ABSTRACT
The improper or careless handling of a disputed document* can compromise the chain of custody or the examination. The legal arena after Daubert mandates proper chain of custody of the evidence, i.e., the questioned text and the known exemplars. In most cases, protocol for handling document evidence is mandated by the FDE’s employer. Law enforcement agencies have policy manuals listing their procedures on the collecting, recording, and handling of evidence. Because the FDE usually is not one of the original crime scene responders or the investigating detective, he or she is only responsible for the proper care and handling of evidence once it comes into the document examiner’s possession. Controlling the actions of those individuals handling the evidence prior to its submission is outside the scope of the forensic scientist’s responsibility.
