The security of the American legal system is based significantly on the security of its sensitive documents. The protection of these legal instruments – including wills, deeds and evidentiary documents, like subpoenas – has historically been limited to file cabinets and shredding. Even as the industry transitions to electronic documentation, printed documents still carry weight as the “real” versions, and can play an especially influential role in court procedures. Grave manipulations or misuses of legal documents can lead to further criminal activities, and, more importantly, affect the lives and livelihoods of the various participants in the legal process.
Areas of Concern
Subpoenas
As a powerful instrument of the law, subpoenas are vulnerable to all types of forgery and misuse, either for financial or procedural gain. In some cases, overzealous litigators have forced their points by counterfeiting documents to fraudulently elicit evidence. Because of such vulnerabilities, subpoenas require a more foundational level of security; one that enables authentication throughout their lifecycle, from issuance to court presentations. With a simple, cost-effective means to ensure the authenticity and legality of subpoenas, courts and practices can streamline and protect the collection of evidence and testimony.
Wills & Trusts
Wills and estate trusts can be manipulated to benefit anyone who touches the documents, even the probate attorneys that create and help execute them. Because of the predominant involvement of the elderly (who are top targets for exploitation) and the reliance on signatures as security, wills and trusts need a simple but comprehensive way to ensure the security of their sensitive information. Embedding security features within the printed documents using ordinary papers, inks and printer can help ensure their authenticity throughout use, while allowing all stakeholders, regardless of legal acumen, to prevent document manipulation and forgery.
Outlook
As long as the legal industry continues to operate as if the only criminals are within the courtroom, firms and law enforcement will be missing a vital piece to their security puzzle. The opportunities to exploit key legal documents are far too great to do nothing. Even with more documents moving to the electronic domain, the “real” paper trail is losing none of its legal power, and must be secured at every step of print creation and use. Particularly in evolving, “generational” documents like wills and heavily influential evidentiary documents like subpoenas, simple, flexible security should be a legal mandate.
AuthentiGuard On-Demand Can Help
AuthentiGuard-On-Demand is a sophisticated print security technology that combines the benefits of copy and tamper protection with the ability to conceal sensitive data within printed documents. Utilizing standard desktop and commercial printers, the solution provides for the dynamic delivery of comprehensive protection to confidential client records and critical evidentiary materials.