In Pursuit of the Forger

• NCJ Number: 95852
• Journal: Security Management Volume: 28 Issue: 9 Dated: (September 1984) Pages: 60-64
• Author(s): J J Swanson
• Date Published: 1984
• Length: 5 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Collecting reliable handwriting or handprint specimens in forgery detection and handwriting identification cases requires obtaining legally valid and reliable exemplars.

Abstract

To be legally valid, the exemplar specimen used for comparison purposes cannot be questioned as the writing or printing of the individual concerned. Identification methods include simple verification or acknowledgement by the individual, witnessed handwriting, and work samples acknowledged by the individual. To be reliable, samples must also be analytically comparable. One of the best sources of dated, valid, and reliable exemplars is personal checks. Authenticity can be established by collecting voluntary or court-ordered handwriting specimens. Because it is easy to disguise writing when only a signature is in question, a complete handwriting specimen form is preferred. Dictating the words to be written is another good method of obtaining a writing exemplar. One of the best known dictation samples is 'The London Business Letter' because of its innocuous content; it contains all the capitals and small letters of the alphabet as well as all the numerals. Handwriting specimens should be written on paper similar to the questioned document and written with the same type of pen or pencil. The investigator should obtain as many specimens as possible; dictate the same words as those in the questioned writing; remove the written dictation from the subject's sight once completed; and request that the subject write slowly, then rapidly. The investigator should also request a specimen in printing and ones written with the right and left hands; subjects should be asked to try to disguise their normal handwriting. Investigators should not help with mechanics, and should obtain several pages of the handwriting standards. Additional standards should be obtained 1 or 2 weeks after the initial standard, and specimens written before the fraudulent document should be obtained. Sources of handwriting specimens and sample handwriting or handprinting exemplar and dictated handwriting specimen forms are included.