NCJ Number
77878
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 50 Issue: 6 Dated: (June 1981) Pages: 22-25
Date Published
1981
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Guidelines are presented to aid the FBI investigator in examining a typewritten document.
Abstract
Basic typewriting terms are explained, and a history of typewriter development is given. Noting that original typewriting is preferred for examination, the article describes the work of the document examiner in tracing the document to a particular typewriter. Three general areas of examination are described: (1) size and spacing (vertical and horizontal), (2) type style, and (3) unique identifying characteristics -- character and alignment defects. Guidelines are suggested for obtaining known exemplars from a suspect typewriter, including sending a new typewriter ribbon to the FBI laboratory with typewriting exemplars prepared from another ribbon; obtaining the complete text of the questioned document including typographical errors; obtaining samples of each character on the keyboard; obtaining the make, model, and serial number of the typewriter for each specimen; and taking typewriter specimens from suspect typewriters rather than shipping the typewriter to the FBI laboratory. In addition, the investigating officer should determine text readability before submitting the ribbon to the FBI laboratory for examination. Photographs are given.