Forensics Director to assist secret service in ink analysis

With a recent grant from the Department of Justice/National Institute of Justice, John Allison is once again hitting the lab and resuming his role as TCNJ’s resident forensic researcher.

The professor of chemistry and director of the Forensic Chemistry Program at The College of New Jersey has recently received research funding from the Department of Justice/National Institute of Justice in the amount of $261,000 for the purpose of analyzing new types of ink.

Allison’s proposal, “Forensic Analysis of Pigmented Inks,” was co-written with Professor Jay Siegel, director of the Forensic and Investigative Sciences Program at Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis (IUPUI). The project involves the analysis of a new class of inks – pigmented inks – that may appear on questioned documents ranging from wills to altered checks.

“The Secret Service will be providing both labs with a number of samples of pigmented inks that they currently don’t have procedures for analyzing chemically,” explained Allison.

According to Allison, many inkjet printers can now use cartridges containing pigmented ink to print at-home photos from a digital camera. The pigmented ink, similar to the pigments commonly found in paints, produces a higher quality print that will not fade as traditional inks do. Also, pigmented ink pens prevent “check-washing,” a procedure where common solvents are used to “wash” the ink off of a written check so that it can be reused. Interesting fact: Uni-ball brand pens use pigmented ink, and are endorsed by Frank Abagnale, the man about whom the book and movie, Catch Me If You Can was written.

Both of these applications, while becoming more and more popular, present a challenge for examiners. If a forensic scientist is faced with a possibly altered check or is questioning the signature on a will, the research made possible by the grant will develop the analytical methods needed to complete such an investigation.

“The methods we’re developing will also be useful in the area of trace evidence analysis, an area of inquiry that is also underway in collaboration between me and the New Jersey State Police Forensic Laboratory,” Allison added.

The two-year grant provides support for two TCNJ students per semester. Ultimately, the grant is providing 12 semesters of student support, allowing them to take part in the research and training.