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Forensic Examination of Fire and Water-Damaged Documents

NCJ Number
186069
Journal
International Journal of Forensic Document Examiners Volume: 5 Dated: December/January 1999 Pages: 76-82
Author(s)
Giancarlo Santacroche
Date Published
1999
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This study examines various methods for the manipulation and restoration of fire-damaged and water-damaged documents.
Abstract
In order to limit the damage to burnt, charred, or wet documents, proper measures must be used to collect and transport such documents, freeze the documents, and dry the documents. The technique that involved the humidification of charred ashes followed by treatment with hot water or Arklone and placement between to sheets of glass gave satisfactory results in a case that involved the examination of ashes collected from a fireplace. No other treatment was necessary in this case. For burnt documents, the application of a transparent acrylic lacquer followed by optical examination (especially using IR luminescence) yielded good results in a case that involved a French passport. Documents kept for 30 days in the various solutions and solvent tested, followed by drying by lyophilisation, obtained the following principal signs of damage: ungluing and obliteration of the photo, rust stains, partial obliteration of the writing, and the loss of printing quality and paper details. IR luminescence techniques revealed certain inscriptions, notably an obliterated signature on a Swiss passport. The success of this method largely depends on the state of the document, the type of ink used, and the length of time in the solvent or solution. 8 figures and 9 references