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What is the difference between handwriting analysis
and document examination?
Document examination involves, but is not limited
to. the comparison of questioned handwritten documents compared to known
handwritten documents.
This may also include:
- Genuineness of a document,
or an entry to a document
- Written over or obliterated
or white out – reveal the original record
- Sequencing documents –
(time records)
- May involve ink examination
- Examination of substituted
documents used to cover up a crime or partial documents - – using
ultra violet lighting
- Watermarks
- Signatures / handwriting
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Following are two fundamental laws of handwriting:
- No two people write
exactly alike
- No one person can write
the same thing exactly the same way twice
Handwriting is considered a forensic science. Handwriting can be
analyzed to identify humans; much like the non-changing DNA/blood
analysis or fingerprints. Handwriting is a form of behavioral
science, a movement activity done by humans. Changes can happen due to
internal conditions (caffeine, drugs, fatigue, age) and/or external
conditions (weather, writing surface, writing instrument). Changes in
handwriting can also be deliberate – simply by changing which hand is
used to write.
I, as a forensic document examiner, conduct
document examinations. These examinations involve the use of
lighting, magnification, measuring devices, etc to decipher that the
writing on specific documents is altered or authentic.
Each writing is unique. Just as each
individual is unique. I learn something new from each writing just
as I learn something new each interact with a new person. |
