Question 1

What are the common individual characteristics that are associated with handwriting?

Accepted Answer

Handwriting is a complex motor skill that is unique to each individual. The characteristics associated with handwriting are influenced by a combination of physical, psychological, and educational factors. Here are some common individual characteristics that are often associated with handwriting:

1. **Letter Formation**: This includes the shape, size, and slant of letters. Some people may write with rounded letters, while others may use more angular shapes. The way letters are connected or not connected can also be a distinguishing feature.

2. **Size**: The overall size of the handwriting can vary greatly among individuals, with some writing in large, expansive strokes and others in small, cramped letters.

3. **Slant**: Handwriting may slant to the right, to the left, or have no slant at all. The slant can be consistent or vary throughout the writing.

4. **Pressure**: The amount of pressure one applies while writing can affect the thickness and darkness of the lines. Some people press hard on the paper, leaving indentations or a heavier line, while others write with a light touch.

5. **Spacing**: This includes the space between letters, words, and lines. Some individuals may crowd their letters together, while others may leave generous spaces.

6. **Speed**: The speed at which a person writes can affect the legibility and fluidity of the handwriting. Some write quickly, with a more cursive and flowing style, while others write slowly and more deliberately.

7. **Consistency**: Some people have very consistent handwriting, with little variation from one day to the next, while others may exhibit significant variations in their writing style.

8. **Baseline Alignment**: This refers to the tendency of words to follow a straight line or to drift upwards or downwards on the page.

9. **Flourishes and Embellishments**: Some individuals add extra strokes or embellishments to their letters, which can be a stylistic choice or a habit.

10. **Legibility**: This is the ease with which handwriting can be read. Some people have very clear and legible handwriting, while others have a more difficult-to-read script.

11. **Personal Style**: Beyond these characteristics, many people develop a personal style that may include unique ways of forming certain letters or numbers, or a signature style that is particularly distinctive.

Handwriting analysis, or graphology, is the study of these characteristics with the belief that they can reveal aspects of a person's personality or psychological state. However, the scientific validity of graphology as a tool for psychological analysis is highly debated and not widely accepted in the academic community.

In forensic contexts, handwriting characteristics are used by document examiners to compare and authenticate documents based on the premise that no two individuals have exactly the same handwriting characteristics.

Question 2

The process by which the image is stored in memory by scanning and converting by computer into an array of digital intensity values called picture elements is known as:

Accepted Answer

A)  digital photography 
B)  luminescence 
C)  digitizing 
D)  pixelization 
E)  Adobe Photoshopping 
A)  digital photography 
B)  luminescence 
C)  digitizing 
D)  pixelization 
E)  Adobe Photoshopping C

Question 3

If an investigator is to prepare standards from a suspect typewriter, the following procedure is recommended:

Accepted Answer

A)  Partial copies of the suspect text are to be typed in light, medium, and heavy touches. 
B)  Each character should be typed without the ribbon. 
C)  Prepare at least one copy of the text in full word-for-word order. 
D)  Examine the type impressions left on the ribbon. 
E)  All of the above are recommended procedures. 
A)  Partial copies of the suspect text are to be typed in light, medium, and heavy touches. 
B)  Each character should be typed without the ribbon. 
C)  Prepare at least one copy of the text in full word-for-word order. 
D)  Examine the type impressions left on the ribbon. 
E)  All of the above are recommended procedures. C

Question 4

The writing characteristics of a person may be altered by whether:

Accepted Answer

A)  a significant amount of time has passed between writing of exemplar and the questioned document. 
B)  the posture or stance of the author varies between writings. 
C)  pencil, ballpoint or fountain pen is used. 
D)  paper is ruled or unruled. 
E)  all of the above 
A)  a significant amount of time has passed between writing of exemplar and the questioned document. 
B)  the posture or stance of the author varies between writings. 
C)  pencil, ballpoint or fountain pen is used. 
D)  paper is ruled or unruled. 
E)  all of the above

Question 5

Infrared luminescence is used to:

Accepted Answer

A)  reveal writing that has been erased. 
B)  detect if two different inks were used in the writing of a document. 
C)  both A and B 
D)  neither A nor B 
A)  reveal writing that has been erased. 
B)  detect if two different inks were used in the writing of a document. 
C)  both A and B 
D)  neither A nor B

Question 6

List and describe some of the class and individual characteristics of printers and photocopiers.

Accepted Answer

Printers and photocopiers are both essen

Question 7

___________ writings are partially visible impressions appearing on a sheet of paper underneath the one on which the visible writing was done.

Accepted Answer

A)  indented 
B)  exemplar 
C)  charred 
D)  obliterated 
E)  questioned 
A)  indented 
B)  exemplar 
C)  charred 
D)  obliterated 
E)  questioned

Question 8

Document examiners frequently uncover the original writing of words that have been crossed out with the aid of:

Accepted Answer

A)  transmitted radiation. 
B)  color photography. 
C)  infrared radiation. 
D)  thin-layer chromatography 
E)  side lighting. 
A)  transmitted radiation. 
B)  color photography. 
C)  infrared radiation. 
D)  thin-layer chromatography 
E)  side lighting.

Question 9

A data bank of ink dye patterns has been established by the U.S. Treasury Department using:

Accepted Answer

A)  HPLC. 
B)  NAA. 
C)  TLC. 
D)  TTI. 
E)  MDMA. 
A)  HPLC. 
B)  NAA. 
C)  TLC. 
D)  TTI. 
E)  MDMA.

Question 10

When a suspect computer printer is not available, the examiner may need to analyze the document's ___________ to identify the make and model of the machine.

Accepted Answer

A)  class characteristics 
B)  TTI 
C)  luminescence 
D)  handwriting 
E)  individual characteristics 
A)  class characteristics 
B)  TTI 
C)  luminescence 
D)  handwriting 
E)  individual characteristics

Question 11

The ease with which one can find individual variations in a typewritten document is ________ the ease of finding such defects in documents produced by business and personal computers.

Accepted Answer

A)  less than 
B)  the same as 
C)  greater than 
A)  less than 
B)  the same as 
C)  greater than

Question 12

In the case of ___________, the Supreme Court held handwriting to be nontestimonial evidence not protected by Fifth Amendment privileges.

Accepted Answer

A)  United States Secret Service v. Mara 
B)  Gilbert v. California 
C)  United States v. Mara 
D)  Carmichael v. Kumho Tire Co. 
E)  none of the above 
A)  United States Secret Service v. Mara 
B)  Gilbert v. California 
C)  United States v. Mara 
D)  Carmichael v. Kumho Tire Co. 
E)  none of the above

Question 13

The possibility of recognizing known writing habits in samples produced when a writer is under the influence of drugs or alcohol is ________ the possibility of recognizing known writing habits produced when the writer of a sample is not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Accepted Answer

A)  less than 
B)  the same as 
C)  greater than 
A)  less than 
B)  the same as 
C)  greater than

Question 14

Questioned documents include:

Accepted Answer

A)  petitions and lottery tickets. 
B)  rare books. 
C)  letters and checks. 
D)  contracts and passports. 
E)  all of the above 
A)  petitions and lottery tickets. 
B)  rare books. 
C)  letters and checks. 
D)  contracts and passports. 
E)  all of the above

Question 15

Which of the following statements is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  Writings on a charred document may be revealed by reflecting light off the paper's surface at different angles. 
B)  Any object that contains handwritten or typewritten markings whose source or authenticity is in doubt is a questioned document. 
C)  In the case of Gilbert v. California the court held that the taking of handwriting exemplars was not prohibited by the Fifth Amendment. 
D)  Once adulthood is reached, an individual's handwriting generally will not change with age. 
E)  An inconclusive finding by a document examiner may be due to an insufficient number of known writings available for comparison. 
A)  Writings on a charred document may be revealed by reflecting light off the paper's surface at different angles. 
B)  Any object that contains handwritten or typewritten markings whose source or authenticity is in doubt is a questioned document. 
C)  In the case of Gilbert v. California the court held that the taking of handwriting exemplars was not prohibited by the Fifth Amendment. 
D)  Once adulthood is reached, an individual's handwriting generally will not change with age. 
E)  An inconclusive finding by a document examiner may be due to an insufficient number of known writings available for comparison.

Question 16

Defects that are reproduced by a photocopier onto a copied document may originate from defects in all of the following photocopier parts except:

Accepted Answer

A)  feed tray 
B)  mechanical portions 
C)  glass plate 
D)  inner cover 
E)  none of the above 
A)  feed tray 
B)  mechanical portions 
C)  glass plate 
D)  inner cover 
E)  none of the above

Question 17

Inks on handwritten documents may be compared for their chemical composition by the technique of:

Accepted Answer

A)  infrared spectrophotometry. 
B)  gas chromatography. 
C)  thin-layer chromatography. 
D)  ultraviolet spectrophotometry. 
E)  none of the above 
A)  infrared spectrophotometry. 
B)  gas chromatography. 
C)  thin-layer chromatography. 
D)  ultraviolet spectrophotometry. 
E)  none of the above

Question 18

Some inks, when exposed to blue-green light, absorb ___________ radiation and emit light.

Accepted Answer

A)  infrared 
B)  visible 
C)  polarized 
D)  ultra-violet 
A)  infrared 
B)  visible 
C)  polarized 
D)  ultra-violet

Question 19

In dealing with fax machines, photocopiers and computer printers, which class characteristics might be examined?

Accepted Answer

A)  type of paper 
B)  chemical composition of toner 
C)  brand of machine manufacturer 
D)  type of toner-to-paper fusing method 
E)  all of the above 
A)  type of paper 
B)  chemical composition of toner 
C)  brand of machine manufacturer 
D)  type of toner-to-paper fusing method 
E)  all of the above

Question 20

List and describe some of the techniques that document examiners use to uncover alterations, erasures, obliterations, and variations in pen inks.

Accepted Answer

Document examiners use a variety of tech

What are the common individual characteristics that are associated with handwriting?

The process by which the image is stored in memory by scanning and converting by computer into an array of digital intensity values called picture elements is known as:

If an investigator is to prepare standards from a suspect typewriter, the following procedure is recommended:

The writing characteristics of a person may be altered by whether:

Infrared luminescence is used to:

List and describe some of the class and individual characteristics of printers and photocopiers.

___________ writings are partially visible impressions appearing on a sheet of paper underneath the one on which the visible writing was done.

Document examiners frequently uncover the original writing of words that have been crossed out with the aid of:

A data bank of ink dye patterns has been established by the U.S. Treasury Department using:

When a suspect computer printer is not available, the examiner may need to analyze the document's ___________ to identify the make and model of the machine.

The ease with which one can find individual variations in a typewritten document is ________ the ease of finding such defects in documents produced by business and personal computers.

In the case of ___________, the Supreme Court held handwriting to be nontestimonial evidence not protected by Fifth Amendment privileges.

The possibility of recognizing known writing habits in samples produced when a writer is under the influence of drugs or alcohol is ________ the possibility of recognizing known writing habits produced when the writer of a sample is not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Questioned documents include:

Which of the following statements is false?

Defects that are reproduced by a photocopier onto a copied document may originate from defects in all of the following photocopier parts except:

Inks on handwritten documents may be compared for their chemical composition by the technique of:

Some inks, when exposed to blue-green light, absorb ___________ radiation and emit light.

In dealing with fax machines, photocopiers and computer printers, which class characteristics might be examined?

List and describe some of the techniques that document examiners use to uncover alterations, erasures, obliterations, and variations in pen inks.

Introduction

Securing and Searching the Crime Scene

Recording the Crime Scene

Collection of Crime-Scene Evidence

Physical Evidence

Death Investigation

Crime-Scene Reconstruction

Fingerprints

Firearms, Toolmarks, and Other Impressions

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

Drugs

Forensic Toxicology

Trace Evidence I: Hairs and Fibers

Trace Evidence Ii: Paint, Glass, and Soil

Biological Stain Analysis: DNA

Forensic Aspects of Fire and Explosion Investigation

Computer Forensics

Filters

Exam 17: Document Examination

What are the common individual characteristics that are associated with handwriting?

The process by which the image is stored in memory by scanning and converting by computer into an array of digital intensity values called picture elements is known as:

If an investigator is to prepare standards from a suspect typewriter, the following procedure is recommended:

The writing characteristics of a person may be altered by whether:

Infrared luminescence is used to:

List and describe some of the class and individual characteristics of printers and photocopiers.

___________ writings are partially visible impressions appearing on a sheet of paper underneath the one on which the visible writing was done.

Document examiners frequently uncover the original writing of words that have been crossed out with the aid of:

A data bank of ink dye patterns has been established by the U.S. Treasury Department using:

When a suspect computer printer is not available, the examiner may need to analyze the document's ___________ to identify the make and model of the machine.

The ease with which one can find individual variations in a typewritten document is ________ the ease of finding such defects in documents produced by business and personal computers.

In the case of ___________, the Supreme Court held handwriting to be nontestimonial evidence not protected by Fifth Amendment privileges.

The possibility of recognizing known writing habits in samples produced when a writer is under the influence of drugs or alcohol is ________ the possibility of recognizing known writing habits produced when the writer of a sample is not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Questioned documents include:

Which of the following statements is false?

Defects that are reproduced by a photocopier onto a copied document may originate from defects in all of the following photocopier parts except:

Inks on handwritten documents may be compared for their chemical composition by the technique of:

Some inks, when exposed to blue-green light, absorb ___________ radiation and emit light.

In dealing with fax machines, photocopiers and computer printers, which class characteristics might be examined?

List and describe some of the techniques that document examiners use to uncover alterations, erasures, obliterations, and variations in pen inks.

Introduction

Securing and Searching the Crime Scene

Recording the Crime Scene

Collection of Crime-Scene Evidence

Physical Evidence

Death Investigation

Crime-Scene Reconstruction

Fingerprints

Firearms, Toolmarks, and Other Impressions

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

Drugs

Forensic Toxicology

Trace Evidence I: Hairs and Fibers

Trace Evidence Ii: Paint, Glass, and Soil

Biological Stain Analysis: DNA

Forensic Aspects of Fire and Explosion Investigation

Computer Forensics

Filters