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An awesome true life story about how a forensic document examiner helped someone find justice.
Friday, January 26, 2007
QDE vs HWA What are the differences?
There is so much confusion on what a Questioned Document Examiner (QDE) does vs what a Handwriting Analyst (HWA) does. The QDE examines documents and verifies if the writing is the same. The HWA looks at handwritng to assess personality traits.
Being they are separate disciplines, the requirements are such that separate training and separate certifications to practice professionally are required. They are not interchangeable skills.
Document examiners do work involving analysis of the physical characteristics of writing. They determine who wrote what.
Document examiners may be called into court to testify as an "expert witness." They can be hired by either side to do that. However, many cases are settled long before they go to court. The important fact is that personality assessment is not a factor in their work.
Handwriting Analyts look at handwriting to find personality traits. The handwriting is analyzed to determine what personality traits show up in a given sample of handwriting. For example a lower case 't' with the bar crossed low on the stem is indicitave of low self esteem. The traits and their meaning are given to the writer.
Some QDE & HWA list themselves as handling both kinds of work. That is ok if they are trained and qualified in both.
QDE work is a science and more highly regarded by the public and is in greater demand because fraud & deceit are at an all time high.
Many feel HWA is is not a science, although many HWA would disagree.
Being they are separate disciplines, the requirements are such that separate training and separate certifications to practice professionally are required. They are not interchangeable skills.
Document examiners do work involving analysis of the physical characteristics of writing. They determine who wrote what.
Document examiners may be called into court to testify as an "expert witness." They can be hired by either side to do that. However, many cases are settled long before they go to court. The important fact is that personality assessment is not a factor in their work.
Handwriting Analyts look at handwriting to find personality traits. The handwriting is analyzed to determine what personality traits show up in a given sample of handwriting. For example a lower case 't' with the bar crossed low on the stem is indicitave of low self esteem. The traits and their meaning are given to the writer.
Some QDE & HWA list themselves as handling both kinds of work. That is ok if they are trained and qualified in both.
QDE work is a science and more highly regarded by the public and is in greater demand because fraud & deceit are at an all time high.
Many feel HWA is is not a science, although many HWA would disagree.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
National Handwriting Week - How safe is your mail?
National Handwriting Week
How Safe is Your Mail? by Sandi Basye
(postal fraud, busted by forensic document examiner)
This is National Handwriting Week. To some this may not have much meaning, but to those who have been a victim of fraud and have been redeemed by a handwriting expert the dedication of such a week becomes meaningful. I am one of those redeemed victims. Allow me to explain. Question, how safe is your mail? Fraudulent mail transfers can cause more problems than you could ever imagine. Are you aware that anyone may put in a change of address for you? The post office does not require identification. The change can even be made through the mail or internet. Therefore, you would never be alerted to its existence until after the fact. Being a victim of this action has changed my life forever.
Read the rest of the article here
How Safe is Your Mail? by Sandi Basye
(postal fraud, busted by forensic document examiner)
This is National Handwriting Week. To some this may not have much meaning, but to those who have been a victim of fraud and have been redeemed by a handwriting expert the dedication of such a week becomes meaningful. I am one of those redeemed victims. Allow me to explain. Question, how safe is your mail? Fraudulent mail transfers can cause more problems than you could ever imagine. Are you aware that anyone may put in a change of address for you? The post office does not require identification. The change can even be made through the mail or internet. Therefore, you would never be alerted to its existence until after the fact. Being a victim of this action has changed my life forever.
Read the rest of the article here
Ethics as a Document examiner
Wednesday night I was on a teleconference about Ethics in the Forensic Document Examination industry.
Did you know:
A forensic document examiner is expected at all times to be: a non-advocate, non-bias, non-spurious, non-prejudice, impartial, skillful, informed, reputable, truthful, reliable, dedicated, publicized, thick-skinned, dynamic, qualified, an author, studious, competent, with integrity and wisdom, and of course ethical.
That is a lot of resonsibility & takes a lot of morel turpitude. It is almost the same standards by which we expect officers of the law, laywers, & judges to abide by....but that is another debate for another time.
We had a lot of tough questions posed to us, and as a Document examiner, we are held at a very high standard.
A word to everyone: Verify the INTEGRITY and the REPUTATION of anyone before giving them your money.
Did you know:
A forensic document examiner is expected at all times to be: a non-advocate, non-bias, non-spurious, non-prejudice, impartial, skillful, informed, reputable, truthful, reliable, dedicated, publicized, thick-skinned, dynamic, qualified, an author, studious, competent, with integrity and wisdom, and of course ethical.
That is a lot of resonsibility & takes a lot of morel turpitude. It is almost the same standards by which we expect officers of the law, laywers, & judges to abide by....but that is another debate for another time.
We had a lot of tough questions posed to us, and as a Document examiner, we are held at a very high standard.
A word to everyone: Verify the INTEGRITY and the REPUTATION of anyone before giving them your money.
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