Examination Of Handwriting Research Articles

Evidence evaluation and reporting for forensic handwriting examinations

Evidence evaluation and reporting for forensic handwriting examinations

An Introduction to the Modular Forensic Handwriting Method

ABSTRACTThe forensic examination of handwriting utilizes complex human perceptual and cognitive processes that can be difficult to accurately and validly describe since, for the most part, these processes are unseen. The series of articles published in this WIREs special issue present the agreed general approach that government practitioners in Australia use in the majority of the handwriting comparisons that they carry out. The systematic modular approach is informed by research and developments in the fields of motor control of handwriting, human factors, validation of handwriting examination, and evidence evaluation and reporting. The method is based around a process outline which structures the comparison process and provides the reader with a guide to the tasks to undertake and issues to consider at the different stages commonly worked through in practical handwriting examinations. Where decision or assessment points occur within the course of the method, a series of modules have been developed which describe the nature of the matter under consideration and address relevant theoretical and practical issues. Each module (published as an article in this special issue) is, as far as is practical, independent of other modules in the method. This will facilitate changes in the process over time that may result from theoretical, practical or technological advances in the field. The document as a whole can be used by practitioners actively involved in casework, or individuals such as researchers, academics, and legal professionals with an interest in understanding or exploring aspects of the practice of forensic handwriting examination.

Formulation of propositions for forensic handwriting examinations

AbstractThe forensic examiner's role is to assist the court by explaining the significance of their findings within the context of the case. In “evaluative” reporting this is achieved by considering the probability of observing the evidence given at least two competing propositions. This article outlines the requirements of propositions within an evaluative framework, common sets of propositions used in handwriting examinations and their associated basic expectations. As the forensic handwriting examiner may be asked to undertake different types of comparisons depending on the material available and the case circumstances, it is critical that examiners carefully consider the most appropriate propositions against which the findings are to be evaluated. Further, as the propositions are derived from case information, and may require assumptions to be drawn, the necessary disclosure within reports is discussed. Although the examples given are specific to handwriting examinations, the concepts discussed in this article are applicable to other forensic disciplines utilizing an evaluative approach to evidence interpretation.This article is categorized under: Forensic Chemistry and Trace Evidence > Presentation and Evaluation of Forensic Science Output Jurisprudence and Regulatory Oversight > Expert Evidence and Narrative

Cognitive bias and contextual information management: Considerations for forensic handwriting examinations

AbstractAs for other largely subjective perceptual and cognitive processes, the forensic analysis and interpretation of handwriting is potentially susceptible to bias. Cognitive bias may subconsciously influence the outcome of specific tasks at any point in an examination, during pre‐analysis, analysis, comparison, interpretation and/or reporting of results. One class of cognitive bias, contextual bias, may arise from information provided by the client, results reported from other forensic disciplines within a laboratory or the content of the questioned and/or known material itself. The base rate information (i.e., examiner knowledge, experience, and innate beliefs) associated with the type and range of examinations an examiner has previously encountered may also lead to bias. Bias introduced at any stage of the examination process, and even prior to the examination (e.g., when deciding what is collected for examination) may affect the examination outcome.This Overview focuses on contextual information management (CIM) protocols that are used to remove potentially biasing task‐irrelevant case information from the view of the reporting forensic handwriting examiner (FHE). Where laboratory resources and logistics allow for these procedures to be in place, they should be applied as part of the pre‐analysis stage of the examination process that is, at a stage in the examination prior to the reporting FHE accessing the examination material or associated documentation. Also highlighted are some additional procedures that have been proposed by others to minimize the opportunity for cognitive bias to arise in handwriting examinations.This article is categorized under: Jurisprudence and Regulatory Oversight > Expert Evidence and Narrative

Interpretation of differences in a comparative analysis of handwriting

According to experts’ opinion which was also confirmed by many different experiments on handwriting, most errors made by document examiners result from a misjudgment (or misinterpretation) in the significance of a difference found between the questioned and exemplar materials. The article introduces a number of ideas for improving methodology for examination of handwriting, especially how to understand one of the main principles respecting writing identification that a writer cannot ameliorate his maximum writing ability or skill without effort, practice and/or training over a period of time, or how to prepare writing standards for examination of distorted writing.

Research on the Recovery Technology of Damaged Characters Based on the Magneto-optical Method

This work intends to address the issue of surface damage to significant characters on ferromagnetic materials for the assessment of physical evidence. For the identification of altered metallic characteristics, a nondestructive magneto-optical imaging recovery approach based on the magneto-optical effect is presented. The results of the experiments demonstrate that the technique may successfully repair the damaged metallic features. It can be used as a nondestructive test for the examination and restoration of altered and damaged metal handwriting in criminal technology, which offers a fresh approach and method to deal with this issue.

A Study on the Effects of Monetary Reward On Handwriting Examination: Focusing on Cognitive Bias

A Study on the Effects of Monetary Reward On Handwriting Examination: Focusing on Cognitive Bias

Explainable Offline Automatic Signature Verifier to Support Forensic Handwriting Examiners

Explainable Offline Automatic Signature Verifier to Support Forensic Handwriting Examiners

Specifics of the Application of Cybernetic Methods in Forensic Handwriting Examination

This article discusses the possibilities of applying cybernetic methods in the production of forensic handwriting examinations at the present stage. The authors describe the history, current state and development trends of this direction of mathematical modeling. Analyzes the practical experience of Western and African criminologists in this area of special knowledge application. The peculiarities of the application of methods that are most widely used in Eastern, Western Europe and Africa are described: GLOBALGRAF, CEDAR-FOX, Cybid Graphlog, FLASH ID, WANDA. The key functions and algorithms of the mentioned computer complexes and programs, certain advantages and disadvantages in relation to the traditional qualitative-descriptive method of identification forensic handwriting examination are disclosed. On the basis of the results formed the conclusion about the auxiliary value of cybernetic methods (techniques) and the need for their use in addition to the existing methodological tools through the application of a comprehensive methodology. This format will allow handwriting experts to determine some additional features of handwriting, to automate part of the stages and stages of expert examination, will contribute to its comprehensiveness and objectivization, as well as increase the scientific validity and reliability of the conclusions obtained.

Analysis Of Methods For Determining The Gender Of Performers Of Manuscripts

The scientific article analyzes the methods of determining the gender of performers of handwritten texts, which are used in expert work in today’s conditions. Based on the research of legal acts, scientific positions of leading scientists on this issue, an attempt was made to provide proposals for the latest developments in conducting the specified non-identifying research. Features of preparation of materials for classification of manuscripts into female and male are highlighted. On the basis of a thorough study of the conclusions of court experts, the typical signs of handwriting, which were most often used to determine the gender of the performer, were indicated. Attention is drawn to the factors that influence the change in handwriting, including psychological factors. The need to develop research methods for texts of different scope and degree of elaboration is emphasized. The need to update the outdated methods of determining the sex of the performer in order to eliminate mistakes and errors in expert research has been proven. At the same time, it is emphasized that the existing methods developed on the basis of experimental studies of the Russian alphabet, which did not take into account the development of subsystems of Ukrainian spelling (graphics, orthography, punctuation), historical changes, etc., cannot be objective and be used when conducting forensic handwriting examinations. The conducted scientific research is accompanied by statistical data obtained in the process of surveying law enforcement officers and analyzing expert opinions, as well as examples from expert practice.

THE ROLE OF FORENSIC HANDWRITING EXAMINATION DURING THE INVESTIGATION OF CRIMES IN THE FIELD OF ECONOMICS

Problematic aspects of forensic handwriting examinations within the framework of criminal proceedings during the investigation of crimes in the economic sphere of the state are considered as well as the methods of selection of comparative samples of a handwriting signature of a person that affect the quality of selected samples and the results of handwriting studies of signatures of persons who deliberately changed their personal signatures by simplifying their constructive complexity and reducing the volume of graphic material when signing official documents. The effectiveness and validity of the results of the handwriting study of signatures of persons who intentionally and consciously change their personal signatures by simplifying their constructive complexity and reducing the volume of graphic material when signing official documents depends on the application by the initiator of the examination of the necessary techniques for sampling, from which it is necessary to take experimental samples. signatures. The legal framework is currently not ideal and allows fraudsters to use certain mechanisms of state institutions for their own enrichment or non-payment of taxes or other means provided for by the legislation of Ukraine, by forging or distorting documents. Within the framework of the already established theoretical and methodological foundations of forensic handwriting, the creative nature of expert knowledge and the features of expert thinking are revealed. Key words: examination, the standard of signature, authorial forgery, tactics, acceptance, method.

MODELING OF PRESSURE IN WRITING AND THE POSSIBILITY OF EVALUATING THE PRESSURE CHARACTERISTICS OF HANDWRITING

The article considers a physical-and-mechanical model of the writing process using a writing device with a ball element. The purpose of developing this model is to develop the theory of pressure in judicial handwriting, as well as to evaluate the pressure characteristics of handwriting, which are manifested primarily in the width and depth of handwritten strokes. At the same time, it is concluded that it is necessary to study handwriting objects from the perspective of their three-dimensionality, since it is the pressing characteristics of handwriting in this three-dimensionality that manifest themselves and allow for the further development of three-dimensional models of the writing process and the use of appropriate tools (technologies) to increase the reliability and objectivity of expert conclusions in the production of forensic handwriting examinations. The development of a physical-and-mechanical model reflecting the writing process is a very urgent task in judicial handwriting, since writing devices with a ball element (ballpoint pens, gel pens, roller pens) are currently used in writing much more often than others. The author offers a new definition of the concept of "pressure when writing", which takes into account both the physics of the writing process and its result according to the theory of trace formation adopted in traceology. He also demonstrated examples of calculating the pressure parameters manifested in the relief of handwritten strokes, outlined new approaches to the analysis and evaluation of the pressure characteristics of handwriting.

Early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease using Continuous Convolution Network: Handwriting recognition based on off-line hand drawing without template

The examination of patients' handwriting has become an important auxiliary method for the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease which can be used for early self-diagnosis of patients with Parkinson's disease. However, at present, the recognition of writing disorders based on artificial intelligence technology mainly relies on pattern templates and intelligent dynamic acquisition equipment, which has some design limitations. And professional acquisition equipment is not suitable for ordinary home patients. In order to facilitate the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and get more accurate diagnostic results, this paper is devoted to studying various features of spiral hand drawing of Parkinson's disease and developing an auxiliary diagnosis scheme based on hand drawing. Firstly, through the ablation experiment with open dataset, it is verified that the visual information of hand drawing can better reflect the characteristics of hand drawing of patients with Parkinson's disease than the original dynamic information. Secondly, an Archimedes spiral hand drawing dataset is established that can accurately reflect the tremor, shape and spacing characteristics of the image, with no limitation of the application scenario. Finally, Continuous Convolution Network (CC-Net) is proposed to reduce the pooling layer. Compared with the traditional classification network, CC-Net can accurately extract diversified features of hand drawings and maximize the retention of image information, and obtain a higher classification accuracy with qualified stability (the classification accuracy on the dataset of this paper is about 89.3%, MCC is about 0.733, and average AUC is about 0.934).

A study on factors that affect error rates in handwriting examinations of Korean characters by forensic document examiners and non-experts

Forensic handwriting examinations are often considered important in trials, and especially those related to property issues. There is also increasing demand by courts for the quantification of handwriting examination results. Notably, in forensic science, error rates in forensic handwriting examinations should be carefully quantified in order to ensure their reliability as evidence. The present study examined error rates in forensic handwriting examinations conducted by both forensic document examiners (FDEs) and non-experts. To this end, four FDEs affiliated with forensic science institutes and a group of 20 laypersons were asked to perform a forensic handwriting examination of Korean characters in various forms (long text, short text, and signature samples) in blind test settings; i.e., specific information about the test was not given. The test was composed of 180 questions. The results showed that the incorrect answers are much higher in the non-expert group than the expert group though; however, the percentage of “inconclusive opinion” answers was higher in the expert group. It was also found that, in the expert group, error rates could be lowered by allowing a joint examination (or a peer review) to be performed. Meanwhile, the expert group showed relatively high error rates when dealing with handwriting samples simulated or disguised, rather than those that contained a small number of characters, such as signature samples. In the non-expert group, financial reward did not contribute to increasing the correct answers (%) of handwriting examination but rather encouraged examiners not to choose “inconclusive opinion” answers. This result indicates that a financial reward may unintentionally affect the examination results. The major findings of the present study are of significance in that this study is the first attempt to specifically examine error rates in forensic handwriting examinations of Korean characters conducted by both expert and non-expert groups. This study also demonstrated that the exchange of opinions among FDEs affected the resultant error rates and overall examination results. It was also found that financial reward may affect handwriting examination results as well.

ПОДОЛАННЯ ПРОТИДІЇ ПІД ЧАС ПРОВЕДЕННЯ СУДОВОЇ ПОЧЕРКОЗНАВЧОЇ ЕКСПЕРТИЗИ: СИСТЕМИ ТАКТИЧНИХ ПРИЙОМІВ

Мета статті – аналіз теоретичних питань і розроблення практичних рекомендацій із тактики відібрання експериментальних зразків почерку та підписів в умовах протидії перевірюваних осіб під час проведення судових почеркознавчих експертиз. Методологія. Методологічну основу становлять загальні закони та категорії теорії пізнання, зокрема положення матеріалістичної діалектики про пізнання соціальних процесів і явищ, пов’язаних із досліджуваними проблемами. У процесі розгляду теми також застосовувалися історико-правовий метод, яким проаналізовано генезу розроблення тактико-технологічних засад проведення слідчих дій, теоретичні напрацювання криміналістичних аспектів протидії при проведенні судових почеркознавчих експертиз; системно-структурним і порівняльним встановлено сутність тактики проведення судових почеркознавчих експертиз, з’ясовано прийоми подолання протидії перевірюваних осіб проведенню почеркознавчої експертизи, а також групування їх в системи, запропоновано рекомендації щодо їх застосування; соціологічний метод (анкетування) застосовано для опитування слідчих та експертів за спеціально розробленою анкетою; статистичним методом (групування відомостей, аналіз кількісних показників) узагальнено дані за результатами аналізу висновків експертів, протоколів відібрання зразків почерку та підписів; експериментальним проведено експерименти з відтворення чужих підписів різними категоріями осіб. Наукова новизна зумовлена започаткуванням заснованого на результатах проведеного авторами експерименту тактичного прийому подолання протидії перевірюваної особи в разі повідомлення неправдивої інформації про незнання цією особою транскрипції підпису конкретної людини, що полягає в наданні особі досліджуваного підпису для короткочасного візуального його огляду. Висновки. У результаті дослідження, зокрема, з’ясовано, що залежно від слідчої ситуації, яка склалася, системи тактичних прийомів відібрання зразків спрямовані: на встановлення обставин та умов виконання рукопису; одержання зразків почерку перевірюваної особи в ситуації можливої її відмови; спілкування з такою особою і вплив на неї у процесі відібрання зразків; подолання протидії перевірюваної особи. При цьому тактичні прийоми подолання протидії перевірюваної особи передбачають: за відмови від надання експериментальних зразків почерку та підписів – використання прийомів психологічного впливу та логічного переконання; у разі спотворення перевірюваним свого почерку – прискорення темпу написання та збільшення тривалості відібрання зразків; якщо повідомлено неправдиву інформацію про незнання перевірюваним транскрипції підпису конкретної людини – надання досліджуваного підпису для короткочасного візуального його огляду.

THE CYBERNETIC MODELING METHOD APPLICATION IN FOREIGN PRACTICE IN WRITING FORENSIC HANDWRITING EXAMINATION

This article examines the experience of foreign practice over the past several decades in the field of creating a scientific basis for forensic examination of handwriting, as well as software and software systems that automate some of the examination processes. Shared with: tools that compute functions and provide visualizations to assist the handwriting researcher; verification methods that ensure the degree of consistency between the questioned and the sample documents; identification methods that narrow the search in the electronic document repository with the authors available in it. Various methods of computer scanning and pattern recognition, which have been developed over the past 40 years, are investigated to the problems of identification of the writer and the authenticity/personality of handwriting. It has been established that the ability to use handwriting to identify a person is of great importance for the justice systems and law enforcement agencies. Over the past 30 years, there has been a limited amount of research on the use of computers to improve and automate the analysis performed by forensic handwriting experts. Based on the study, the need for further research is emphasized to obtain new tools in the form of computer programs for solving identification and diagnostic problems, obtaining new tools in the form of computer programs to identify disguised handwriting, as well as to help restore or decipher damaged or partially destroyed documents

Features of digitally captured signatures vs. pen and paper signatures: Similar or completely different?

The question of whether digitally captured signatures and conventional signatures executed with a pen on paper differ in their characteristics is of practical relevance for forensic handwriting examiners. Due to gaps in the current literature, the present research is dedicated to this issue. Eighty persons signed in three conditions: a) with a stylus on a pad, b) with an inking pen on a sticky note attached to a signature pad allowing to obtain a digital and an analogue version on paper of one and the same writing simultaneously, and c) with a pen on paper. The first step was to investigate to what extent the character shape and number of pen lifts differ between the digital and analogue representation of one and the same signature. This revealed minor differences which are due to technical characteristics of the devices used. The observed distortions are of minor practical relevance according to ratings by eight participating forensic handwriting examiners. Subsequently, signature characteristics were compared between the three different writing conditions in a casework-oriented way. Statistical multi-level models indicate significant differences between the three signature types, but minor effect sizes in most of the examined characteristics. From the point of view of the participating handwriting examiners, these factors do not fundamentally restrict the comparability between digitally captured and conventional signatures in practice. However, caution should be exercised when generalising the results, as several factors, such as the usage of different signature pads as well as signatures made with the finger instead of a stylus, could result in more important differences compared to pen and paper signatures.

Forensic Handwriting Investigation Using Digital Photographic Copies of Documents

The study is a part of the research of the Russian Federal Centre of Forensic Science of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation. It is the initial stage in the development of methodological recommendations for conducting forensic handwriting examinations of images of handwritten objects in digital photocopies of documents. The author has analyzed the current procedural legislation and judicial practice on the use of digital photocopies of documents in proof, as well as the modern expert practice of handwriting studies concerning the images of handwriting realizations presented in such copies. The analysis has shown that these forensic handwriting studies are being quite actively conducted in both judicial and extrajudicial examinations; however, they acquire the procedural status of evidence in the case. Though, the object remains outside the scope of expert methodological support and a comprehensive systematic review in the theoretical aspect. The author considers this practice unacceptable.The article reviews a complex of issues related to determining the properties and attributes of images – handwriting objects presented in photocopies of documents, their qualitative characteristics, and other factors essential for conducting forensic handwriting examinations and formulating relevant conclusions.

Towards a novel biometric system for forensic document examination

Biometric systems have demonstrated an important enhancement in writer identification from online handwriting. Indeed, writer identification is still a challenging task in the definition of a set of features able to characterize the different samples of handwriting documents. These samples are not usually stable and show a vast variability from the same writer over time, or from different writers. The ability to identify the documents’ authors provides more chances for using these documents for various purposes and especially in forensic analysis. In this paper, we present a biometric based recognition system for forensic document examination capable of identifying a document's author. This system consists of the preprocessing and the segmentation of online handwriting into a sequence of strokes in a first step. Then, from each stroke, we extract a set of static and dynamic features. Next, all the segments which are composed of two consecutive strokes are categorized into groups and subgroups according to their position and their geometric characteristics. Finally, Deep Neural Network is used as a classifier. Experiments which are conducted on IBM_UB_1, IAM OnDB, NLPR Handwriting and ADAB databases, demonstrate that the proposed system outperforms the existing writer identification systems on Latin and Arabic scripts. This justifies its usefulness in forensic examination of handwriting.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES IN HANDWRITING RESEARCH

The article is devoted to the consideration of working situations that may arise with comparative samples of signatures provided for research during the relevant examinations. Possible changes in regulatory legal acts that will optimize the work of an expert during judicial handwriting examinations are highlighted. The main goal of this article is to consider the practical situations that an expert has when studying and working with comparative samples received for research. An analysis of expert practice will help minimize expert errors, which in turn will affect the objectivity of an expert’s opinion. The article sets out the situations that arise at the stage of studying materials that can affect the objectivity and categorization of an expert’s opinion: -providing free samples of signatures in documents issued to another person; -providing free samples of signatures in documents with amendments, supplements, incorrect indication of the name, and signature of the current user of the subscriber book or the owner of the document (passport). The situations discussed will help interns, novice experts in the study of materials received for research. It should be noted that a superficial approach at the stage of their research might lead to the need for additional examinations. The article can be useful to judges, assistant judges, representatives of law enforcement agencies, lawyers when assigning a handwriting examination and can help to reduce the time for the examination.