Handwriting Analysis Chapter 8

Questioned Document Any written or printed communication whose source is in doubt Can be written on any source with any type of material

Handwriting Not necessarily unique to each individual Circumstances that impact handwriting age setting health DURING LECTURE HAVE STUDENTS COPY THE ALPHABET AND DISCUSS HOW HANDWRITING IS NOT ALWAYS UNIQUE

Handwriting Comparisons Exemplars (samples) are needed Requested exemplars Session arranged as similar to original scenario where handwriting sample was written Person required to write what is spoken not necessarily what is on original document Alerts suspect that there is an issue with handwriting attempts to alter may occur

Nonrequested exemplars Documents written by subject for purposes other than the questioned document Represent true handwriting, but sometimes hard to prove in court that the suspect is the source

Comparison Characteristics No two people have identical handwriting There are natural variations to person’s signatures No single characteristic that is unique enough to individualize handwriting No set number of characteristics needed to identify the author of a questioned document

Handwriting Analysis Class characteristics Individual characteristics Slant of writing Individual characteristics Unusual flourishes at ends of words or capital letters

Identifying Forgery Signs of forgery Differences in: line thickness or smoothness Connecting strokes Pen lifts Starts and stops Retouching

Questioned Document Alterations Erasures Removing writing from a document through mechanical (rubbing with abrasive materials) or chemical (bleaching) means Obliterations Original writing is crossed out or written over Charring

Indented writing Overwriting Additions Document written on top sheet of pad of paper and leaves pressure marks on subsequent pages Overwriting Which of two pen strokes was made first Additions Writing added to original document