Forensic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Forensic - Essay Example The modern world is experiencing more sophisticated criminal activities that use technology to hide the identity. One of the commonly used method in crime propagation is the use of typewritten documents. Printed documents are used for criminal purposes such as communication, threatening, or soliciting ransom. Investigators thus face a dilemma on how to track the suspects. However, locating the machine used in printing or photocopying the documents is critical in narrowing the search area. Several methods are used to identify the machine that printed a particular document. The machines are traced from the unique characteristics of their output. Some of the characteristics include; paper banding due to variations in speeds of toner cartridges, marks from feed system, graphic marks put by specific printers and identification of indentations using Electrostatic Detection Device (EDD). According to Chiang et al. (2004) printer prices have enormously dropped, and almost everyone can afford one. However, the manufacturers of these printing machines lower the quality of the machines to reduce costs of production. Changes are visible in aspects such as plastics gears that move the toner cartridge. The cartridge gears are also never uniform making toners cartridges run at different speeds. Every printer or photocopiers have unique toning pattern as a result of toner morphology and chemical composition (Girard, 2013). Forensic experts are thus able to determine the machine used in printing or photocopying a paper. As noted, the variability in cartridge speeds inhibits accuracy of the toner. The photoconductor is subsequently rotated at different speeds. The situation leads to uneven detection of text or image with certain parts being darker and others lighter. The phenomenon is called banding and is common in printers and photocopiers that use rotation beams.