Foundations of Forensic Document Analysis: Theory and Practice

Forensic document examination is a long established specialty and its practitioners have regularly been shown to have acquired skills that enable them to assist the judicial process.  This book, aimed primarily at students studying forensic science and document examination in particular, introduces all of the essential ideas that are to be found in the work of the forensic document examiner in a concise and straightforward way.  Each examination type is described not only in terms of its procedural basis but also the science and reasoning that underpins it.  The reader will be able to relate the different kinds of interpretation skills used by the document examiner to those used in other forensic disciplines.

This book will be an invaluable text for all students taking courses in Forensic Science or related subjects. The book will also be a useful reference for researchers new to this field or practitioners looking for an accessible overview.

Mike Allen s career in forensic document examination spans thirty years during which time he reported on thousands of cases at all levels of the judicial system and gave evidence in court on numerous occasions.  He has been involved in assessing the work of other document examiners, training new examiners and teaching in the universities for the last fifteen years or so.  In recent years he has worked with other experts to establish methods of assessing professional competence in a variety of forensic disciplines.