Forensic handwriting analysis

Abbe Jean Michon, a 19th century french scholar, is largely attributed with the first major scholarly works on forensic handwriting analysis and document authentication. Sir William Herschel, who helped develop the science of fingerprint analysis in forensics, was a supporter of handwriting analysis as an aid to investigations. A organized, standardized system for the forensic analysis of handwriting was in widespread use by the early 20th century.

Forensic investigators compare handwriting based on 12 basic characteristics. They are as follows:

1. Line Quality - How the letters flow, whether the strokes are slow and deliberate, quick and smooth, etc.

2. Spacing - How the lines, letters and word are spaced.

This handwriting sample exhibits smooth line quality, and large spacing between lines and words.

3. Consistency - How consistent the size of the letters and/or spacing is.

4. Pen lifting - Where the author does or doesn't lift his or her pen to start a new word or letter.

5.Connecting Strokes - How letters are connected to each other

6. Beginning and Ending Strokes - How the beginning and ending strokes are drawn, whether they are straight or curled, flourished, et cetera.

7. Unique letters - If any of the letters are formed by unusual strokes.

8. Pen pressure: How pen pressure applied, and whether it is on the upstroke or downstroke, etc.

9. Slant: How letters are slanted.

10. Line position - How far above or below the line letters are written.

11. Flourishes and embelishments

12. Diacritic Placement - How and where is and js are dotted, as well as how ts are crossed.

This handwriting sample has a noticeable slant to the right, as well as wide, consistent spacing and smooth line quality. Another noticeable characteristic is that the loops are often narrow or tapered.