Problems of Forensic Sciences 2015 Vol. 101 (CI) 14-23
ADEQUACY OF WRITING STANDARDS FOR THE INDIVIDUALIZATION OF DISGUISED SIGNATURES – A PRELIMINARY STUDY
Wioleta SZKODLARSKA, Szymon MATUSZEWSKI
Laboratory of Criminalistics, Faculty of Law and Administration, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
Streszczenie
The purpose of this study was to determine whether writing standards (comparative material) used for the individualization of disguised signatures should be natural or disguised. Five full signatures were collected from 18 subjects, from among which participants chose one questioned signature. Then, 20 natural signatures (treated as natural standards) and 20 disguised signatures (treated as disguised standards) were collected. Dimensional and constructional features of handwriting were analysed and compared. There was statistically higher variation of these features in disguised standards as compared to natural standards. Comparison between a questioned (disguised) signature and disguised standards usually resulted in convergence of all features. In the case of natural standards, dissimilarities in dimensional and constructional features were frequently found. These results indicate that disguised standards are better than natural ones when the questioned signature is disguised. It is thus suggested that questioned document experts should have access to both natural and disguised standards.
Słowa kluczowe
Questioned documents; Signatures; Writing standards; Disguise.