Hands on Forensics

ABOUT

A Forensic document, handwriting and signature expert is someone that applies scientific principles and processes combined with experience (through an intensive in-house training under tutelage of a qualified expert) in order to reach a finding.  The international standards set for a forensic document, handwriting and signature expert is a minimum training of at least 2 years, full time under tutelage of a qualified expert.

 

Graphology (the art of identifying a person's handwriting characteristics in order to determine his/her personality) is NOT a science and thus not accepted in courts. 

 

Training as a graphologist does not qualify you to become a forensic document, handwriting and signature expert.  Correspondence courses and the so called "6 week training courses" does NOT qualify you as a forensic document, handwriting and signature examiner.

 

Yvette is a qualified Forensic Document, Handwriting ans Signature Expert based in Cape Town South Africa.

 

Yvette has wide courtroom experience and an extensive examination career in the field of forensic handwriting, signatures and documents  The knowledge and experience that she has gained in her career (since 1996) as a senior forensic document, handwriting and signature expert while on staff of the Questioned Document Unit of the Forensic Science Laboratory of the South African Police Service are as follows:

 

 

Specialist examiner of questioned documents, which includes the

 

• Examination of handwriting in order to determine authorship

                                                                                                                                                  

• Examination of signatures in order to determine forgery from genuine and in some instances authorship of a forgery

 

• Individualization of typescript, printed matter and stamped impressions;

 

• Identification of forgeries, erasures and additions;

 

• Deciphering of obscured writing and indentations;

 

• Examination of South African and USA banknotes to determine if it is genuine or counterfeit;

 

• Any other examination concerning disputed documents.

 

 

Specialized training includes inter alia:

 

• 3 Years theoretical and practical in-service training in the examination of questioned documents, signatures and handwriting with the Questioned Document Unit of the Forensic Science Laboratory of the South African Police Service.

 

• Advanced Program in Forensic Criminalistics, which is specifically directed to the examination of questioned documents, by the University of South Africa.

 

• Seminar at the South African Banknote Company regarding the security features and manufacture of genuine South African banknotes.

 

• United States Secret Service Counterfeit Forensics Course presented by the United States Secret Service Forensic Document Laboratory.

 

• Course in printing processes at the South African Printing College, Honeydew.

 

• Emerging Leadership Program presented by the African Institute of Mentoring.

 

Workshop and specialized one-on-one training includes inter alia:

 

• AnalySIS®, (software for the operation of a computer-based microscopic system with various scientific functioning i.e. measuring, particle detection etc.) presented by Professor Nieubert, Soft Imaging System, Germany;

 

• Analyst Notebook V6 Course presented by Visual Analysis;

 

• VSC2000 HR operating and management (one-on-one) by Emma Wagner, Foster & Freeman, London;

 

• VSC6000 operating and management (one-on-one) by Michael Zontini, Foster & Freeman, USA.

 

 

Attended the 67th Annual American Society of Questioned Document Examiners meeting and workshop in Detroit, Michigan, USA.

 

Practical experience of Document & Handwriting examination (excluding RSA & USA banknote cases, consultations and crime scenes attended) - 1360 cases.

 

Casework in countries includes South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana and Hong Kong.

 

Numerous pre-trial consultations as well as viva voce testimony in cases (supreme court, regional and magistrates courts, arbitrations, bargaining councils and disciplinary hearings) where evidence has been well received.

 

Casework is not only restricted to Cape Town area, but national as well as international instructions are also welcome.