Handwriting

History of Handwriting



A person's handwriting has been recognized as a form of human identification for quite some time. This is the reason people are required to sign checks, deeds, and contracts. A person's signature lends authority and credibility to the document. A Forensic Document Examiner is the person who examines a document to gather facts that will establish the true nature of its origin and history.



Why do forensic investigators have trouble using handwriting analysis technique?


I think the reason forensic investigators have trouble using handwriting analysis technique is because handwriting unlike fingerprinting does not have a personal identification because many people could have the same handwriting where as no two fingerprints could be alike.


What do forensic scientists look for when analyzing handwriting?



Forensic scientists usually look for twelve basic characteristers when analyzing handwriting.



These 12 are:

• Line quality

• Spacing of words and letters

• Ratio of height, width, and size of letters

• Lifting pen

• Connecting strokes

• Strokes to begin and end

• Unusual letter formation

• Pen pressure

• Slant

• Baseline habits

• Fancy writing habits

• Placement of Diacritics

In class Handwriting Assignment







For our first handwriting assignment we had a note to record on a sheet of paper. Then we would pass that note on to our classmate and they would have to free hand it, trying their best to copy our exact handwriting. We would then pass the note on to another classmate and they had to trace over our note trying their best to directly copy our handwriting.



For our second handwriting assignment we had to write a check. We wrote the check in someone elses name (Joseph John Doe). After we wrote and signed the check in his name we cut the check up into little pieces and placed it in an envelope. The envelopes were then distributed around the room, and we had to put back together whoevers check we received and try and determine who the person is that forged the check by analyzing their handwriting.