Handwriting Analysis Chapter 8 Questioned Document Any written

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

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 ▫ 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 ▫ 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