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Chapter 10 Handwriting Analysis, Forgery, and Counterfeiting

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1 Chapter 10 Handwriting Analysis, Forgery, and Counterfeiting
All Rights Reserved South-Western / Cengage Learning © 2012, 2009 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

2 Forgery What are some examples of possible forgeries you know about? Bathroom passes Doctors note Signed test Signed reportcards Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

3 History of Forensic Handwriting Analysis
1930s—handwriting analysis played a role in the famous Lindbergh case. 1999—the US Court of Appeals determined that handwriting analysis qualifies as a form of expert testimony To be admissible in court, scientifically accepted guidelines must be followed Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

4 Handwriting Analysis Everyone’s handwriting exhibits natural variation depending on several factors: Writing instrument used (pen, pencil, crayon) Our mood Age Being in a hurried Nonetheless each person has a unique hand writing Slant, curled letters, height of letters, how close the i is dotted Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

5 Characteristics of Handwriting
A person’s handwriting exhibit unique characteristics that make it distinguishable from other samples Handwriting experts examine 12 major categories of exemplars (a handwriting control) Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

6 Characteristics of Handwriting
The 12 characteristics fall under three major categories Letter form which includes the shape, curve, angle or slant, proportional size, and appearance of connecting lines between letters Line form which includes the smoothness of letters and the darkness of the lines on the upward, compared to the downwards stroke Formatting which includes the spacing between letters, the spacing between words and lines, the placement of words on a line, and the margin’s a writer leaves empty on page Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

7 12 major Handwriting categories
Line quality – Do the letters flow or are they erratic or shaky Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

8 12 major Handwriting categories
Spacing – are letters equally spaced or crowded? -Margins -Space between capital and lowercase letters -Space between capital letters -Space between words Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

9 12 major Handwriting categories
Size consistency – is the ratio of height to with consistent? Height of overall writing Height of short to tall letters Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

10 12 major Handwriting categories
Continuous – is the writing continuous or does the writer lift the pen? Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

11 12 major Handwriting categories
Connecting letters – are capitals and lower-case letters connected and continuous? Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

12 12 major Handwriting categories
Letters complete – are letters completely formed? Or, is a part of the letter missing? Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

13 12 major Handwriting categories
Cursive and printed letters – are there printed letters, cursive letters, or both? Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

14 12 major Handwriting categories
Pen pressure – is pressure equal when applied to upward and downwards stroke? Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

15 12 major Handwriting categories
Slant – left, right, or variable? Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

16 12 major Handwriting categories
Line habit – is the text on the line, above the line, or below the line? Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

17 12 major Handwriting categories
Fancy curls or loops – are there fancy curls? Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

18 12 major Handwriting categories
Placement of the crosses on t’ and dots an i’s – correct or misplaced? Are t’s crossed in the middle, toward top, or toward the bottom? Are i’s dotted towards the bottom, towards the right, left, or centered? Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

19 Handwriting Examination
Two writings came from one person if: their similarities are unique and no unexplainable difference(s) are found Examine the questionable document for detectable traits and record them Obtain a known sample of the suspect’s writing (an exemplar) Compare and draw conclusions about the authorship of the questionable document Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

20 Handwriting Examination
Handwriting analysis methods can also help in detecting forgeries Forgeries are document made, adapted, or falsified with the intention of deceiving someone. Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

21 Analyzing a Handwriting Sample
Question document is analyzed and recorded as well as the exemplars (standard) The standard should be collected without the suspect knowledge ( written statement of what happen) The characteristics of the questioned item are compared with the known standard Experts determine which characteristics are valuable for drawing conclusion about the authenticity and authorship of the questioned document Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

22 Technology Used in Handwriting Analysis
Initial comparisons of document are done with the naked eye, a handheld lens, or a microscope. Biometric Signature Pads “Learns” to recognize how a person signs Evaluates speed, pressure, and rhythm of the signature Recognizes forgeries by the detection of even slight differences Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

23 Technology Used in Handwriting Analysis
Computerized Analysis Compares handwriting samples objectively Looking at pen pressure a person used their subjective opinion a computer will use the scanned image and use the amount of pixels to determine the pressure used Compared with samples stored in databases The are faster and more objective than analysis by an individual The Forensics Information System for Handwriting (FISH) is a computerized hand writing database used and maintained by the Secret Service Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

24 Handwriting Evidence in the Courtroom Shortcomings in Analysis
Expert explains how comparisons were made Cross-examination by defense attorney may follow Shortcomings in Analysis Are the base documents real or fake? Did mood, age, fatigue impact the handwriting? Did experts miss details any details? Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

25 Graphology Graphologist is a person who studies the personality of the writer based on handwriting samples They are not the same as a document expert The study of graphology is not necessary accepted as part of forensics science, but it can be used as a possible indicator of the writer’s personality type Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

26 Forgery Forgeries are document made, adapted, or falsified with the intention of deceiving someone. The primary purpose of forging something is to profit from the fake or alteration Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

27 Forgery Forged documents include:
checks employment records legal agreements licenses wills Fraudulence—forgery for material ($) gain Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

28 Forgery Check forgery can include:
ordering someone else’s checks from a deposit slip altering a check intercepting someone’s check, altering, and cashing it creating a check from scratch Approximately $27 million in illegitimate checks are cashed each DAY!! Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

29 Preventing Check Forgery
Print checks on chemically sensitive paper Large font size requires more ink and makes alterations more difficult Use high resolution borders that are difficult to copy Multiple color patterns Embed fibers that glow under different light Use chemical wash detection systems that change color when a check is altered Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

30 Literary Forgery Literary forgery refers to forgery of a piece of writing, such as a historic letter or manuscript The best literature forgers try to duplicate the original document, so the materials used are similar tot hose used in the original document Printing process and ink used have changed throughout time so forgers have to make their own inks and alter the paper to make it look older Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

31 Literary Forgery Best forgeries aim to duplicate the materials found in the original: old paper (from old books) chemically treated materials to fake an older look inks mixed from substances that would have been used at the time watermarks that add the appearance of age tools and styles that would have been popular at the time (penmanship) Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

32 Counterfeiting Counterfeiting is when a false documents or other items are copied for the purpose of deception Items commonly forged today include: Currency Traveler’s checks Food stamps Certain bonds Postage stamps Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

33 Counterfeit Currency Counterfeiting money is one of the oldest crime
Security features are added to paper currency that scanning cannot reproduce The government continuous to change the design of paper money to make currency more difficult to coppy and prevent counterfeiting Regular printer paper contains starch. Paper currency contains rag fiber instead of starch. Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

34 Authentic vs. Counterfeit
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

35 Counterfeit Currency Counterfeit money also feels different because real money is printed on special paper The number 1 way that people suspect fakes and scrutinize money is because it doesn’t feel right. Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

36 Detecting Counterfeit Currency
Counterfeit-determining pens are inexpensive special pens and markers containing the element iodine When the pen come in contact with a counterfeit bill, the paper marked with the pen changes to a bluish-black color This occurs from a chemical reaction between iodine and the starch found in regular printing paper Pen manufactures claim the counterfeit-detecting pen is 98% effective Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

37 Verifying Authentic Currency
New security features: Portrait stands out and appears raised off the paper Contains clear red and blue fibers woven throughout the bill Has clear, distinct border edges Treasury seal is shown with clear, sharp saw-tooth points Watermark appears on the right side of the bill in the light Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

38 Verifying Authentic Currency
New security features: The security thread is evident—a thin embedded vertical strip with the denomination of the bill printed in it There is minute printing on the security threads, as well as around the portrait When the bill is tilted, the number in the lower right-hand corner makes a color shift from copper to green Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

39 Examples of Security Features
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

40 Vocabulary Counterfeiting the production of an imitation of currency, works of art, documents, and name-brand look-alikes for the purpose of deception Document analysis the examination of questioned documents with known material for a variety of analyses, such as authenticity, alterations, erasures, and obliterations Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

41 Vocabulary Document expert a person who scientifically analyzes handwriting Exemplar a standard document of known origin and authorship used in handwriting analysis Forgery the making, adapting, or falsifying of documents or other objects with the intention of deceiving someone Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10

42 Vocabulary Fraudulence when a financial gain accompanies a forgery
Questioned document any signature, handwriting, typewriting, or other written mark whose source or authenticity is in dispute or uncertain Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 10


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