10_ Document Analysis: Handwriting, Forgery, and Counterfeiting
Document Analysis is the examination and comparison of questioned documents with known material.
–Questioned Documents- any signature, handwriting, typewriting, or other written mark whose source or authenticity is in dispute or uncertain
Experts establish the authenticity of documents and detect any changes, erasures, or obliterations that may have occurred
–Obliteration- writing over top to smear or make orginal writing unreadable
–Questioned Documents- any signature, handwriting, typewriting, or other written mark whose source or authenticity is in dispute or uncertain
Experts establish the authenticity of documents and detect any changes, erasures, or obliterations that may have occurred
–Obliteration- writing over top to smear or make orginal writing unreadable
- Like Fingerprints, every person’s handwriting is unique and personalized
- Handwriting is difficult to disguise or forge
- Questioned documents are compared to exemplars to determine matches
A Document Expert is a specially trained person who scientifically analyzes handwriting and other features in a document
- Examines written notes and compares various traits.
12 Characteristics of Handwriting Line Quality
- Line Quality: Do the letters flow or are they erratic and shaky?
- Spacing:Are letters equally spaced or crowded?Are margins evenly spaced?
- Size Consistency: Is the ratio of height to width consistent?
- Continuous: Is the writing continuous or does the writer lift the pen/pencil?
- Connecting Letters: Are the capital and lowercase letters connected and continuous?
- Letters Complete: Are letters completely formed? Or, is part of a letter missing?
- Cursive/Printed Letters: Are there printed letters, cursive letters, or both?
- Pen Pressure: Is pressure equal when applied to upward and downward strokes?
- Slant: Left, right, or variable?
- Line Habits: Is the text on the line, above the line, or below the line?
- Fancy Loops or Curls: Are there fancy loops? Any other distinguishing features?
- Places of Crosses on t’s & Dots on i’s: Are t’s crossed? –t’s crossed in middle, toward top, or toward bottom. Are i’s dotted? Dotted toward left, toward right, or centered
Activities:
Case Studies:
Part 1: Analysis of your own handwriting
Part 2: Analysis of classmate's handwriting
Activity 10-2: Analysis of a Ransom Note(pg. 336-339)
Part 1: Analysis of Ransom Note and 6 Suspect's Exemplar Note Analysis
Part 2: Report to Jury
- Master Forger: Frank Abagnale pag. 314. / Movie: "Catch me if you can" starring Leonardo Di Caprio
- Forensic Files: "A Tight Leash"
- Case Study Analysis Sheet
Part 1: Analysis of your own handwriting
Part 2: Analysis of classmate's handwriting
Activity 10-2: Analysis of a Ransom Note(pg. 336-339)
Part 1: Analysis of Ransom Note and 6 Suspect's Exemplar Note Analysis
Part 2: Report to Jury
Lecture: Handwriting and Document Analysis
Activity 1: Handwriting Analysis
Activity 2: Analysis of a Randsom Note
Activity 1: Handwriting Analysis
Activity 2: Analysis of a Randsom Note
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