NCJ Number
186064
Journal
International Journal of Forensic Document Examiners Volume: 5 Dated: December/January 1999 Pages: 39-53
Date Published
1999
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study examined and compared the handwritings of persons with visual impairment with copied writings.
Abstract
The handwriting samples of 67 persons with visual impairment or blindness were collected from various schools for the blind. All the individuals were males whose age ranged from 17 to 57. To study the parameters for differentiating features of forgery from the defects of visual impairment, the volunteers were asked to forge the writings and signatures by treating the collected sample of visually impaired persons as model writings and signatures. The volunteers were requested to make forgeries in any way they wanted, but to apply maximum skill and effort. The handwriting samples were analyzed with basic handwriting examination procedures. The writing samples of visually impaired persons had some peculiar features, such as a preference for capital letters, overlapping strokes, squarish letter forms, unusual placing of writings on paper, laterally reversed letters, peculiar alignment defects of letters and written lines, un-inked strokes, peculiar type of intermittent tremor coupled with smooth strokes, abnormally heavy writing pressure, inconsistency in overall size of letters, lack of proper spacing between letters, words and lines, ill-defined formation of letters, etc. Such features have been found to be absent in the writings of persons with high partial vision. A study of the copied writings and signatures by volunteers shows that although the forgers tried to copy the pictorial appearance and features such as tremor, overlapping and intermingling letters, overlapping strokes, squarish letter forms, writing slant, and letter proportions, they were not successful. 14 figures with photographs of sample writings and 10 references