SWGDOC Standard for Minimum Training Requirements for Forensic Document Examiners
• SWGDOC Standard for Non-destructive Examination of Paper
• SWGDOC Standard for Physical Match of Paper Cuts, Tears, and Perforations in Forensic Document Examinations
• SWGDOC Standard for Scope of Work of Forensic Document Examiners
• SWGDOC Standard for Test Methods for Forensic Writing Ink Comparison
• SWGDOC Standard for Use of Image Capture and Storage Technology in Forensic Document Examination
• SWGDOC Standard for Writing Ink Identification
• SWGDOC Standard Terminology for Expressing Conclusions of Forensic Document Examiners 150114
• SWGDOC Terminology Relating to the Examination of Questioned Documents