Prospects of International Harmonisation in the Sphere of Forensic Document Examination in Penal Proceedings

Abstract

The paper concerns the problem of international harmonisation in the sphere of forensic document examination in penal proceedings. Progressive “internationalisation” of penal cases demands that some unified standards be found in terms of the instruments being used in penal proceedings. It also affects research performed by forensic document examiners. Various techniques of forensic document examination exist, as well as various views on the value of opinion of an expert witness, and differentiated legal regulations in respective countries. Also, methods concerning verification of the skills of experts in the field of forensic document examination are different in particular countries. Such a state of affairs provokes reflections on whether opinions formulated by expert witnesses from various countries might be considered as really equivalent. It seems that it is not exactly so, and it should be ascertained that such a situation is definitely negative. Thus, there arises the necessity of at least partial harmonisation of rules in this scope, at the international level. This paper is an attempt to answer the question of if opportunities for such harmonisation exist, and if so, in which fields of matters concerning forensic document examination it is possible.