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Southern Mindanao Institute of Technology, Inc.

Brgy. Buenaflor, National Highway, Tacurong City

Criminology Department

(A.Y. 2020-2021)

MODULE FOR
QUESTIONED DOCUMENT
EXAMINATION

DATE: OCTOBER 02, 2020

PREPARED BY:

Mark Jayson P. Muyco, R. Crim.

Instructor
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PREFACE

This module wishes to provide essential and vital knowledge and information regarding questioned
documents examination, in relation to the course bachelor of science in criminology. In accordance to
CHED Memorandum Order No. 5 series of 2018, this reading material is within the bounds of the said
CMO.

This module is prepared and made to totally understand the basic principle in questioned document
examination. The topics were also comprise of different textbooks, handouts and reading materials
regarding questioned documents examination in relation to R.A. 11131 or an act regulating the practice
of criminology profession in the Philippines, and appropriating funds therefor, repealing for the purpose
of R.A. 6506 otherwise known as “an act creating the board of examiners for criminologist in the
Philippines”.

This material is especially designed for criminology students for them to easily understand the essential
and basic matters regarding the handwriting examination, techniques, equipment and apparatus in
questioned document examination, common terms and description of letters, movement in
handwriting, handwriting characteristics and other identifying features, and fundamentals of signature
examination. However, students were highly encouraged to read and research further about this subject
matter to fully enhance their knowledge
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

FRONTPAGE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1

PREFACE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

LESSON 1: HANDWRITING EXAMINATION---------------------------------------------------------------------- 4

LESSON 2: TECHNIQUES, EQUIPMENTS AND APPARATUS IN QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

AND THEIR USES----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8

LESSON 3: COMMON TERMS AND DESCRIPTION OF LETTERS --------------------------------------------- 10

LESSON 4: MOVEMENT IN HANDWRITING, HANDWRITING CHARACTERISTICS AND

OTHER IDENTIFYING FEATURES---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13

LESSON 5: FUNDAMENTALS OF SIGNATURE EXAMINATION-------------------------------------------------- 16

REFERENCES --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19
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CHAPTER II

LESSON 1

OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson the student shall be able to:

 Identify the different process of handwriting examination and writing characteristics.

 Discuss the different process of handwriting examination and writing characteristics.

HANDWRITING EXAMINATION

PROCESS IN SCIENTIFIC EXAMINATION (IN GENERAL)

1. ANALYSIS – Properties or characteristics is observed or measured.

2. COMPARISON – properties or characteristics of the unknown determined through analysis are
now compared with the familiar or recorded properties of known entries.
3. EVALUATION – similarities or dissimilarities in properties or characteristics will each have a
certain value for identification, determined by its likelihood of occurrence. The weight or
significance of each must therefore be considered. The principle of identification requires that
when two items contain a combination of corresponding or similar and specifically oriented
characteristics of such number and significance as to preclude the possibility of their occurrence
by mere coincidence and there no unaccounted for difference. It may be concluded that they
are the same in their characteristics attributed to the same cause. The examination involves
therefor, the recognition, complete comparison, and correct interpretation or evaluation of the
elements, features, qualities and characteristics of the handwriting.

CRITERIA FOR SCIENCE

1. ACCURACY – refers to the correspondence between results obtained and the truth.
2. PRECISION – a measure of the consistency of results obtained in repeated study or
experimentation.

HANDWRITING – is the result of very complicated series of acts, being used as a whole and combination
of certain forms of visible mental and muscular habits acquired by a long continued painstaking effort.
Some defined handwriting as “visible speech”

“According to Huber, it is an acquired skill and clearly one that is a complex perceptual motor task,
sometimes referred as the neuro – muscular task. That out hand contains 27 bones controlled by one
muscles.”

WRITING – is a medium of human communication that involves the representation of language with
symbols./a
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TWO KINDS OF MUSCLES IN THE HANDS

1. EXTENSOR MUSCLES – muscle that push up the pen to form upward strokes.
2. FLEXOR MUSCLES – muscle that push up the pen to form downward strokes; flexor and extensor
combined LUMBRICAL – the muscle that form lateral strokes.

KINDS OF HANDWRITING CHARACTERISTICS

CHARACTERISTICS – A property or mark that distinguishes and in document examination commonly

refers to identifying details.

1. COMMON/CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
- They are those which conformed to the general style acquired when learning to write and
which is fashionable at a particular time and place. It is the style taught to the child in school
or by the parents. Not all characteristics encountered in document examination are peculiar
to a single or thing but rather common to a group.
2. INDIVIDUAL OR PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
- Are those introduced into the handwriting, consciously or unconsciously by the writer. They
are highly personal or peculiar and are unlikely to occur in other instances. This
characteristic is acquired either by:
a. Outgrowth of definite teaching
b. Result of imitation
c. Accident condition or circumstances
d. Expression of certain mental and physical traits of the writer as affected by education,
environment and by occupation./f/d/B/E/a

INDIVIDUAL STYLE OR FORM OF HANDWRITING

Every individual writes in some form or style which is distinct from others despite its close
resemblance.

1. SCRIPT WRITING – any disconnected style of writing in which each letter is written separately.

H A N D W R I T I NG
2. CURSIVE WRITING – the writing is flowing, running and the letters are joined.
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3. BLOCK STYLE – letters of the alphabet are capitalized./C/

HANDWRITING

ELEMENTS OF HANDWRITING AND PROCESS OF HANDWRITING COMPARISON

- Handwriting is identified through these several points of comparison, namely:

1. SLOPE OR SLANT – The angle or inclination of the axis of letters relative to the baseline.
a. Each individual has different slopes in writing
b. Some people has forward slope backward inclination, upright or vertical sloping.
c. When sloping is fixed, it remains contact and become a feature in handwriting.
d. Deliberate alteration of slope affects rhythm and fluency in writing.
2. SIZE OF HANDWRITING – The size of the handwriting as a whole has no great evidential
values. Although majority has preferred size, which they normally use when space is
unlimited almost everybody has the capability of altering the absolute size of their
handwriting when circumstances so deemed.

CAUSES OF CHANGES IN THE SIZE OF THE HANDWRITING

A. Used as a measured of disguised

B. Change in speed – rapid movement tends to decrease the size while slow writing tends to
increase the size
C. FATIGUE – when one gets tired, the size of handwriting will often be reduce.
3. RATIO AND PROPORTION OF WRITING
A. The relation between the tall and short letters is referred to as the ratio of writings.
B. Letters written entirely between the lines are referred to as short. Example, a, c, e, i, m, n, o, r, s,
u, v, x,
C. Letters with upper and lower or other projected portions will be classified as the tall. Example, b,
d, f, g, h, j, k, l, p, q, t, y, z.
D. Ratio with approximate that prescribed by the ordinary copybook forms is termed normal.
E. If the tall letters have loop twice longer than the height of the short letters, ratio is said to be
high.
F. Opposite the ratio is considered as low.
4. RELATIVE SIZE OF LETTERS
A. Accordingly, the short letters and the critical bodies of some tall letters should approximately be
of the same width. This feature in handwriting remains unaltered.
B. Constantly, the relative size in last when:
a. A writer is under influence of either mental or physical restraint
b. There is a deliberate change of slope to disguise the handwriting.
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c. The unaccustomed hand, usually the left is used.

5. INITIAL STROKE

This is the beginning of every writings which is to be done.

INITIAL STROKE

6. TERMINAL SPUR

INITIAL STROKE
7. CONNECTING STROKE
- For the connections, writing can be classified as:
a. Circular
b. Oblong or elliptical
c. Angular

GARLANDED – Rounded at the base, either circular or oblong.

ARCADED – in the form of arches rounded on top.

8. LETTER DESIGN
- Individual concepts of letter design are introduced in handwriting of the following:
a. The endeavor to attain a highly individualized hand.
b. An effort to make writing simple and easier.
c. To acquire greater speed.
9. HIATUS
- A hiatus is a gap between strokes
H IAT US
10. PEN LIFT
- It is an interruption in a stroke caused by removing the pen from the paper.
11. HESITATION
- The irregular thickening of the ink line when the writing slows down or stops while the
writer takes stock of the position is termed as hesitation.
12. LATERAL SPACING
- Is considered as a common character when it is combined to the ordinary copybook form.
13. SHADING
- It is the widening of the ink strokes with increase pressure on the paper surface.
14. LINE QUALITY
- The visible record in the written strokes of the movements and manner of holding the
writing instrument is characterized by the term line quality.
15. WRITING INSTRUMENT
16. ALIGNMENT
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- Is the relation of the parts of the whole line of writing or line of individual letters in words or
signature to the baseline.
17. RHYTHM
- The following succession of motion which is recorded the harmonious recurrence of stress,
impulse motion is called rhythm.
18. TREMOR
- Means “deviation from uniform strokes due to lack of smoothness perfectly apparent even
without magnification”

Lesson 2

OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson the student shall be able to:

 Identify the different techniques, equipment, and apparatus used in questioned document
examination
 Discuss the different techniques, equipment, and apparatus used in questioned document
examination and their uses.

TECHNIQUES, EQUIPMENTS AND APPARATUS IN QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION AND THEIR

USES

TECHNIQUES:

1. MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION – stereoscopic examination with low and high power

objectives is used to detect retouching, patching and unnatural pen lift in signature analysis.
With proper angle and intensity of illumination, it aids in the decipherment of erasures,
some minute manipulation not perfectly pictured to the sequence of entries done by a
different instrument.
2. TRANSMITTED LIGHT EXAMINATION – documents are subjected to this type of examination
to determine the presence of erasures, snatching of serration and some other types of
alteration.
3. OBLIQUE LIGHT EXAMINATION – to detect decipherment of faded handwriting and to
determine outlines of traced forgery, embossed impression and etc., this type of
examination is used.
4. PHOTOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION – this type of examination is very essential in every
document examination. Actual observations are recorded in photography.
5. ULTRAVIOLET EXAMINATION – this type of examination is done in a darkroom after the
lamp has been warmed up in order to give a maximum output of ultra-violet light. Exposure
to the ultra-violet light should be of a minimum duration in order to avoid fading of some
writing ink and typewriter ribbon. The exposure of a document to ultra violet light is useful
when it consists of several pages and substitution is being suspected. The color and intensity
of fluorescence reaction is very apparent in case of a substituted page. Mechanical and
chemical erasures will certainly change the reflectivity and fluorescence of the area affected.
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PREPARATION OF COURT EXHIBITS

After the document examiner has completed his examination and the laboratory report
has been submitted he prepares the photographic exhibits for court demonstration and
illustration.

EQUIPMENTS AND APPARATUS:

1. ELECTRONIC DETECTION APPARATUS – detects indention/indented writings and records

transparencies of any indentions.
2. VIDEO SPECTRAL COMPARATOR (VSC) – used in the examination of masked/obliterated
text, watermarks, visible fluorescence and oblique illumination of intended writings and
embossing. It detects variation in the infrared characteristics of inks and reveals alteration
by illuminating interfering background luminescence. Document forgery can be revealed
instantly using the VSC. 1; a highly sensitive imaging system that exposes alterations by
displaying variations in the infrared absorption and luminescence of dyes and pigments. It is
a versatile imaging system for examining questioned documents and fluorescent
fingerprints.
3. STERIOSCOPIC BINOCULAR MICROSCOPE – a kind of microscope which gives a three
dimensional (3D) enlargement of objects.
a. Detects ninety percent (90%) defects in strokes structure and typewriting defects.
b. Detects overlapping of lines.
c. Detects uneven distinction of ink
d. Detects overwriting
e. Detects fraudulent addition
f. Detects erasures and pencil outline of forged signature.
4. MAGNIFYING LENS – bank personnel and other people involved in currency examinations
usually use and ordinary hand-lens; the maximum diameter of which is four inches, and this
appears big with its wide frame, it has a magnifying power of two times the original only.
Magnifying lenses of five times or more magnifying power, with built-in-lighting are more
useful.
5. SHADOWGRAPH – a pictorial image formed by casting a shadow, usually of the hands, upon
a rightful surface or screen.
6. MEASURES AND TEST PLATES (TRANSPARENT GLASS) – those used for signatures and type
writings.
7. TABLE LAMPS WITH ADJUSTABLE SHADES (Goose Neck Lamps) – used for controlled
illumination; needed in sidelight examination wherein light is placed at low-angle in a
position oblique to plane or document.
8. TRANSMITTED LIGHT GADGET – a device where light comes from beneath or behind glass
on document is placed.
9. ULTRA VIOLET LAMP – this is usually used in the detection of counterfeited bills but can
actually be used to detect security features of qualified documents.
10. INFRARED VIEWER – primarily used to decipher writings in a charred document.
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11. COMPARISON MICROSCOPE – similar to that of the bullet comparison microscope.

LESSON 3

OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson the student shall be able to:

 Identify the common terms and description of letters

 Discuss the common terms and description of letters.

COMMON TERMS AND DESCRIPTION OF LETTERS

1. ARC OR ARCH – any arcade form in the body of letter.

2. BEARD – rudimentary curved initial stroke.

3. BLUNT ENDING OR BEGINNING – blunt ending and initial strokes are results of the drawing
process in forgery.

4. BUCKLE KNOT – the horizontal and looped strokes that are used to complete such letters.

5. CENTRAL PART OF THE BODY – the part of a letter ordinary formed by a small circle that usually
lies on the line of writing.

6. EYE LOOP OR EYELET – the small loop formed by strokes that extend in divergent direction.
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7. FOOT OF THE LETTER OR OVAL – the lower portion of any down stroke which terminates on the
baseline.

8. DIACRITIC – an element added to complete certain letters.

9. HITCH – the introductory backward stroke.

10. HOOK OR TROUGH – the bend, crook or curved on the inner side of the bottom loop or curve of
small letter.

11. HUMP – the rounded outside of the bend, crook or curve in small letters.

12. SPUR – short, horizontal beginning strokes.

13. KNOB – rounded appearance at the beginning or ending strokes.

14. MAIN STROKE OR SHANK STEM – downward strokes of any letters.

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15. WHIRL – the upward strokes usually on letters that have long loops.

16. TERMINAL SPUR – an upward horizontal or downward final stroke usually seen in small letters.

17. RETRACING – a stroke that goes back over another writing stroke.

18. RETOUCHING OR PATCHING – stroke that goes back to repair a defective portion of writing.

19. STAFF – backspace of a letter.

20. BASELINE – rules of imaginary line where the writing rest.

21. COPYBOOK FORM – design of letters which is fundamental to a writing system.

22. PEN EMPHASIS – it is the periodic increase in pressure of intermittently forcing the pen against
the paper surface with increased pressure.
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LEASSON 4

OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson the student shall be able to:

 Identify the different movement in handwriting, handwriting characteristics and other

identifying features.
 Discuss the different movement in handwriting, handwriting characteristics and other
identifying features.

MOVEMENT IN HANDWRITING, HANDWRITING CHARACTERISTICS AND OTHER IDENTIFYING

FEATURES

KINDS OF MOVEMENT

1. FINGER MOVEMENT – the thumb, the first, second and slightly the third fingers are in actual
motion. Most usually employed by children and illiterates.
2. HAND MOVEMENT – produced by the movement or action of the whole hand with the wrist as
the center of attraction.
3. FOREARM MOVEMENT – The movement of the shoulder, hand and arm with the support of the
table.
4. WHOLE FOREARM MOVEMENT – Action of the entire arm without resting. i.e., blackboard
writing.

HANDWRITING CHARACTERISTICS AND OTHER IDENTIFYING FEATURES

WRITING HABITS – writing by all peculiarities in combination is the most personal and individual
things that a man does that leaves a record which can be seen and studies. This is what constitutes
individuality in handwriting.

A. GENERAL (CLASS) CHARACTERISTICS – these characteristics refer to those habits that are part of
basic writing system or which are modifications of the system of writing found among large
group of writers that have only slight identification value.
B. INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS – they are characteristics which are the result of the writer’s
muscular control, coordination, age, health, and nervous temperament, frequency of writing,
personality and character. They are found in writing movement, form and design of letters,
motor coordination, shading, skill, alignment, pen pressure, connection, pen hold, rhythm,
disconnections, or pen lifts between letters, speed, slant as a writing habit, proportion of letters
as an individual characteristic or habit, quality of stroke or line quality, variation and muscular
control or motor control.

TYPES OF HANDWRITING ACCORDING TO MUSCULAR CONTROL

A. LOOSE WRITING – this is characterized by too much freedom of movement and lack of
regulation. This is noticed especially in tall letter forms.
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B. RESTRAINED WRITING – there is lack of freedom and inhibited movements. It gives you the
impression that every stroke was made with great difficulty. This writing is small. There is
distortion of letter forms which may lead to illegibility.

INDICATIONS OF SPEED (SPEEDY) WRITING

A. Smooth unbroken strokes and rounded forms.

B. Frequent signs or tendencies to the right.
C. Marked uncertainty as to the location of the dots of small letters “l”, “j” and crossed of small
letter “t”.
D. Increased spontaneity as to the location of the dots of small letter “t” connected with the
following words.
E. Letters curtailed or degenerated almost to illegibility towards the end of words.
F. Wide writing – width of letters is greater than the connecting spaces adjoining it.
G. Great difference in emphasis between upstrokes and down strokes.
H. Marked simplification of letters especially capital letters.
I. Rising line
J. Increased pen pressure.
K. Increase in the margin to left at the beginning of the line.

INDICATIONS OF SLOW WRITING

A. Wavering forms and broken strokes.

B. Frequent signs or tendencies to the left.
C. Conspicuous certainly as to the location of the dots of small letters “I”, “j”, or “t” crosses with
scarcely perceptible deviation from the intended direction.
D. Frequent pauses by meaningless blobs, angles, divided letters and retouches.
E. Careful execution of detail of letters, toward the end or names.
F. Narrow writing.
G. No difference in emphasis in upstroke and down stroke.
H. Ornamental or flourishing connections.
I. Sinking lines.
C. EXAMPLES OF COMMON CHARACTERISTICS
1. Ordinary copy-book form.
2. Usual systematic slant.
3. Ordinary scale of proportion or ratio.
4. Conventional spacing
D. CLASSIFICATION OF INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS
1. PERMANENT CHARACTERISTICS – found always in his handwriting.
2. COMMON OR USUAL – found in a group of writers who studied the same system of writing.
3. OCCASSIONAL – found occasionally in his handwriting.
4. RARE – special to the writer and perhaps found only in one or two persons in a group of one
hundred individuals.
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E. HOW INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS ARE ACQUIRED

1. Outgrowth of definite teaching
2. Result of imitation
3. Accidental condition or circumstances
4. Expression of certain mental and physical traits of the writer as affected by education, by
environment and by occupation.
F. EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS
1. Hook to the right and hook to the left.
2. Shape, position, size and angle of “i” dots “t” crossing
3. Idiosyncrasies – behavioral attributes
4. Bulbs and distinctive initial and final pen pressure.
5. Embellishment, added strokes and free movement endings.
6. Abbreviations of letters
7. Simple and compound curves and graceful endings.
8. Labored movement producing ragged lines.
9. Terminal shadings and forceful endings
10. Presence and influence of foreign writing, with the introduction of Greek “e”

POINTS TO CONSIDER IN EXAMINING EXTENDED WRITING (ANONYMOUS, THREAT, POISON LETTERS)

1. Uniformity – does the questioned documents writing have smooth, rhythmic and free-flowing
appearance?
2. Irregularities – does the questioned writing appear awkward, ill-formed slowly drawn
3. Size and Proportion – determine the height of the over-all writing as well as the height of the
individual strokes in proportion to each other.
4. Alignment – are they horizontally aligned, or curving, uphill or downhill.
5. Spacing – determine the general spacing between letters, spacing between words. Width of the
left and right margins, paragraph indentions.
6. Degree of slant – are they uniform or not?
7. Formation and design of the letters, “t” (-) bars, “I” dots, loops, circle formation.
8. Initial, connecting and final strokes.

HANDPRINTING

The procedure and the principle involved are similar to that of cursive handwriting, in block
capital and manuscript writing, personal individual rests principally in design, selection, individual letter
construction, size ratios and punctuation habits. The initial step in handwriting examination is to
determine whether the questioned handwriting and standards were accomplished with:

1. A fluency of movement and a certainty of execution indicative of the familiarity with a measure
or skill in handwriting of conversely.
2. A conscious mental effort and non-rhythmic execution denoting either unfamiliarity with or
disguise in the subject’s handwriting.
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Lesson 5

OBJECTIVES: at the end of the lesson, the student shall be able to:

 Identify the fundamentals of signature examination

 Discuss the fundamentals of signature examination

FUNDAMENTALS OF SIGNATURE EXAMINATION

OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson the student shall be able to:

 Identify to know the fundamentals of signature examination.

 Discuss the fundamentals of signature examination.

DEFINITION OF SIGNATURE

It is the name of a person written by him/her in a document as a sign of acknowledgement. Or,

it is a name or a mark that a person puts at the end of a document to attest that he is its author or that
he ratifies its contents.

SIGNIFICANT TERMS

A. CROSS MARK. Historically, many who could not write signed with a cross mark or crude X. this
authenticating mark is still used today by illiterates, and if properly witnessed, it can legally
stand for a signature. Ballot marks are also referred to as cross marks because of the common
practice of marking with an X.
B. EVIDENTIAL SIGNATURE. It is not simply a signature. It is a signature, signed at a particular time
and place, under particular conditions, while the signer was at a particular age, in a particular
physical and mental condition, using particular implements, and with a particular reason and a
purpose for recording his name.
C. FRAUDULENT SIGNATURE. A forged signature. It involves the writing of a name as a signature by
someone other than the person himself, without his permission, often with some degree of
imitation.
D. FREEHAND SIGNATURE. A fraudulent signature that was executed purely by simulation rather
than by tracing the outline of a genuine.
E. GUIDED SIGNATURE. A signature that is executed while the writer’s hand or arm is steadied in
any way. Under the law of most jurisdictions, such a signature authenticates a legal document
provided it is shown that the writer requested the assistance. Guided signatures are most
commonly written during a serious illness or on a deathbed.
F. IMITATED SIGNATURE. Synonymous with freehand forgery.
G. MODEL SIGNATURE. A genuine signature that has been used to prepare an imitated or traced
forgery.
H. THEORY OF COMPARISON. The act of setting two or more signature in an inverted position to
weigh their identifying significance, the reason being that those we fail to see under normal
comparison may readily be seen under this theory.
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THE EXAMINATION OF SIGNATURES IS CONSIDERED A SPECIALIZED BRANCH OF HANDWRITING

IDENTIFICATION FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:

1. A signature is a word most practiced by many people and therefore most fluently written.
2. A signature is a means to identify a person and have a great personal significance.
3. A signature is written with little attention to spelling and some other details.
4. A signature is a word written without conscious thought about the mechanics of its production
and is written automatically.
5. A signature is the only word the illiterate can write with confidence.

TYPES OF SIGNATURES

A. FORMAL (a.k.a. CONVENTIONAL OR COPYBOOK FORM) – Complete correct signature for an

important document such as will.
B. INFORMAL (CURSORY) – Usually for routine documents and personal correspondence.
1. PERSONALIZED
2. SEMI-PERSONALIZED
C. CARELESS SCRIBBLE – for the mail carrier, delivery boy or the autograph collector.

CLASSES OF DISPUTED SIGNATURES

1. FORGED SIGNATURES WHERE NO ATTEMPT HAS BEEN MADE TO MAKE A COPY OF FACSIMILE OF
THE GENUINE SIGNATURE OF THE PERSON PURPORTING TO SIGN THE DOCUMENT. (THIS IS
COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS “SIMPLE FORGERY”.
2. FORGED SIGNATURE OF FICTITIOUS PERSONS.
3. FORGED SIGNATURE WHICH CLOSELY RESEMBLES THE GENUINE SIGNATURE SINCE THEY HAVE
BEEN PRODUCED BY A TRACING PROCESS (REFERRED TO AS “TRACED FORGERY.”
4. FORGED SIGNATURE WHICH RESEMBLES THE GENUINE SIGNATURES COPIED OR IMITATED FREE-
HAND. (KNOWN AS SIMULATED OR COPIED FORGERY)
5. GENUINE SIGNATURE WHICH THE WRITER ARE HONESTLY UNWILLING TO ACCEPT AS GENUINE.
6. GENUINE SIGNATURES OBTAINED THROUGH TRICKERY.
7. GENUINE SIGNATURES DELIBERATELY WRITTEN ILLEGIBLY OR IN AN UNUSUAL MANNER TO
AFFORD SIGNATURES. SOME POSSIBLE GROUNDS FOR DISCLAIMING THEM SHOULD THEY DEEM
IT EXPEDIENT.

SUGGESTED STEPS IN THE EXAMINATION OF SIGNATURE

STEP 1 – PLACE THE QUESTIONED AND THE STANDARD SIGNATURES IN THE JUXTA-POSITION OR SIDE-
BY-SIDE FOR SIMULTANEOUS VIEWING OF THE VARIOUS ELEMENTS AND CHARACTERISTICS.
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STEP 2 – THE FIRST ELEMENT TO BE CONSIDERED IS THE HANDWRITING MOVEMENT OF THE MANNER
OF EXECUTION (SLOW, DELIBERATE, RAPID, ETC.). THE FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE EXISTING BETWEEN
A GENUINE SIGNATURE AND AN ALMOST PERFECT FORGERY IS IN MANNER OF EXECUTION.

STEP 3 – SECOND ELEMENTS TO EXAMINE IS THE QUALITY OF THE LINE, THE PRESENCE OF TREMORS,
SMOOTH, FLUENT, OR HESITATION. DEFECT IN LINE QUALITY IS ONLY APPRECIATED WHEN
SIMULTANEOUS VIEWING IS MADE.

STEP 4 – EXAMINE THE BEGINNING AND ENDING LINES, THEY ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT, DETERMINE
WHETHER THE APPERANCE BLUNT, CLUB-SHAPED, TAPERED OR VANISHING.

STEP 5 – DESIGN AND STRUCTURE OF THE LETTERS – DETERMINES AS TO ROUNDNESS, SMOOTHNESS,

ANGULARITY AND DIRECTION. EACH INDIVIDUAL HAS A DIFFERENT CONCEPT OF LETTER DESIGN.

STEP 6 – LOOK FOR THE PRESENCE OF RETOUCHING.

STEP 7 - CONNECTING STROKES, SLANTS, RATIO, SIZE AND LATERAL SPACING.

STEP 8 – DO NOT RELY SO MUCH IN THE SIMILARITY OR DIFFERENCE OF THE CAPITAL LETTERS, FOR
THESE ARE THE OFTEN CHANGED ACCORDING TO THE WHIM OF THE WRITER.

CHARACTERISTICS PRINCIPLES THAT SUPPLY MOST CASES.

1. PEN PRESSURE
2. MOVEMENT
3. UNUSUAL DISTORTION OF THE FORMS OF LETTERS.
4. PROPORTION
5. INCONSPICUOUS CHARACTERISTICS
6. REPEATED CHARACTERISTICS
7. CHARACTERISTICS WRITTEN WITH SPEED

INDICATIONS OF GENUINENESS

1. CARELESSNESS
2. SPONTANEITY
3. ALTERATION OF THICK AND THIN STROKES
4. SPEED
5. SIMPLIFICATION
6. UPRIGHT LETTERS ARE INTERSPERSED WITH SLANTING LETTERS
7. THE UPWARD STROKES TO A THREADLIKE TRACING
8. RHYTHM
9. GOODL LINE QUALITY
10. VARIATION
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PROCEDURE IN THE COMMON SIGNATURE PROBLEMS

A. GENUINE SIGNATURE WHICH THE WRITER REFUSES TO ADMIT NOT GENUINE. Generally
presence of tremors, remnants of carbon, retouching indicates forgery. Produced, the
probability of genuineness.
B. GENUINE SIGNATURE DELIBERATELY MODIFIED. Examination of this kind of signature is
confidently discovers that the modification is only on the prominent features of the letter
designs that are pointed out by the disclaimer, while the rest appear to be normal. There are
unnatural tremors and retouching. The minute details in genuine signatures are present.

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E_N_D

MIDTERM EXAM

REFERENCES
BOOK
Camara,Richard T. (2016) “Questioned Documents Examination”

Holy Child Review Materials on Criminalistics

Compiled notes on Questioned Documents Examination

ONLINE

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