1. Handwriting Analysis, Forgery, Counterfeiting
Chapter 10
Handwriting Analysis, Forgery, Counterfeiting

2. Forensic Handwriting Analysis
Document Analysis: examination and comparison of questioned documents with known materials
Questioned Documents: any signature, handwriting, typewriting, or any other written mark whose authenticity is in dispute
Document Expert: trained person who scientifically analyzes handwriting in a document
Threatening notes, ransom notes, suicide notes

3. Forensic Handwriting Analysis
Handwriting is unique and personalized per person
Tool used for including or excluding persons when determining a match between a exemplar and a questioned document
Exemplar: standard document of known origin and authorship

4. Forensic Handwriting Analysis
Handwriting Analysis played an important role in the Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping case of the 1930’s
Handwriting analysis of the ransom notes lead to the arrest and execution of Bruno Richard Hauptmann

5. Forensic Handwriting Analysis
In 1999, the United States Court of Appeals determined that handwriting analysis qualified as a form of expert testimony
Scientifically accepted guidelines must be followed
Handwriting analysis has been used by Scotland Yard, the FBI and the Secret Service.

6. CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING 1
Examination and comparison of questioned documents with known materials
Year which the Court of Appeals determined handwriting analysis qualified as testimony
Trained person who scientifically analyzes handwriting in a document
Signature, handwriting, typing or any other written mark whose authenticity is in question
Standard document of known origin and authorship

7. Characteristics of Handwriting
Handwriting exhibits unique characteristics that make is distinguishable from other samples
12 major characteristics divided into 3 groups
Letter Form: shape of letters, curve of letters, angle or slant of letters, proportional size of letters, use and appearance of connecting lines between letters
Line Form: smoothness of letters, darkness of lines on the upward compared to the downward stroke, speed of writing, pressure exerted while writing, writing instrument

8. Characteristics of Handwriting
Formatting: spacing between lines, spacing between words and lines, placement of words on a line, margins a writer leaves empty on page

9. Thursday February 16th, 2017 O.J Paper DUE TONIGHT at Midnight!
“Drinking alcohol to get drunk is just drinking poison in the right dose to mess you up but not kill you.” - Unknown
Happy National Do A Grouch A Favor Day
Fun Fact: Some Chickens are half male, half female
O.J Paper DUE TONIGHT at Midnight!
Continue Chapter 10 Handwriting Analysis and Forgery

10. Characteristics of Handwriting
Specific Trait
Description
Examples
Line Quality
Do the letters flow or are they erratic or shaky?
Spacing
Are letters equally spaced or crowded
Size Consistency
Is the ratio of height to width consistent

11. Characteristics of Handwriting
Specific Trait
Description
Examples
Continuous
Is the writing continuous or does the writer lift the pen
Connecting Letters
Capitals and lowercase letters connected and continuous

12. Characteristics of Handwriting
Specific Trait
Description
Examples
Letters Complete
Letters are completely formed, or is part of a letter missing
Cursive and Printed Letters
Are there printed letters, cursive letters or both
Pen Pressure
Is pressure equal when applied to upward and downward strokes

13. Characteristics of Handwriting
Specific Trait
Description
Examples
Slant
Left, right, or variable
Line Habits
Is the text on the line, above the line, or below the line

14. Characteristics of Handwriting
Specific Trait
Description
Examples
Fancy Curls or Loops
Are there fancy curls
Placement of crosses on t’s and dots on i’s
Are t’s crossed, crossed in the middle, toward the top, or toward the bottom? Are i’s dotted, dotted towards the right, left or centered.

15. CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING 2
Give the handwriting characteristic being described below
Is pressure equal when applied to upward and downward strokes
Do the letters flow or are they erratic or shaky?
Is the text on the line, above the line, or below the line
Is the writing continuous or does the writer lift the pen
Are there fancy curls
Are letters equally spaced or crowded
standard document of known origin and authorship
authenticity is in dispute

16. Analyzing A Handwriting Sample
Three basic steps in analyzing a handwriting sample
Questioned Documents and Exemplar are examined for detectable characteristics
An Exemplar from the suspect should be obtained without letting the suspect know it's for comparison
Best Exemplars: letters, diaries, greeting cards, personal notes
Exemplars should contain several words or letter combinations found in the questioned document

17. Analyzing A Handwriting Sample
Characteristics of the questioned item are compared with the standard
Draw conclusions about the authorship of the questionable document based on the comparison

18. Analyzing A Handwriting Sample
If there are obvious differences between a standard and questioned document its more than likely written by different authors
Samples are visually eliminated without analysis
Similarities do not guarantee common authorship
Unique characteristics of a person's handwriting may occur in another's handwriting

19. Analyzing A Handwriting Sample
Conscious Writing Effort: person tries to disguise their handwriting or copy someone else’s handwriting
Things investigators can do to minimize conscious writing effort
Suspect should not be shown the questioned document
Suspect should not be given instructions about punctuation or spelling
Pen and paper should be similar to that of questioned document

20. Technology Used in Handwriting Analysis
Initial comparisons of documents are done with the eye, lens or microscope
More advanced technology available today
Biometric Signature Pads
Forgeries then are recognized by the detection of even slight differences
Computerized Analysis of Handwriting
Suspects signatures can be compared with ones stored in databases

21. Shortcomings in Handwriting Analysis
Standard documents used for comparisons also end up being forgeries
Effects of mood, age, drugs, fatigue, illness on a person’s handwriting
Why do you think there are shortcomings in handwriting analysis
Do you think it’s possible for two people to have handwriting so similar that it is impossible to differentiate

22. CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING 3
Three basic steps in handwriting analysis
Shortcomings of handwriting analysis
Person tries to disguise their handwriting or copy someone else’s handwriting
Two technologies used in handwriting analysis
True or False: You can eliminate a handwriting sample without analysis if there are noticeable differences
standard document of known origin and authorship
authenticity is in dispute

23. Wednesday February 22nd, 2017
“At this point I’m convinced that protests are now just a competition to see who can come up with the most clever sign”– Unknown
Happy National Margarita Day
Fun Fact: Anatidaephobia is the weird fear that somewhere, somehow, a duck is watching you
Continue Chapter 10 Handwriting Analysis and Forgery
2 slides
Catch Me If You Can

24. Forgery
Forgery: process used by criminals to alter, falsify a person’s signature or another aspect of a document
Forged documents can include: checks, employment records, legal agreements, licenses, wills
Fraudulence: forgery done for material gain
Check Forgery: 27 million in illegitimate checks are cashed each day
Altering a check, ordering someone else's checks, creating forged checks from scratch
Why do you think there are shortcomings in handwriting analysis
Do you think it’s possible for two people to have handwriting so similar that it is impossible to differentiate

25. Forgery Literary Forgery: forgery of a piece of writing
Historic letter, manuscripts which can be valuable
Best forgers duplicate the original document by using materials similar to the originals
Old paper
Make their own inks to match those used at the time
Watermarks that add the appearance of age
Documents and inks chemically treated to fake older look
Tools and styles that would have been popular at the time
Why do you think there are shortcomings in handwriting analysis
Do you think it’s possible for two people to have handwriting so similar that it is impossible to differentiate

26. Chicken contains 266% more fatthan it did 40 years ago.
Monday February 27th, 2017
“People are assholes. Just make sure you’re not the toilet paper ”– Unknown
Happy National Strawberry Day and Polar Bear Day
Fun Fact: Chicken contains 266% more fat than it did 40 years
Finish Catch Me If You Can
Wednesday: Handwriting Activity
Finish Chapter 10 Notes
Friday: OJ Friday
Monday: Review for Exam
Next Wednesday: Exam on Chapter 9: Toxicology and Chapter 10: Handwriting
Chicken contains 266% more fatthan it did 40 years ago.

27. Counterfeiting
Counterfeiting: Copying documents or items for the purpose of deception
Travelers checks, bonds, paper currency, coins, food stamps, postage stamps
Counterfeiting is a federal felony punishable with up to 25 years in prison
Secret Service is responsible for investigating counterfeit US currency
Why do you think there are shortcomings in handwriting analysis
Do you think it’s possible for two people to have handwriting so similar that it is impossible to differentiate

28. Counterfeiting
Technology has allowed the Secret Service to add security features to paper currency that makes forgery difficult
Scanning cannot reproduce these security features
The first security feature is the feel of the paper
Regular printer paper contains starch
Paper bills contain rag fiber instead of starch
Why do you think there are shortcomings in handwriting analysis
Do you think it’s possible for two people to have handwriting so similar that it is impossible to differentiate

29. Counterfeiting Detecting Counterfeit Currency
Counterfeit-Detecting Pen: special pens and markers containing iodine
Counterfeit Bill: when marked with the iodine pen, the mark will become bluish-black
Regular Bill: when marked with the iodine pen, the mark will become pale yellow
Counterfeiters will bleach small bills (1’s) in order to reprint large bills on the paper
This will pass the counterfeit detecting pen
Why do you think there are shortcomings in handwriting analysis
Do you think it’s possible for two people to have handwriting so similar that it is impossible to differentiate

30. Counterfeiting Features found in real currency
Portrait stands out from the background and appears raised off the paper
Why do you think there are shortcomings in handwriting analysis
Do you think it’s possible for two people to have handwriting so similar that it is impossible to differentiate

31. Counterfeiting Features found in real currency
Minute microprinting on the security threads, as well as around the portrait
Why do you think there are shortcomings in handwriting analysis
Do you think it’s possible for two people to have handwriting so similar that it is impossible to differentiate

32. Counterfeiting Features found in real currency
Serial number is even spaced and the same color as the treasury seal
Why do you think there are shortcomings in handwriting analysis
Do you think it’s possible for two people to have handwriting so similar that it is impossible to differentiate

33. Counterfeiting Features found in real currency
Check letter and Quadrant number
Why do you think there are shortcomings in handwriting analysis
Do you think it’s possible for two people to have handwriting so similar that it is impossible to differentiate

34. Counterfeiting Features found in real currency
5, 6. Federal Reserve seal (5) no sharp points, Treasury seal (6) with clear, sharp sawtooth points
Why do you think there are shortcomings in handwriting analysis
Do you think it’s possible for two people to have handwriting so similar that it is impossible to differentiate

35. Counterfeiting Features found in real currency
Clear red and blue fibers are woven throughout the bill, Security thread is evident, a thin embedded vertical line with the denomination of the bill written on it
Why do you think there are shortcomings in handwriting analysis
Do you think it’s possible for two people to have handwriting so similar that it is impossible to differentiate

36. Counterfeiting Features found in real currency
Federal Reserve Number and Letter
Why do you think there are shortcomings in handwriting analysis
Do you think it’s possible for two people to have handwriting so similar that it is impossible to differentiate

37. Counterfeiting Features found in real currency Series
Why do you think there are shortcomings in handwriting analysis
Do you think it’s possible for two people to have handwriting so similar that it is impossible to differentiate

38. Counterfeiting Features found in real currency
Check Letter and Face Plate Number
Watermark appears on the right side of the portrait of the bill in the light
When tilted the number in the lower right-handed corner makes a color shift from copper to green
Clear, distinct background details and lines
Clear distinct border edge
Why do you think there are shortcomings in handwriting analysis
Do you think it’s possible for two people to have handwriting so similar that it is impossible to differentiate

39. In Court Evidence in the Courtroom
Expert shows how comparisons were made
Defense attorney cross-examines the handwriting expert
Shortcomings in Analysis
Particular piece of handwriting can be different from its usual style because of factors like fatigue
Experts can miss details
Why do you think there are shortcomings in handwriting analysis
Do you think it’s possible for two people to have handwriting so similar that it is impossible to differentiate