Project Overview

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Forensic Handwriting Examination and Human Factors

Problem Statement TLDR;

Information , Knowledge, and Experience are key in creating an accurate handwriting profile. Quality and Quantity of Samples accompanied by the physical and mental state of a person need to be taken into consideration. It is not only the Examinee, but the Examiner's that need to be taken into consideration too. Things such as Fatigue, Stress, Deteriorating Eyesight, Chronic Psychological Disorders, Dyslexia, Incompatible Aptitude. To get certified it takes 3 years.

LaTrobe Study (Human)

Correctly Identified Signatures 92.7% from 45,850 Opinions
Correctly Identified Handwriting 96.6% from 32,050 Opinions

Levels of Enforcement Achieved

• Level 1
• Level 2
• Level 3

Level 1

Understand the Principles of Forensic Handwriting Examination. Important handwritten features and characteristics, including specifically generated material to examine particular features encountered within handwriting.

• Types of Handwriting such as Natural, Disguised, and Traced/Simulated
• Neurophysiology of Handwriting
• Types of Writing Instruments
• Levels of Features of Fluency
• Differences in individual character construction and combination of characters

Level 2

Application of Knowledge and Understanding as they are introduced to the critical aspects of examining casework.

• Introduced to relevant casework management systems employed by the organization
• Understand the potential outcomes of the examination may be
• Determine suitable and relevant material has been submitted and determining what other materials may be required to complete the examination
• Awareness of the other forensic opportunities available, including other aspects of forensics documentation
• Awareness of the impact of the examinations on other areas of forensic science include potent contamination issues.
• Assessment of known and questioned material for internal consistency
• Awareness of potential sources of bias

Level 3

Demonstrates the Depth of Knowledge from exposure to a wide range of material submitted to the laboratory.

• Introduction to various types of material, including original and non-original documents
• Introduction to case situation of varying sizes and complexity
• Awareness of Relevant databases inducing the internal handwriting information system (IHIS) which includes international copybook styles and handwriting samples
• Introduction to the relevant conclusion scales
• Preparation of forensics reports including court comparison charts.

Handwriting Style Characteristics

1. Arrangement - Text Organization (Line Spacing, Interline Spacing, Interword Spacing, Intraword Spacing, Margin Consistency, Indentation Habits, and Paragraph Structuring)
2. Allographs - Learned or Practiced Habits from different handwriting systems or regional variations
3. Dimensions - Size and Proportion (Letter Height, Letter Width, Ratio between different letters and parts of letters)
4. Slant - Angle of Writing (Lean towards relative to imaginary vertical axis)

Execution Characteristics

1. Pen Pressure - Force applied while writing, visible through thickness and indentation
2. Pen Grip and Angle - Uniformity and flow of letters
3. Line Quality - How smooth and fluid the handwriting appears
4. Commencement and Termination Strokes - Initial and ending of strokes of letters

Other Factors

1. Complexity - Intricate or simplified the writer's style
2. Embellishments - Flourishes or decorative strokes
3. Stroke Order - Sequence of writer letter
4. Natural Variation - Slight difference in person's writing each time they write
5. Disguised Writing - Sometimes, individuals deliberately alter their writing to avoid identification

Problem Statement Expanded

Decisions are based primarily on three factors: information, knowledge, and experience. In handwriting examinations, information lies in the questioned and known writing samples, which must be of sufficient quality and quantity to compare and evaluate. In addition, the examiner should occasionally be provided with other information such as the physical and mental state of the writer if the writing is distorted (e.g., a broken arm, medication, alcohol, or the lack of alcohol [for alcoholics]). These factors can all alter a writer’s natural writing.

In assessing evidence, the examiner applies training, background knowledge, and experience from comparing a broad range of questioned and known handwriting samples. When important information, knowledge, or experience is lacking, mistakes can occur. These errors typically present themselves as poorly executed procedures, improper choices, or the misinterpretation or misuse of relevant (or irrelevant) information.

Other mistakes occur with little or no conscious thought. For instance, frequent interruptions can disrupt the thought process. When resuming work after the disruption, an examiner may inadvertently skip steps in the examination. Such highly practiced and automatic behaviors are particularly affected by attention or memory failures. Distractions in the laboratory may lead to a loss of concentration, erroneous documentation, and other mistakes.

Additionally, mistakes can occur as a result of the manner in which FDEs store and compare information. For instance, if notes are not taken contemporaneously to document the relevant features, examiners must rely on their imperfect memory, which may distort their overall conclusions. These types of mistakes may present as failure to find target data, improper weight given to the data, failure to recognize disguise or distortion, and failure to compare enough corresponding features.

These types of mistakes may result in FDEs reaching conclusions not supported by the data or which are beyond their skill set, failing to search all exemplars, performing a hurried or insufficiently thorough examination, and improperly deeming a handwriting sample to be suitable or unsuitable for comparison.

Expert Working Group for Human Factors in Handwriting Examination. Forensic Handwriting Examination and Human Factors: Improving the Practice Through a Systems Approach. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology. NISTIR 8282, 2020. Available: https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8282
NIST.IR.8282.pdf