Handwriting

Questioned document

Any object containing handwritten or typewritten markings whose source or authenticity is in doubt, such as letters, checks, driver's licenses, contracts, wills, passports.

Exemplar

A known sample used for comparison with questioned documents.

Stereoscope

Optical device showing one image in each eyepiece to provide depth perception.

Light Sources

Used to detect forgery, changes, and obliterations in documents by shining light from below and observing luminescence differences.

Templates

General models for writing letters, used to identify traits or characteristics of the writer.

Handwriting Analysis

Involves examining line quality, spacing, letter ratios, pen lifts, connecting strokes, shading, slant, baseline habits, flourishes, and diacritics to determine authenticity.

Forgery Methods

Include blind forgery (using own handwriting), simulated forgery (carefully copying a signature), and traced forgery (copying a signature using a lightbox or carbon paper).

Obliterations

Removal of writing by physical or chemical means, detectable through disturbances in paper fibers or coatings, and color changes visible under UV or IR light.

12 Characteristics 

Scientists use 12 characteristics to determine whether a signature or writing is authentic. Handwriting experts may be able to make an identification if: 

-there are enough samples for examination 

-enough samples to compare to. 

What can documents tell us? 

Verifying handwriting and signatures 

● Authenticating documents 

● Characterizing papers, pigments, and ink 

● Restoring erased or obliterated writing 

● Determining relative ages of documents and inks 

Direct Involvement

Directly - can be in the form of a random note, suicide note, etc 

Indirect Involvement 

Indirectly - business records in a drug operation, a receipt for a car rental 

1. Line Quality 

Are the lines smooth, free-flowing, and rhythmic, or shaky, nervous, and wavering? 

2. Spacing of words and letters 

Examine the average amount of space between words and letter formation. 

Is the spacing between words and letters consistent in the questioned and known documents?

3. Ratio of relative height, width, and size of letters 

What are the overall height, width, and size of the letters in the questioned vs. known documents? Are they consistent? 

4. Pen lifts and separations 

Check how the writer stops to form new letters and begin words. 

Forgeries may have pen lifts or separations in unusual places, for instance, in writing a single letter.

 5. Connecting strokes 

Compare how capital letters are connected to lowercase letters and how strokes connect between letters and between words. 

6. Beginning and ending strokes 

Compare how the writer begins a word, number, or letter and how the writer ends a word, number, or letter. 

Are the strokes straight, curled, long, or short? 

Are they made on the upstroke or downstroke? 

7. Unusual letter formation 

Look for unusual letter formation

- letters written back to front 

- letters written backwards 

- letters with a tail 

- unusual capitals 

8. Shading and pen pressure 

Individuals use different amounts of pressure with a pen or pencil, making the lines darker and wider. Check for pressure on the downward and upward strokes. 

9. Slant 

Does the writing slant to the left or right, or is it straight up and down? 

Are some letters consistently slanted more or less than others?

10. Baseline habits 

Does the writing tend to follow a straight line, move downward, or move upward? Is it above or below the line? 

11. Flourishes or embellishments 

Are there any fancy letters, curls, loops, circles, double loops, or underlines? 

12. Placement of diacritics 

Diacritic - The crossing of t's and dotting of i's and j's 

Check the crossing of t's and dotting of i's, j's, or any other letters or punctuation marks. Is the line on the t long in proportion to the stem? Is it located to the left or right? Are the i's dotted above or to the left or right? 

Factors that can affect handwriting: 

Health - various disorders, arthritis, stroke, Parkinson's, tremors 

Age - Senility 

Alcohol or Drugs