NCJ Number
186066
Journal
International Journal of Forensic Document Examiners Volume: 5 Dated: December/January 1999 Pages: 59-67
Date Published
1999
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study examined a group of exemplars and attempts to demonstrate scientifically that "No two people write exactly alike."
Abstract
A printed version of the London Letter was given to a college-level forensic science class to copy. The total number of writings obtained was 25. Fourteen of the students were male and 11 were female. An examination form was constructed to compare the writings on the following parameters: size, slant, speed, skill, system (interpreted as shape/style), and spelling/punctuation. None of the writers in this study shared the same combination of characteristics. The sample is small, but is far larger than the number of suspects that could have possibly committed the crime in the typical case. In forensic science, an examiner is always dealing with a "limited" population," even if it involves all the subjects in a school, hospital staff, or a particular area of town. The small number of possible writers makes the unique nature of the writings all the more important. When the individualities are added, the probability of two writers having executed something becomes astronomical. Indeed, some examiners would infer that the general characteristics used as parameters in this study are far more important to an identification than is often believed. 5 figures and 24 references