Features Provides overview and fundamentals of handwriting examinationDescribes, precisely, the 21 discriminating elements of writing by which one writer may be distinguished from others "...and by which one person may be associated with writings that he/she has executed."Analyzes the role and scope of the handwriting examinerDelineates both the strengths and weaknesses of this area of forensic document examination (FDE)Provides the most complete axioms, maxims, principles and laws pertaining to the study of writing and writing identificationOffers a glossary of 372 items related primarily to handwriting, that is larger than any otherIdentifies the area, "conspect reliability", where research needs to begin to advance handwriting examination into the dominion of scienceSummary "Forensic document examination is the study of physical evidence and physical evidence cannot lie. Only its interpretation can err. Only the failure to find it, or to hear its true testimony can deprive it of its value." - Roy Huber, author A definitive review of handwriting identification, this book presents, in a general manner, how to approach document examination and then, in particular, how to apply handwriting identification to the document. Types of handwriting are discussed in detail. For the first time in the field of questioned document examination, Handwriting Identification: Facts and Fundamentals consolidates the pertinent information from published and unpublished sources respecting writing, that is essential to the expansion of a practitioner's general knowledge of handwriting identification and to the proper education of novices. Written in a question and answer format, the book suggests some of the questions that one might ask of an examiner and provides the answers that knowledgeable and competent examiners should be expected to give. This book is a valuable addition to law libraries and to every practicing document examiner, as well as every lawyer handling cases in which the authenticity of handwriting might be disputed. |
| Introduction: The World of Documents
The History of Questioned Document Examination -In Brief
A Handwriting Compendium for Document Examiners
The Discrimination of Handwriting
The Premises for the Identification of Handwriting
The Fundamentals of the Identification Process
The Discrimination and Identification of Writing
Special Problems in the Discrimination and Identification of Writing
The Extrinsical Factors Influencing Handwriting
The Intrinsical Influences upon Handwriting
The Requirements and the Results
The Diagnosis of Writing Identification
The Scope of Document Examination
The Sources of Document Examiners
Science, Scientific Method and Writing Identification
Graphology
Understanding the Terms-Glossary
Epilogue |
| Editorial Reviews"In the Preface to this book the authors state that their objective is to make handwriting identification understandable to the legal profession. The authors have more than met this goal. The book takes one through the process of handwriting identification in a very orderly and logical manner.
"The use of the Socratic Method makes the book a valuable tool for the legal profession. Each question and answer gives the reader a complete explanation of the subject with all the pertinent references. I am sure that many lawyers will be using these questions in their examination of document examiners.
"This book is a valuable addition to the literature of forensic science. It should be in the library of every forensic document examiner. It also provides a much-needed text for the training of new document examiners. It is hoped that the authors will consider another book on the other areas of forensic document examination."
-James J. Horan, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, in Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal
"… anyone who claims expertise in forensic handwriting examinations should at least read this book and preferably have it on their bookshelf for future reference. I certainly shall."
- Christopher Davies in Science & Justice |
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