JFDE History
The Journal of Forensic Document Examination (JFDE) was first published in 1987 as an in-house journal for the Association of Forensic Document Examiners (AFDE). FDE’s Lynn Wilson Marks and Bonnie Schwid, both AFDE members, were in contact with document examiners Manfred Hecker in Germany, Huub Hardy in the Netherlands, and Bryan Found in Australia, and visited their laboratories. Through these examiners, they joined the International Graphonomics Society (IGS) founded in 1985 to promote research into motor control and movement including handwriting as an integral part. As a result of this natural collaboration between AFDE and IGS many of the most current scientific research papers on handwriting execution and identification are published in the JFDE, which has become a scientific peer-reviewed journal with an international advisory board, authorship, and readership. Since the JFDE’s inception, the authors and subscribership have expanded to over 20 countries. In 2018 the JFDE moved from print publication to online publication to increase the accessibility and impact of the journal. Current issues and individual articles are available at this JFDE.org website, and back issues are being added here. Currently additional back issues are available at https://afde.org/journal.html and https://afde.org/backissues.html.
JFDE Goals
The Journal of Forensic Document Examination (JFDE) is an annual publication that is a double- blind, peer reviewed journal. The JFDE publishes scientific research, technical papers, pilot studies, case reviews, commentaries and book reviews for scientific researchers and practitioners in the field of forensic document examination. The JFDE is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics. Our ethics statements are based on the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) best practices for journal editors.
The goals of the JFDE are to provide access to high quality, peer reviewed information/articles for practitioners, researchers and students in the field of Forensic Document Examination and to provide a publication hub for authors who want to reach this audience. The JFDE is comitted to maintaining the highest standards of pubication ethics. Our ethics statements are based on the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) best practices for journal editors.
In furtherance of these goals the JFDE is pursuing indexing by major publishing indexers.
JFDE Scope
Articles published in the JFDE related to the areas of knowledge in forensic document examination including examination of handwriting, the neuroscience of handwriting, pattern recognition applied to handwriting examination, machine learning techniques, altered documents, indented writing (latent impressions), document materials (ink, toner, paper), office equipment, scientific equipment related to examination of documents, experimental and applied research in these areas, conclusion language and reporting, the legal system and testimony.
Members of the Association of Forensic Document Examiners (AFDE) and the International Graphonomics Society (IGS) typically submit manuscripts to the JFDE (ISSN 0895-0849). Also, original material submitted by nonmembers, who are employed as professional document examiners, or by experts in related forensic fields, will also be considered. Publication will depend upon space available and suitability for inclusion in the JFDE, as determined by the Editorial Board. JFDE editors reserve the right to clarify and/or condense any material submitted for publication, but request that authors submit only work they believe to be in finished form and suitable for our format. Papers selected for publication are peer reviewed with the exception of book reviews and guest papers.
Previously published materials will be considered but must be accompanied by release from all previous publishers; such release remains the responsibility of the author. All material appearing in the JFDE is copyrighted by AFDE.
The Editorial Board will acknowledge receipt of submissions.
Decisions to send a paper for peer review are made by the Editor and Scientific Advisory Board. Submission does not guarantee peer review or publication. Authors can track the progress of their submissions through the Open Journal System.
The Journal of Forensic Document Examination (JFDE) is the official publication of the Association of Forensic Document Examiners (AFDE). It is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes research papers, case studies, technical articles and book reviews pertinent to the field of document examination. AFDE is not responsible as a body, nor are the editors of the JFDE individually or as a group, for the statements and opinions advanced in this publication.
