A scientific method for forensic examination of paper

Abstract

In the modern society, it is surprising to know that criminals are well equipped with novel technological facilities and they have adopted numerous methodological ways for conducting highly organized crime. Due to the immense advancement in Science and Technology, criminals are being quicker in exploiting sophisticated scientific technology for criminal activities and desires to commit crime. Hence the more complex criminal cases are gradually increasing in number and are becoming a major challenge for forensic document experts relating with paper and ink examination, such as paper analysis for differentiating between forged and originality, ascertain authenticity of paper document, its identification, relative age of documents and document dating. The present write-up is an attempt to describe overall approach in forensic examination of paper for distinguishing between two or more sets of paper. Chemical and physical analysis of paper by using appropriate scientific method provides valuable information regarding the details of the document. However application of advanced sophisticated techniques and appropriate scientific methods for reliable results without destruction of the original documents are the prime requirements of the forensic document expert and investigating agencies.