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Sunday, 6 September 2009
Major Types of Blood~
Techniques Used to ID Hair/Fiber~
Hair and Fiber:
Today hair and fiber has become a very important clue to police when trying to catch the culprit of a crime. In a very thin strand of hair police are able to identify the drugs or poison the person has had and the race of the person (Asian, African American, White). . Although, if the hair has been dyed or a certain chemical is put in the hair, the hair might change its style and the way it looks under a microscope, giving the police a false clue. However with fiber, scientists are able to determine where crime scenes occured and vertify that they are searching for the correct criminal. Also, once the fiber is formed, its type cannot be changed therefore the mix ups with fibers are very rare. Furthermore, forensic scientists have been able to identify the three main types of hair: Coronal, Spinous, and Imbricate and two main types of fiber: Natural and Man- Made.
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Handwriting Forgery~
As another part of our lab experiences in Isaac Bear, each student made a fake check, using a fake name, but writing in our own handwriting. Next, we were to rip our check apart and place it into an envelope. Mr. Kelly then mixed up the envelopes and gave us each a different envelope with a different check. We were then required to put the check back together and identify the person who wrote the check. After comparing the handwriting of the check to my classmate’s handwriting, I was able to discover the owner of the check. This method of Handwriting Analysis is not accurate but sometimes used when trying to catch the criminal of a crime. I can only imagine the difficulty the police go through when comparing the different handwritings, although, in todays society we have technology for this sort of thing.
Inaccuracy in Handwriting Analysis~
Although a note left by a criminal could become another helpful clue for police in the middle of solving a mystery, sometimes it is very inaccurate. Inaccuracies in handwriting analysis may include the following:
1. Criminal may change the style of his/her writing forming a false clue
2. The writing may be smudged
3. The note may be typed
4. The criminal might have framed someone else by allowing them to right the note
5. Depending on the instrument, the writing may thicker/thinner
6. The writing may be a bit skewed if the person writing the note was in a rush
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History of Handwriting Analysis~
Handwriting analysis is basically a comparison between two or more documents and determining whether or not the same person wrote both documents. Throughout the years, handwriting analysis has gotten more accurate and police are sometimes able to use it as a valid clue. Although, in the 1980's handwriting analysis was not very authentic because a man named Konrad Kujau was able to trick all by forging a few diaries he stated was written by Hitler. Kujau reported to the police that he had found a lost diary of Adolf Hitler in an airplane wreckage after World War II. After police compared the diary with known exemplars written by Hitler, they stated that the diary was truly written by Hitler and Kujau received 2.3 million dollars. It was not until years later was Kujau identified as a liar, for he forged the diaries and the 'exemplars'. Kujau was caught because apparently, the paper Kujau used had a special ingredient that was not used in paper until 1954, whereas Hitler passed away in 1945.
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Techniques and Indicators Used to Identify Handwriting~
When trying to identify the culprit of a crime, Forensic scientists are usually needed to analysis handwriting. The twelve main characteristics for comparing handwriting are as follows:
1. Line quality: Do the letters flow or are they written with very intent strokes?
2. Spacing of words and letters: What is the average space between words and letters?
3. Ratio of height, width, and size of letters: Are the letters consistent in height, width and size?
4. Lifting pen: Does the author lift his or her pen to stop writing a word and start a new word?
5. Connecting strokes: How are capital letters connected to lower case letters?
6. Strokes to begin and end: Where does the letter begin and end on a page?
7. Unusual letter formation: Are any letters written with unusual slants or angles? Are some letters printed rather than written in cursive?
8. Pen pressure: How much pen pressure is applied on upward and downward strokes?
9. Slant: Do letters slant to the left or right? If slant is pronounced, a protractor may be used to determine the degree.
10. Baseline habits: Does the author write on the line or does the writing go above or below the line?
11. Fancy writing habits: Are there unusual curls or loops or unique styles?
12. Placement of diacritics: How does the author cross the t's or dot the i's?
Wednesday, 2 September 2009
Handwriting Lab~
Although handwriting analysis is an interesting topic, when trying to find the criminal in a case, it might not be the most reliable thing. After completing our handwriting analysis lab in school, I realized that although every style of writing is unique, after practice, an individual can write almost identical to someone else. Therefore, when police are trying to use Handwriting Analysis to figure out the criminal, they might identify the wrong person as the criminal because of forgery. Above, you see the original sample done by Tala Khatib.
This is a freehanded sample tried once by Nicole Pridgen. Although it does not perfectly match the original sample, it is close enough to show that with a little practice, Pridgen could copy Khatibs writing perfectly.
This is a traced forgery done by Lizzie Paluso. Once, although it is not perfect, it is still much closer than the freehand and with a little practice, it could be identical to the original.
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