Role of the Document Examiner in Investigations Concerning Unauthorized Disclosure of Documents

• NCJ Number: 171944
• Journal: International Journal of Forensic Document Examiners Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Dated: (April/June 1997) Pages: 159-166
• Author(s): S M Gratham
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Technical)
• Language: English
• Country: Canada
• Note: Presented at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners, 1993, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Annotation

The document examiner's involvement in the investigation of the origin of an unauthorized disclosure of sensitive documents is illustrated through a hypothetical case study.

Abstract

Guidelines to assist the investigation at the preliminary stages of document examination are presented. The case study describes the circumstances in which a document leak may occur and the source of potential evidence when attempting to determine the origin of the disclosure. Investigations involving unauthorized disclosures of sensitive documents are characterized by high intensity and relatively short duration. Evidence collection and procedures involved in document examination are described. In order to be effective, the document examiner must be well aware of the facts of the particular case and must be close to the activities of the investigation. 10 figures