Review
"Bravo! A textbook format in this field is something that I find has been lacking and I congratulate you in your effort, I must say well done. It was nice to see you include the section on history and writing systems in greater detail than I've seen in other publications. The chapters dealing with expert witness testimony etc are very appropriate. The thing I like the most about the book is that it is designed to be essentially a "dictionary" or reference guide. It can and most probably will be useful for anyone from the beginning investigator or experienced entrepreneur to the attorney or lay person who might potentially deal with documents in an investigation or litigation and, at the same time, provides insight to the person who, though not in the field himself, may need to interact at some level with those who are." --
RICHARD B LEWIS, INVESTIGATOR/DOCUMENT EXAMINER, CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT SECTION, STATE OF COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF LAW"Everyone interested in document examination should have this book as a reference. This is the first textbook to my knowledge that has been published with all the information at your fingertips. It's the first book to contain information on the computer and printer generated documents to be included in a text. It will be the first book to use, in future cases, from my extensive library since it contains the latest information at this time." --
CONNIE J BRINKER, CDE, BRINKER & ASSOCIATES, DOCUMENT AND HANDWRITING EXAMINERS"Forgery is virtually 'the oldest crime,' and authentication of wills and the like is a daily aspect in the practice of law. The computer revolution has brought document examination from the realm of art fully into the realm of science. In a painstakingly thorough, yet ever-readable book, Mr Dines traces the beginnings of this art, its idiosyncrasies and the new complexities which have come to 'plague' the computer age. I recommend the book highly." --
PROFESSOR JEREMY M MILLER, FOUNDING DEAN OF CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL, FULLERTON, CALIFORNIA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF ORANGE COUNTY LAWYER MAGAZINE."I have always wanted to pursue a professional career in document examination but there was no real and practical way that explained how to do it in as much detail as Document Examiner Textbook does. Because of your effort, I am now taking a course in Forensic Document Examination. You have eliminated any doubt as this being my career and you have inspired me to be the best. I highly recommend your book." --
GARY V MICHAELS, GARY MICHAELS & ASSOCIATES"I have just finished reviewing the Document Examiners Handbook. It's a great book and should have been written several years ago, and I'll bet there are many QD examiners who wish they had written it. I know I wish I had. The content is excellent, and I will use Document Examiner Textbook in my QD classes. I'm looking forward to the second edition." --
W A ROBINSON, CFE/CMG, HANDWRITING SYNERGISTICS, INC, COURT QUALIFIED QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINER"I received your book yesterday and I must say it is a great book, well done. As I perused the Document Examiner Textbook this morning at 4:30 AM, my thoughts were how complete and detailed it is covering many facets of questioned documents. Your Q and A parts are excellent." --
CHARLOTTE KISER-THOMPSON, PH.D."There has been little written recently to help students, apprenticing examiners and those interested in document examination to understand the requirements and complexities of this profession. This book satisfies these needs. This is a major reference work which deals with all aspects encountered in the field. Each of the chapters provides those interested with the tools to prepare for, and advance in forensic document examination. This book is a valuable training textbook, as well as an overall review for those who wish to maintain their current expertise. A copy should be in all document libraries. --
LARRY F ZIEGLER, BA, FORENSIC DOCUMENT ANALYST, FORMERLY WITH THE FBI, INS, USSS, ATF, US NAVAL INVESTIGATIVE SERVICE, OFFICE OF THE EXAMINER OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENT, US TREASURY DEPARTMENT, AND THE BALTIMORE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT"This book provides an extensive survey for the entire field of document examination. It serves as an instruction manual as well as a historic and technical reference. Its contents are well organized and accessible, making this complex subject easy to understand. I highly recommend this book for both new and experienced document examiners, as well as for attorneys, investigators and others who are interested in this field." --
Andrew J Bradley, National and internationally known forensic document examiner. Administrator of several distant learning courses in document examination"This is an excellent primer for the document examiner or anyone faced with a question of document authenticity. It provides an extensive survey of all facets of the entire field of forensic document examination; and serves as an instruction manual as well as an historic and technical reference. The subject is treated exhaustively and includes over one-hundred illustrations." --
MICHAEL RAABE, ORANGE COUNTY LAWYER, THE ORANGE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
From the Author
At its inception over 100 years ago, handwriting identification was limited to just that, the identification of handwriting. It aroused a sense of sophistication when those engaged in it were called "document examiners." The emergence of high-profile cases over the years such as the Lindbergh kidnapping, the Alger Hiss controversy, the Hitler diary and the Howard Hughes will all engendered in the Public mind the awareness and recognition document-examination duly deserved. These cases were studied through observation, examination, and conclusion that of an empirical science. Science is playing an even greater role today. The examiner, confronted with forgery and fraudulent documents, often has to deal with and understand document alterations, obliterations, erasures, disguises, tracing and even charred documents, all of which must be handled scientifically. The examiner also requires expertise when photocopiers, facsimile machines, typewriters, duplication machines and computer printers are used. If this weren't enough, the examiner is asked to identify writing instruments, ink and paper. Willingly or not, he is thrust into the scientific fields of microscopy, mathematics, chemistry and electronics. He must also be adept at speaking eloquently, with authority, and dealing with others in a professional manner. This spans the gamut from handwriting to the fundamentals of computer printers. Beyond that, it delves into what the future holds for document examination. It was written with present conditions in mind. However, as new situations arise, subsequent prints of this book will incorporate them. Most professions, law and medicine in particular, require specialization in one aspect of their field due to the vast amount of knowledge that is continually becoming available. Newer concepts and discoveries dilute one's ability to absorb it all. Many examiners also will eventually evolve into specialty areas. While this book was written for the document examiner, it is also for attorneys, judges, investigators, law-enforcement personnel and students. It should also hold interest for the entrepreneur because of the rampant fraud that exists in the marketplace. The aforementioned is only part of the story. To begin with, the document-examiner field is in dire need of a first textbook as there are none. Furthermore, as of this writing, there are no formal classes in which one could receive college credits. There are only distance-learning courses, although of high caliber. College accreditation of such courses would provide better recognition of the field. In addition, it would help weed out those who pretend to be expert document examiners, but who lack the training, knowledge, and experience that Most legitimate, full-time document examiners possess. It is my hope that this book will make our society a better place in which to live, where honesty and justice can prevail. I hope you find it useful in your endeavors.
