ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY – CAUAYAN CAMPUS
COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
HANDWRITING
All problems in identification
particularly in criminal
identification has a common
purpose which is to determine the
identity and non-identity of the
things sought to be identified, all
the elements, features, qualities
and characteristics which make up
individuality must be analyzed and
evaluated before a definite and
positive determination is possible.
In the case of handwritings,
identification should concern all
those elements, features, qualities
and characteristics which give
character and individuality to
handwriting and all the forces
which operate in their
development.
Writing – the result of very
complicated series of acts, being as a
whole combination of certain forms
which are the very visible result of
mental and muscular habits acquired
by long, continued painstaking effort.
Handwriting – (defined in Wigmore’s
Principle of Judicial Proof) is a visible
effect of bodily movement which is an
almost unconscious expression of fixed
muscular habits, creating from fixed
mental impression of certain ideas
associated with script form.
Factors that Affect the
Formation of Muscular Habits
a. Environment
b. Education
c. Occupation
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Writing then can also be defined as a
combination of certain form which are
the very visible result of mental and
muscular habit, there arises the
importance of a background
knowledge of the physiological basis
and development of handwriting.
Physiological Basis of Handwriting
The impulse to form a letter
begins in the brains’ writing center in
the cortex. This center is skin to brain
areas that control vision, hearing,
talking and walking and it guides the
muscles or the hands as they weave
through the complex movement that
make the words. Since writing begins
in the mind, emotions and attitudes
both of the mind, influence how we
write just as they influence how we
talk.
In writing, the pen or other
writing instrument functions as an
extension of the hand. The fingers
transmit to the pen, the directive
impulses and the variation in muscular
tension that according to the nature of
the writer’s nervous organization,
occur during the act of writing. Hence,
as each writer has his own way of
holding his hand, manipulating the
pen, and exerting pressure, the same
pen in different hands will produce
entirely different strokes.
Center Near the Motor Area of The
Cortex
- is responsible for the finer
movement involved in handwriting.
- the ability or power to hold a
pen or pencil to form symbols and
words can be said to emanate from
this cortical center of the brain.
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COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
Agraphia – a disease at the
center of the brain that causes one to
lost his ability to write although he
could still grasp the instrument.
Two Kinds of Muscles That Function In
The Act Of Writing
1. EXTENSOR – muscles that push up
the pen to form upward strokes.
2. FLEXOR - muscles which pushes
the pen to form the downward
strokes. This flexor and extensor
muscles combine with lumbrical
muscles to form lateral strokes.
Four Groups of Muscles are employed
in writing.
1. Muscles that operates in the
finger
2. Muscles that operates in the
wrist
3. Muscles that operates in the
elbow
4. Muscles that operates in the
shoulder
Motor Coordination - The delicate way
in which the various muscles used in
writing work together to produce
written forms.
Development of Handwriting
First Step – when a person begins to
learn the art of handwriting,
penmanship copybook forms are
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blackboard illustrations of the different
letters are placed before him. His first
step is one of imitation only, by a
process of drawing-painstaking,
laborious slow copying of the letter
forms. The form of each letter at first
occupies the focus of his attention.
Second Step – As the person
progresses, the matter of form recedes
and the focus of attention is centered
on the execution of various letters,
that is, they are actually.
Third Step – The manual operation in
the execution of letters progress is
likewise soon relegated to the
subjective mind and the process of
writing becomes more or less
automatic. As the person attains
maturity in writing by many
repetitions, writing becomes
unconscious coordinated movement
that produces record. Attention is no
longer given to the process of writing
itself because the subject matter to be
written now occupies the focus of
attention.
- It is also the stage of development of
Mature Writing.
Step Four – In the course of trial and
error, modifications are made. The
subject matter to be written occupies
his attention in the course of writing.
Factors Affecting the Modifications of
Handwriting
a. Education
b. Training
c. Personal taste
d. Artistic ability
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COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

e. Musculature f. Nerve tone

Modification in Mature Writing

1. Simplification – discarding of unessential details or the letters are stripped off
making it clear, bare and precise.
2. Elaboration – decorative strokes are added to the plain letter form.
3. Linear pattern – writing shows no concern for form so that lines and angles
predominates, and loops and angles are not pronounced.

Kinds of Writing
1. Cursive/conventional – letters are connected
2. Script – disconnected letters
3. Block – all letters are capitalized

Different Kinds of Writing Movement

1. Finger Movement – involves the fingers and the point of action are joints of the
- Penmanship is angular and very limited letter and word spacing.
- Usually employed by children and illiterate.
2. Hand Movement – center of action is the wrist. Writing is more circular in form.
3. Arm Movement– center of action is the elbow. It is employed when writing on a
table.
4. Wholearm movement – employed when writing in a wide surface and large size of
letters.
- long connecting strokes are found in this movement

Forerunners of Writing

1. Paleogr aphy – is the study of early writing (from Greek Words “palaios”- old
and “graphein” - to write.
 Jean Mabillon – a French Monk, originated Latin paleography in 1681.
 Focuses on handwriting done on materials such as papyrus, vellum and
parchment, wax tablets or papers.

2. Petrograms – if drawn or printed on the surface of rocks.

3. Petroglyphs – if cut into rock.

4. Graffiti – (graffito, from Italian graffio, meaning a “scratch”) – refers to

handwriting or images on the walls or surfaces of a public area, such as
buildings, p arks, toilets, and trains; they are usually political or sexual in
content; a lover’s pledge; a proposition or obscene words.

5. Cacography – bad handwriting

6. Calligraphy – art of fine handwriting

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 ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY – CAUAYAN CAMPUS
COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

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 ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY – CAUAYAN CAMPUS
COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

LABORATORY ACTIVITY 2
The Different Kinds of Writing Movements

Objective: To identify the type of writing movements used by different writers.

Instruction: 1. Write the ISU Vision and Mission using the Different Writing Movements.

1. Finger Movement

2. Hand Movement

3. Arm movement

4. Whole arm movement

Generalization:

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 ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY – CAUAYAN CAMPUS
COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Name: ________________________ Date: ______________

Year & Block: _____________

LABORATORY ACTIVITY #3
The Kinds of Writing

Objective: To identify the different kinds of Writing.

Instruction: Write the Objectives of BS Criminology using the different Kinds of
writing Movement.

1. Cursive/Conventional

2. Script

3. Block form

Generalization:

Handwriting Identification

– it seeks to establish the identity or no-identity of a writer. One’s handwriting

should significantly exhibit different writing habits and letter designs (allograph)
from another.

Principle of Handwriting Identification:

“People are alike; people are all different”. All handwritings are alike. All
handwritings are different.

Handwriting Analysis

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 ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY – CAUAYAN CAMPUS
COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Graphology
- the study of handwriting to determine one’s personality traits is not
handwriting analysis. It’s not even considered a science; more like a parlor trait.
True handwriting analysis involves painstaking examination of the design, shape
and structure of handwriting to determine authorship of a given handwriting
sample.

- The basic principle underlying handwriting analysis is that “NO TWO

PERSONS WRITE THE EXACT SAME THING THE EXACT SAME WAY”. Every person
develops unique peculiarities and characteristics in their handwriting.

- Handwriting analysis looks after the letter formations, connecting strokes,

between the letters, upstrokes, retraces, down strokes, spacing, baseline, curves,
size, distortions, hesitations and a number of other characteristics of handwriting.

POINTERS TO CONSIDER IN EXAMINING EXTENDED WRITING (Anonymous writing)

1. Uniformity
2. Irregularities
3. Size and proportion
4. Alignment
5. Spacing
6. Degree of slant
7. Form and design of letters
8. Initial and Terminal strokes

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COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Characteristics of Handwriting – the identifying details

Categories of Handwriting Characteristics

1. Class Characteristics – are those common to a number of writers and may result from
such influences as the writing system studied, family associations, trade training, or
foreign education as well as carelessness and haste in execution.
2. Individual Characteristics – are those, which are highly personal or peculiar and unlikely
occur in combination in other instances.

Three Phases of Handwriting Examination

1. Recognition (analysis) of characteristics
2. Complete comparison of all characteristics
3. Correct Interpretation (evaluation) of characteristics

TERMS ENCOUNTERED IN THE ANALYSIS OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HANDWRITING.

1. ALIGNMENT – the relation of successive characters of letters of a word, signature or line of

writing to an actual or imaginary line base line.
2. CACOGRAPHY – bad writing
3. CALLIGRAPHY – beautiful writing
4. ELEMENT – component of the letters or the different strokes composing the letter.
- which refers to more to the separate physical parts of thing is also an appropriate descriptive
term and, in some connections, preferable to “quality”.
5. FEATURES – Included among the qualities of handwriting are its distinctive features.
6. FORM – refers to the shape or design of the individual letters.
7. GRAPHOMETRY – analysis by comparison and measurement.
8. HIATUS – Maybe regarded as special form of pen lift.
9. LIGATURE – Characterized by connected strokes between letters.
10. LINE QUALITY
11. LONG LETTERS – Those with upper and lower loop.
12. MAJUSCLE – Capital letter
13. MINUSCLE – Small letter
14. PATCHING – Retouching or going back over a defective portion of writing.
15. PEN LIFT – or disconnecting between letters and letter combinations may e due to lack of
movement control.
16. PEN PRESSURE - The force applied in writing or the weight of the hand or muscles on the
pen during the act of writing. (Light, Medium, Heavy, Even or Uniform)

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 ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY – CAUAYAN CAMPUS
COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

17. PEN POSITION – or also called as pen hold. In writing can be determined positively from the
location of the emphasis or shading.

18. PROPORTION – individual characteristics in relative pro portions of letters – (height and
size) proportion of a part to the other part of letter, or the relative height of one letter to
another letter can be found in different writing.
19. QUALITY - as an instrument or condition of anything is perhaps a better single descriptive
term “characteristics when used s a general description term in connection with handwriting
identification.
20. RATIO – the relation between the tall and short letters.

20. RETRACING – Any stroke which goes back over writing.

21. SLOPE/SLANT – is the angle or inclination of the axis of the letter relative to the baseline.

22. SHORT LETTERS – these are the letters written entirely between the lines. Ex: a, c, e, m, n,
o and etc.

23. TALL LETTERS – these are letters with upper or lower or with a projected portions.

24. TREMOR – means “deviations from uniform strokes or the lack of smoothness perfectly
apparent even without magnification”.

Characteristics of Handwriting

Stroke Structures

1. INITIAL STROKE – refers to the starting stroke.

2. CONNECTING STROKE – stroke that connects letter in cursive writing. (Circular, oblong
or elliptical, angular)

3. TERMINAL STROKE – the last stroke in handwriting.

4. LOOPS – A stroke that is found in long letters resembling an oblong curve.

5. EYE LOOP OR EYELET – the small loop formed by stroke that extends in divergent
directions.

6. DIACRITIC – an element added to complete a certain letter.

7. ARC OR ARCH – any arcade form in the body of a letter. Top curved

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 ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY – CAUAYAN CAMPUS
COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

8. BEARD – a rudimentary (simple) curved initial stroke.

9. BLUNT (round)Ending/Beginning – result of a drawing process of forgery

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

11. CENTRAL PART OR BODY – the part of a letter ordinarily formed by a small circle that
usually lies in the line of writing.

12. FOOT OF THE LETTER – the lower portion of any down stroke which terminates on the
baseline.

13. HITCH – the introductory backward stroke added to the beginning and ending of many
capital letters or small letters.

14. HOOK OR THROUGH – the bend, crook, or curve on the inner side of the bottom loop or
curve of a small letter.

15. HUMP – the rounded outside top of the bend, crook or curve in as small letter.

16. SPUR – short, horizontal beginning/ending stroke

17. KNOB – rounded appearance at the beginning or ending stroke.

18. MAIN STROKE OR SHANK /STEM – downward stroke of any letter.

19. HOOK – is a minute involuntary talon- like formation often found at the commencement
of an initial up strokes or the end of terminal.
20. ASCENDER –is the top portion of the letter or upper loop.

21. DESCENDER – opposite of ascender – is the lower portion or lower loop of a letter.

22. BASELINE – Maybe actual or imaginary line where the letter rests.

23. RUBRIC OR EMBELLISHMENT – this refers to additional, unnecessary strokes not

necessary to legibility of letter forms or writings but incorporated in writing for
decorative or ornamental purposes.

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 ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY – CAUAYAN CAMPUS
COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Name : ________________________ Date:

______________
Year & Block: ______________

LABORATORY ACTIVITY NO. 4

The Different Writing Characteristics
Objective: To identify the different writing characteristics.
Instructions: 1. Execute the Different writing characteristics using a word or letters.
2. Draw an arrow to label or show the writing characteristics.

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 ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY – CAUAYAN CAMPUS
COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Name: ____________________________ Date:

____________
Year & Block: ______________________

LABORATORY ACTIVITY NO.5

Handwriting Examination

Objective: To compare and examine handwriting.

Instruction: 1. Students will bring at least Six (6) pages of their handwriting of different date.
2. Mark the Five documents as S1- S5 and one as Q-1.
3. Students will Exchange specimen with their sit mates.
4. Students will Examine the specimen and state their findings or observation.

Findings /Observation:

CHAPTER III. SIGNATURE IDENTIFICATION

Objectives:
1. - Discuss signature and forgery.
2. Examine, compare and evaluate questioned signatures.
3. Identify the methods used in a forged signature

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 ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY – CAUAYAN CAMPUS
COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

4. Collect sufficient and reliable standard signature

5. Apply appropriate techniques in the examination of different kinds of forged or questioned
signature.
6. Apply and value laws on forgeries and falsification of documents.

Signature – It is the name of the person written by him/her in a document as a sign of

acknowledgment.

- A name or a mark that a person puts at the end of a document to attest that he is
the author or that he ratifies its content.
- A distinctive mark, characteristic or thing that identifies somebody.

In Criminal Law the term Signature includes two conditions when the signing person (signee)
cannot write his name:

1. Signature maybe any mark (usually fingerprint).

2. The act of signing should be witnessed by another person who writes his own name
as a witness.

****An exception is when the signee executes an affidavit or deposition before judicial officer.
In such case, the attestation of the officer is sufficient… e.g Special Power of Attorney*****

Forgery
- Forgery is intent to defraud; a legal term which involves not only a non-genuine
document but also intent on the part of the maker to defraud.
- Outside of the courtroom however, forgery is used synonymously with fraudulent
signature or spurious document.
- The making or altering of a written instrument for fraud or deceit.

Kinds of Signature as to the Document

1. Formal –mostly found in documents of importance
2. Informal –mostly found in documents which are part of daily routine/activities
3. Careless Scribble

Kinds of Signature as to Design/composition

1. Conventional/Copybook form
2. Personalized/Individualized
a. semi – personalized -
b. highly individualized

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 ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY – CAUAYAN CAMPUS
COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

CLASSES OF DISPUTED/QUESTIONED SIGNATURE

1. Forged signature where no attempt has been made to make a copy of facsimile of the
genuine signature of the person purporting to sign the document. (Simple or Spurious
forgery)

2. Forged signature of a fictitious person.

3. Forged signature which closely resembles the genuine signature since it was produced
by tracing process. (Traced Forgery)

4. Forged signature which resembles the genuine signature written with free hand.
(Simulated or Freehand Imitation Forgery)

5. Genuine signature which the writer refuses to admit as genuine.

- When no presence of tremors, retouching and poor line quality but instead the
obvious features are the one absent, and provided that the minute details in the
signature are present or correctly reproduced, the probability of genuineness.
6. Genuine signature obtained by trickery.
7. Genuine signature deliberately modified.
- Examination of this kind of signature will confidently discover 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 no unnatural tremors and
retouching minute details in genuine signatures are present.

Classes of Forged Signature (Common Types of Non-genuine Signature)

1. Simulated Signature or Freehand forged signature – the free handwriting in imitation of

a model signature or a copy. It is copying or imitating another using the original as the
model.
- In simulated signature the writer views a genuine signature as a model, as a basis to
“draw’ or copy by hand while freehand forged signature, the forged signature is
purported to represent the signature of a particular person but it was written in the
forger’s normal handwriting, with no apparent attempt to copy any likeness of that
particular person’s signature. A forger in this instance draws, not writing.

Two Ways of Simulating a Signature

1. Use of actual model signature at hand
a. slow drawing movement

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 ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY – CAUAYAN CAMPUS
COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

b. unnatural starts and stops

c. lack of rhythm
d. uncertainty of letter conformations
e. touch up strokes and patching
2. without the use of an actual model signature at hand

2. Traced Forgery – this type of forged signature is a tracing of a genuine signature.

Classification of Traced Forgery

1. Direct Tracing – it is a copy made by transmitted light. The genuine signature

is expose under strong light that can reflect the signature to the questioned
document and the visible outline is followed with a pen or pencil to create a
forgery.
Indications:
a. Sluggish
b. Unnatural executions
c. Heavy and irregular uncertainty
2. Indirect tracing (Carbon process)– the forger use a carbon paper and place
the document on which he will trace the forged signatures under the
document bearing the model signature with carbon paper between the two.
o In this type it could be easily detected by the scattering of carbon remnants
on the forged document.

o In indirect tracing it also shows slow, irregular drawing execution.

3. Indentation Process – the document containing the model signature is placed

on top of the forged document. The forger traces with considerable pressure
over the genuine signature using a pencil, pen, stylus or similar instruments
that create an indent signature outline on the document being forged. Later,
this depression outline is overwritten using a writing instrument.

Indications;
a. There is slow and unnatural execution
b. The presence of indentions and depression (canal)
c. Lack of precise coincidence between the indented signature outline

3. Simple Forgery or Spurious forgery

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COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

– a fraudulent signature in which there was no apparent attempt at simulation or

imitation. It is a common form of forgery encountered in fraudulent check investigations where
person passing the check depends on the surrounding circumstances, rather upon the quality of
the signature for his success.

– is a kind of forged signature in which the writer writes something that resembles what
is ordinary identified as signature. The forger does not copy a model; instead, he uses a false
name and makes a rapid stroke, disturbing his usual style by adopting a camouflage called
disguise. In this case, the forger can be identified by comparing his original signature and other
writings to the disguise.

Name: ______________________________ Date:

___________
Year & Block: ________________________

LABORATORY ACTIVITY NO. 6

The Different Methods of Forgery

Objective: To recognize the different indications of forgery in different methods.

Instruction: 1. Execute the Different methods of Forgery.
2. Draw an arrow to label the indications of forgery in each method.

Indications of Genuine Signature

To determine the genuineness of a Questioned Signature after it is compared with the specimen
signature, the following indicators are considered;
1. Habitual speed of writing
2. Firmness of strokes (absence of unnatural tremors)
3. Degree of skill
4. Fundamental muscular movement
5. Natural variations
6. Rhythm, coordination, continuity and precision
- absence of pen stops at wrong places as in the curve or straight lines - pen stop in
genuine signature are irregular and usually found at the ink
7. Smooth line quality
8. Presence of vanishing and flying strokes

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COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

9. Absence of retouching

Indications of Forgery

1. Hesitation (shown by unnatural pen stop, pen lift and uncertainty of movement)
2. Patching – careful patching or retouching
3. Tremors
4. Drawn quality
5. Lack of natural variation
6. Lack of rhythm

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