Submission Guidelines
As part of BCI’s ongoing effort to effectively and efficiently assist law enforcement in Ohio, the Laboratory has adopted policies for questioned documents submissions. Find the details in this document.
FAQs
- Can I submit copies of documents I want analyzed?
A: Yes, copies may be submitted. However, please submit the original evidence whenever possible or the highest quality scale copies or images.
- How should I package my document evidence?
A: Evidence should be submitted in paper envelopes, and the evidence information should be written on the envelope before placing the evidence into it. Questioned and known items should be packaged separately.
- What kind of sample do I need and how much?
A: Please submit whatever writing you have available, but the more similar the sample is to the questioned writing, the better:
- Print compares best to printed samples, all-capital print to all-capital print, cursive to cursive and signatures to signatures.
- When collecting signature samples, have the person sign the name(s) in question — not just his or her own name.
- Similar writing instruments, paper and writing surfaces should be used when possible.
- Non-requested or course of business writing should be submitted whenever possible along with requested or collected writing samples.
There can be too little directly comparable sample, but very rarely is there too much directly comparable sample.
- What other examinations of questioned documents do you perform?
A: Examination of:
- Original documents for indented writing
- Obliterated writing
- Inks and papers
- Documents for alterations
- Authenticity of documents
- What kind of results can be expected from a questioned documents examination?
A: There are five conclusions that examiners can reach in their analysis:
- Source identification
- Support for the same source
- An inconclusive result
- Support for a different source
- Source exclusion
Find more details in this conclusion scale document.
OHLEG Apps
Laboratory Online: This app allows county prosecutors to securely track the testing status and results of DNA and other types of evidence that local law enforcement agencies submit to BCI.
Laboratory Evidence Pre-Log and Inquiry: This app allows an OHLEG user to complete BCI’s evidence submission paperwork in advance and check on completion status.