Abstract

Failure to follow certain basic principles underlying forensic handwriting evaluations is very likely to result in erroneous conclusions. While there are many potential sources of error, including methodological and psychological ones, this paper addresses just three specific ones that appear to have become more frequent in recent experience: (1) failure to give proper weight to differences; (2) failure to consider crucial writing movement characteristics; and (3) using self-serving exemplars. Illustrations show actual case examples.

Issue Section:
Research Papers
Keywords:
questioned documents, handwriting examination, sources of error

References

1.
Osborn
,
A. S.
,
The Problem of Proof
,
Boyd Printing Co.
,
Albany, N.Y.
,
1946
, pp.
478
-
480
.
2.
Howard
,
L. B.
, “
The Dichotomy of the Expert Witness
,”
Journal of Forensic Sciences
 0022-1198, Vol.
31
, No.
1
,
01
1986
.
3.
Harrison
,
W. R.
,
Suspect Documents—Their Scientific Examination
,
Praeger
,
N.Y.
,
1958
, p. 343.
4.
Osborn
,
A. S.
,
The Problem of Proof
,
Boyd Printing Co.
,
Albany, N.Y.
,
1946
, p. 484.
5.
Hilton
,
O.
,
Scientific Examination of Questioned Documents
, Revised Ed.,
Elsevier, N.Y.
,
1982
, p. 161.
6.
Harrison
,
W. R.
,
Suspect Documents—Their Scientific Examination
,
Praeger, N.Y.
,
1958
, p. 345.
7.
Huber
,
R. A.
 and
Headrick
,
A. M.
, “
The Identification Process
,” presented at the
Eleventh Meeting of the International Association of Forensic Science
,
Vancouver, British Columbia
,
Canada
,
08
1987
.
8.
Hilton
,
O.
,
Scientific Examination of Questioned Documents
, Revised Ed., Elsevier, NY,
1982
, p. 154.
9.
Conway
,
J. V. P.
,
Evidential Documents
,
Charles C Thomas
,
Springfield, IL
,
1959
, p. 77.
10.
Osborn
,
A. S.
 and
Osborn
,
A. D.
,
Questioned Document Problems
,
Boyd Printing Co.
,
Albany, N.Y.
,
1946
, p. 135.
11.
Keckler
,
J. A.
 and
Moore
,
D. S.
, “
A Case Study of the Dangers of Office Machine Copies: Beware of Self-Serving Standards
,” presented at the
Forty-first Annual Conference of the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners
,
North Lake Tahoe, NV
,
1983
.
This content is only available via PDF.
All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or copied, in whole or in part, in any printed, mechanical, electronic, film, or other distribution and storage media, without the written consent of ASTM International.
You do not currently have access to this content.