Analyzing Handwriting Check for Understanding

Place the following handwriting analysis steps in the correct order: Comparing questioned document with the exemplar, Researching conclusions, Obtaining an exemplar.

An investigator finds a grocery list while searching the home of a suspect and he uses it to compare the handwriting from the grocery list to a ransom note. Which kind of exemplar is this?

• Request specimen

• Non-request specimen

• Subconscious specimen

• Conscious specimen

How will a request specimen be collected?

• By requesting a sample of handwriting the suspect wrote previous to the event

• By requesting the suspect to write some sample text

• By requesting the suspect to copy the original document

• By finding a sample of handwriting at the suspect’s home

Why would it be important to collect a non-request specimen?

• Police can ensure the content matches what is in the questioned document

• They are more time-sensitive

• They are adequate length to compare to the questioned document

• A suspect could attempt to disguise handwriting during a request specimen

Non-request specimens are more likely to be better examples of a suspect’s natural handwriting.

• True

• False

Both the questioned document and exemplar must have enough content to ensure a match can be made.

• True

• False

Handwriting features are never typically consistent overall.

• True

• False

No two handwritten documents will be identical.

• True

• False