Text 3 collection of writng standards

Before an examination can be made, known standard writing must be submitted for comparison. Usually the investigator submits standards for comparison. If the investigator does not submit proper standards, an examination may be limited in scope or not occur. It is crucial for the investigator and document examiner to have a good working liaison.

When submitting written standards, one should realize that like must be compared to like. For example, if the questioned material is printed, the known standards must be printed. If the questioned document is written cursively, it must be compared to cursive writing. If the writing is in pencil, the standards should be written in pencil. A general rule is to duplicate as much as possible the same conditions that occurred when the questioned material was written. Items such as writing instrument, writing position (if known), type of paper (ruled or not), may be important conditions of the writing act.

Two classes of writing standards are utilized for comparison purposes. These are non-request writing, also known as spontaneous or undictated writing, and requested writing or dictated exemplars. Both types of standards have benefits and disadvantages. The nonre-quest or undictated writing — material written by the individual during the everyday course of business — is likely to reveal the normal writing habits of the individual. No circumstances call attention to or provide undue-emphasis to the act of'writing: The writer, unaware that the writing will be used as a standard for comparison, is not likely to alter his or her handwriting for the purpose of disguise. The disadvantage is having the non-request written material authenticated for court, and obtaining enough comparable let­ters and words can be difficult.

Requested exemplars are standards written at the request, and usually in the presence, of the investigator or examiner. Their advantage is that they provide writing that is comparable to the questioned material, and authentication is easily accomplished. The in­herent problem with requested standards is that they call attention to the writing process. This may inhibit the writer because of nervousness, or may allow the writer to attempt to distort his or her writing for the purpose of disguise. From the examiner's perspective, a combination of both requested and nonrequest writing standards serves as the best material for comparison to the questioned document. The addition of nonrequest standards serves as a check against the individual who may attempt some form of disguise.

Normal course-of-business writing standards can be obtained for handwriting examination from:

• Applications (credit, employment, insurance, loan, rental)

• Bank records (deposit slips, cancelled checks, safe deposit record, signature cards)

• Birth certificates

• Business contracts and agreements

• Employment records

• Letters of correspondence

• Real estate (contracts, listings, warranty deeds)

• Receipts (credit card, cash, delivery)

• Registers (attendance, motel, visitor)

• School records

• Tax returns

• Time sheets

• Wills