NCJ Number
123551
Journal
Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 40 Issue: 3 Dated: (May/June 1990) Pages: 127-134
Date Published
1990
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Handwriting samples from 517 suspects in felony crimes from January 1985 through June 1988 formed the basis of the analysis of the frequency with which three types of individual writing defects occurred in different populations.
Abstract
These three were omissions of part of a letter, perseverations, and reversals or letters. Any described characteristic had to appear at least four times on the sample form to be counted as part of the individual's writing habit. No hand printing samples were included. Data were gathered on the basis of race, sex, age, and educational level, and whether or not any or all of the three writing defects occurred. Results showed significant differences between males and females, with males showing twice as many defects as females. However, significant differences were not found between blacks and white populations nor between dropouts or those completing high school. Overall, writing defects occurred in 33.5 percent of the participants. The higher percentage of writing defects in the males is consistent with other research reporting on the relationship between illegal acts and learning disabilities and on the preponderance of males among people with learning disabilities. Tables, 9 references, and address from which to obtain further information.