NCJ Number
85035
Date Published
1982
Length
246 pages
Annotation
Principles of document and handwriting analysis are developed from 25 detailed case studies.
Abstract
One case involved the determination that similar signatures of the same name were written by two persons with the same name and similar writing styles, and a second case study notes that there is no reason for any patchwork in a signature unless the signature is fraudulent. Other principles generalized from the case studies include the following: (1) error in the copying of a signature is magnified when the characteristic is repeated many times and on different dates; (2) individualized characteristics of writing are acquired from the very beginning of learning to write and remain no matter under what physical conditions the writing is made; (3) when a writer purposely changes his/her normal writing slant, the possibility of disguise must be considered; (4) it is very difficult to exclude fundamental dissimilarities and include only similarities when attempting to copy another person's signature; (5) in a series of requested, repeated, normal writing specimens of a single person, a certain amount of variation can be expected; and (6) the initial phase of any handwriting examination and comparison must include a determination of whether any writings or portions are disguised or freely written. Guidance is provided on technical methodology for handwriting analysis as well as testimony in court by a handwriting analyst. The handwriting samples involved in each case study are provided, along with a glossary of terms.