CHAPTER 8 FORENSIC EXAMINATION OF HANDWRITING Learning Objectives At the end of this chapter, the student will be able to: + Enumerate the pro i n cedures in systemati: iti baa systematic handwriting + Enumerate the characteristics of handwriting to be considered in document examination; + Explain the different structures of letter design ; and Explain disguised writing. Systematic Examination of Handwriting Forensic document examiners use a systematic approach to the examination of handwriting. Having a standard method of operation assures that a complete and methodical analysis is conducted and meets the requirements for expert testimony. Below are procedures to be followed in handwriting examination (Koppenhaver, 2007). 1. Preliminary Procedures : * Determine whether the material is of good quality and contains sufficient characteristics of handwriting that can be compared. * Determine if exemplars are suitable for comparison with the questioned material. The exemplars must be representative of the writer and written under similar conditions as the questioned material within a reasonable time frame. * Make certain that all of the exemplars are genuine and can be authenticated for the benefit of the court. * Have enough comparable material to draw conclusions about the questioned documents.ation esis of BED in the questing gery, determing Daguised wring tt ater the noma See prevent recente ang conse aracteristies of M6 peailed Examination the Inown handwriting ‘hat affect handwriting ang characteristics of writing orcifferent writers. Making an identification “List the similarities and dilferences between questioned and Janown documents. «Determine if there are enough similar identifying Cheatterstcs ‘without any significant fundamental tivergences to make an identification. 5. Einination + To dininate a writer, one must know all of the different ‘ways a writer ean write, This requires much larger samples offen handwriting before elimination can be made. ‘Movements, Line Quality and Alignment 2. Hand movement wri ‘action ofthe hand as 6 ‘ction, but with comes from the 1¢ hend and arm with FORENSICEXAMNATION OF HANDWRITING 85 the arm supperte by th desk onthe mu the forearm withthe bow se ten 4, The whele-amn movement in w arm without rest. The whelt-ann orene yar Weng, increta pena wring : 5. Line Quality is dependent upon the writing instrument, th writing surface, the relation of the movements, line qual and alignment writing instrument to the writing surface, the muscular skill or hand control of the writer and the manner ‘of writing or movernent employed. Deviations from uniform , may be due to lack “consciousness of the w: ‘A straight line is not only the shortest distance between two points but also the quickest distance, and the line quality of Writing always indicates the speed, force and freedom with which it was produced. ‘The connecting upward strokes are especially significant {for the comparison of moverent impulses as such strokes show the propulsive power of the ‘In genuine writing the upward strokes or some of them at least, are usually produced with more smoothness and fre sownwerd strokes, and just the opposite condition may be found in fraudulent writing. the capital letters in several characters to an actual oF ificance and shows ny ‘and should always be ‘uncon: considered in examininghe writing, flowing letters ang ebaracter ofthe written strojes rds and letter the average amount of space fhe words and the formations of the letters idth and size of the letters 2, Spacing of wo placed between of relative heigh 3 ato of renin the formations of letters as to the heighy, width and size 44. Pen its and separations - the manner in which one stops * eiting to form new letters or words 5, Connecting strokes ~ connecting capital letters to lowercase letters, connecting strokes within letters and words, etc, 6. Beginning and ending strokes - when one begins a letter formation or numbers and-where the stroke ends as to location 7. Unusual letter formation — the such as backwards N's, capital 8. Shading also known as pen pressure; how much pressure ‘ard ink width is pleced on upward and downward strokes 9. Slant - whether writing slants to the right, left, straight up ‘or down, or a combination of these; the degree of slant that - ©xists (protractor measurement may be made) 10. Baseline habit ther the writer writes along a straight a downward slope, upward slope, bent ‘s ~ fancy writing habits, curls, i manners of letter formations: Ps, triple loops, straight lines, etc. oe is = crossing of ts, dotting of #3 and n marks REBUN NF NOWRTIS_#7 MaNoweTIG 87 with which to compare, Even wl Tnaceustomed hond, dayuige made BY experts. Most at consistent nor on shapes and take 9 handwrit : The 18 of pandwriting make it ly Uhat variations in handwriting ‘will be reproduced by two in (Skill) ~ Does the questioned writing have iythmic, free-flowing appearance? : The. Givisk, Brom Few a. Smooth, free-flowing Ths. Qtek Brum Fox b, Shaky/nervous/wavering ce. Deliberate 2, Imegulaiies~ Does the questioned wetng have an avin rutoral sloppy appearance? The Quick, Baan Foxe a Bvidence of patching and/or retouching ‘The Quek. Broun “Foxe b, Evidence of foreign marks instrument The Quick Buu Fe wtrokes ce. Broke!RR eM TION OF Ha ma SRAMNUTION OF HANOWRTING 99 The Quick Broun Fox Once frmations made up of SeDATAtE Strokceg 4. Circle formation tf vw Tha Quilt Blak. Fox - e. Pen lifts and separations J. Evidence of balancing above and below ar baseline pidddett "m heights are in what proportion to Tha, Guest Bann. Fox Vertical strokes and slanted strokes combinations 7 ‘ : ‘ Qk Tae Dnch Berek. Fixe waa & Individualized imegulaities (not an indication offoreny 4. Alignment to baseline ~ What alignment exists to a ruled or imaginary baseline? Straight edge or ruler measurements 3. Size and proportion ~ What is the height of the overall writing Noes eee the individual strokes and the proportion to each other Tha Dusted Baten Fox The Quick Bren rex no Streit bases pic + & Height of overall writing” 5 b. The leer st Tre Qin Giem Fox “The Guiek, Bron '. Height ofthe short letters in proportion to the tall letter } Te Dai Atta Fay — a ce. ‘The word svoke eave the bastine c. “Evidence of diniishing srohor Pe nie Qari OO @. Concave baseline Bui Fox re Sak 4. evidence of increasing sone e. Convex baseline . PY The doick, BRoun Fey a a “Narrow in proportion to height {Upward slant >_>2 _ FORENSIC EUAMINATION OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS. z. is the general width of strokes in SC Ce ONCE aNowRTMG 99 ‘what amount of pressure Was used jn aA- failed measurements and examination, Th eflected and transmitted light shoutg & Tbar ~ Fight of che stem N ‘Tar ~ convex shaped The, Quick. Butte Foxe. x b. Heavy pressure ‘T-bar ~ concave shaped Tet Quik Recs Fon ©. Medium pressure, i. seg ~ How ace the T-bara crossed. the indo : x punctuation marks applied? ‘kk. T-bar- constant a T-bar- light crossing of lL ao ese becomes heavier At >» we aay crossing mm. T-bar — slants in relation to the baseline x — wntnon in proportion to stem & fn. Tbar = forms a hook at the intial or terminal en x i the stem d. T-bar -long in proportion to stem 0. T-bar-tied around KAZI AF p. T-bar—uncrossed ¢. T-bar = location on the stern a . & dotted {, T-var - left of the stem gq. iedots = slightly — —y a +4 rons pavannrion or STONED DOGMENTS 7 az MAM A 1, i-dots ~ firm/heavy dot “Ad “a 2 does “ecation above the stem ae slated 42a v. iedots = circle formation a w. idots -jabbed © | Curved/rounded shape mmpn d. Flat/square shaped 10. Loop formations ~ How are the ae their relationship totes sucker aes tae wat ‘a. Long loop formation _b. Short loop formation cc. Broad loop formation Lang Lares Serge lowe ‘6, Narrow loop formation bite. Loop €. Needle shaped loops deers own due f Wedge shaped loops Deeps ov Hette g. Rounded Loopsnance 7 _rorosc ossn on of ET ne Rie Bar rn. Flat/squared loops Stel on i. Interspersed with another 1o9p jj. Above baseline beginning strokes k, Below baseline beginning strokes thaw Imin 1. Unusual loop formation Ce 1h. Clockwise formation % bee 1, Counter clockwise formation 99794 © Unfinished PED Pp. Tied around the stem eee th4Le24. q. Circle formation beeps A. Ate 4. Absence of loops - straight strokes 11. Circle formations: words, a. Open aorkp b. Closed acda ¢. Broad aches’ a. Narrow ardap ©. 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OF F or spronon pueny Mayuno 402 oy Susaaap "Fanaa 60) 2°V ‘ueve 5 hm ese ayoniedn gh 30 vO” ey nT“ aera sarong a nL 8 oo, 30 bust ag poe . ie see 01 HNL aT sant no ee oo wa ae op NSU edn a a epammo ayoLiede 349 St HII Moy YSNON sy Fupadweo Uy 0p asaya ‘08 HL soy ous f wos Al ZZrosarimos sue 20 Jo woes Bros jo domeod oq axons ovo yo wood Sut creas wae ey eqqug sone 05 a . =" ae 291 SRIRRGHTA TO ROARS ll ge124 FORENSIC EXAMINATION OF QUES! 25, Examination of savall letter “Y"” fa. Examine initia! upstroke in the usual way CFT b. Examine the symmetry of trough. Does the base lie on above, or bets the baseline? 7 ©. Examine the lower projection. Pip AB 4 26. Examination of small letter *2” a. Examine the formation, lower projection, loop, etc. DF GORY FORENSIC EXAMINATION OF HANDWRITING _125 pisguised Writing Some anonymous letters are of a friendly nature, Some can even pe endearing, such as when a “secret admirer” sends someone yetter on Valentine's Day, However, there are that use deception far less innocent purpo: vicious threatening complaints, notes from robbers demanding money jn bank counters, or even explosive devices sent through the mail. In many of these cases, the writers disguise their handwriting as w the samples requested from them for comparison purposes. To disguise his handwriting, the writer may attempt to deliberately change the shape of loops or proportions of letters or use writing styles that is unlike his own. A right-handed writer might even use his left hand to create a poorly controlled, untidy and irregular effect. Another method of disguise is changing the wriling method from the writer's usual cursive to block capital letters. ise varies As with every other human activity, the ability to with the individual. Some people are good altering their writing habits, while others find it nearly impossible to make any appreciable change from their natural method. Some can successfully hide their identity in a small amount of writing such as single signature. However, most are unable to maintain a disguise when they have to write a large amount of material, such as an entire letter or several exemplar forms. The chances of being identified increases as they continue to write. Hence, the more exemplars are obtained the greater are the chances that the writings will contain some of the normal characteristics of the writer. One of the best things ar: investigator can do when taking exemplars is to have some non-requested specimens of the person to compare with the requested specimens. These will enable him to see if there is any obvious differences between these collected specimens and the requested writings. When most persons who are giving a disguised specimen ere confronted with a naturally written specimen, they will discontinue the attempted disguise (Ellen, 2006).