NCJ Number
171942
Journal
International Journal of Forensic Document Examiners Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Dated: (April/June 1997) Pages: 146-153
Date Published
1997
Length
8 pages
Annotation
In this study of handwriting produced with a ball point pen, imperfections were evaluated to explain their occurrence and whether they could be incorrectly interpreted as elements of forgery.
Abstract
Examples of handwriting produced with several other writing instruments were also studied for imperfections in the written stroke and compared with those observed for the ball point pen. Tests confirmed that not all ball point pens exhibited imperfections in the written stroke and did not eliminate writer or ambient conditions as contributing to the occurrence of imperfections. Tests indicated, however, that ball point pens were more likely to produce imperfections than other writing instruments. The author concludes that the examination of imperfections may result in misinterpretation and incorrectly imply forgery and that naturally executed handwriting with a ball point pen may impart imperfections to the written trace that have less to do with the writer and more to do with the instrument. 24 references and 4 figures