Initials: A question of identity

It has been a generally accepted practice among document examiners to request known handwriting standards which duplicate the questioned material under examination.When initials are questioned it is not always possible to have initials duplicated and known signatures are sometimes substituted.A research study was conducted using a sample of 65 writers to determine if the letters in a group of initials were written in the same manner as the capital letters in a signature. The study showed that 69% of the writers in the sample made one or more changes or additions to their initials which were not present when they wrote their signatures.     

再看摹仿签名笔迹鉴定

由于签名笔迹字数少、可摹仿性强的特点,长期以来,摹仿签名笔迹鉴定始终是笔迹鉴定的难点。笔者从不同类型的摹仿方法出发,讨论不同方法下摹仿签名笔迹的特点,总结其特征规律。同时要重视笔迹鉴定过程中了解相关案情,为识别是否存在摹仿现象提供线索。在此基础之上,对比摹仿签名笔迹特征的变化规律,并从摹仿签名笔迹特征反映构成方面系统性地进行鉴定,鉴别是否存在摹仿签名的情况。通过撰写此文,以期对摹仿签名笔迹鉴定实务具有借鉴意义。     

Are expert penmen better than lay people at producing simulations of a model signature?

Although forensic signature examination is considered to be an identification science, it is a theoretical possibility that an individual may learn to forge another person's signature that is free from indications of simulation behaviours. This proposition was tested in a signature blind trial that was administered to 42 forensic handwriting examiners (FHEs). Participants expressed opinions on the authorship of 100 questioned signatures. The questioned signatures comprised a mixture of genuine, disguised and simulated signatures. Calligraphers formed part of the population of individuals who provided simulated signatures for the trial. A total of 3100 opinions were expressed of which 1254 were correct, 224 misleading and 1622 were inconclusive. Of the opinions expressed regarding the simulated signatures, the misleading score for the calligraphers' forgeries were approximately four times that of the lay persons' forgeries. These results provide strong evidence in support of the proposition that calligraphers are more skilled at simulating signatures than are lay people and can produce forgeries that some FHEs have difficulty detecting.     

一起練习记忆摹仿签名笔迹的鉴定与启示

本文通过对一起检验鉴定案例的分析,提出练习记忆摹仿的概念,并对该类案件的检验鉴定,总结出十点启示。     

Investigating forensic document examiners’ skill relating to opinions on photocopied signatures

Many forensic document examiners are hesitant to express authorship opinions on photocopied handwriting as the photocopying process results in less feature information than original writing. This study aimed to test the accuracy of 15 examiners' opinions regarding whether photocopied questioned signatures were genuine or simulated. Each examiner received the same set of original signature exemplars, from one individual, and a set of eighty questioned photocopied signatures comprising of genuine and simulated signatures. The overall misleading (error) rate for the grouped examiners' opinions was 0.9% providing strong evidence that examiners can make accurate observations regarding the authorship of non-original handwriting.     

伪装签名检验初探

伪装签名是一种签名造假手段,其目的是通过否认签名是自己所写,非法占有他人财物或逃避责任。伪装签名笔迹貌似正常,但受不同伪装手段的影响,笔迹会发生各种变化,因而检验难度较大。检验伪装签名时,鉴定人要解放思想,客观看待笔迹发生的变化,选用正确的检验方法,客观全面地选择笔迹特征,适时补充笔迹样本,条件具备时还应充分利用案情。     

论签名笔迹的频谱分析方法

通过一种签名笔迹的频谱分析方法,并提取签名笔迹的压力、速度等动态特征数据,利用傅立叶变换原理,对特征数据进行频谱分析。实验研究发现,同一人的签名笔迹频谱图相似度高,且明显区别于他人的签名笔迹。签名笔迹的频谱分析方法可以直观、有效的鉴别签名笔迹。     

Visual attention and expertise for forensic signature analysis

Eye tracking was used to measure visual attention of nine forensic document examiners (FDEs) and 12 control subjects on a blind signature comparison trial. Subjects evaluated 32 questioned signatures (16 genuine, eight disguised, and eight forged) which were compared, on screen, with four known signatures of the specimen provider while their eye movements, response times, and opinions were recorded. FDEs' opinions were significantly more accurate than controls, providing further evidence of FDE expertise. Both control and FDE subjects looked at signature features in a very similar way and the difference in the accuracy of their opinions can be accounted for by different cognitive processing of the visual information that they extract from the images. In a separate experiment the FDEs re-examined a reordered set of the same 32 questioned signatures. In this phase each signature was presented for only 100 msec to test if eye movements are relevant in forming opinions; performance significantly dropped, but not to chance levels indicating that the examination process comprises a combination of both global and local feature extraction strategies.     

Teaching collaborative problem-solving skills to law students

This article describes and critically evaluates a collaborative dispute resolution activity conducted in a mid-degree law subject at an Australian university. Australian law degrees are required to be vocational. Teaching problem-solving to law students is an effective way to impart key professional skills. However, it requires planning and preparation. It is therefore important to reflect on whether the aims of the activity have been achieved. In particular, three ideas about what constitutes good teaching are explored. The first is that good teachers do not simply deliver content – they give their students problems to solve. The second is the expectation employers have that law graduates will readily collaborate with their colleagues. Finally, giving students an opportunity to reflect on what they have learned will enable students to transfer what they have understood and articulated to legal practice. By delineating each of these three teaching aims, it is possible to assess the value and effectiveness of the problem-solving activity. This paper also reflects on the positive impact that is achieved when authentic and ethical legal processes are embedded into student-centred learning.     

当前文件检验的热点问题

本文简要回顾了文件检验学的发展历程,着重总结了当今文件检验的热点问题,包括:笔迹的自动化检验,文件的制成时间,可疑文件的无损检验,可疑文件的综合检验、可疑文件的定量检验、计算机技术在文件检验中的应用以及今后的发展趋势,文件检验工作中存在的问题进行了阐述,并针对存在的问题提出了解决方案。     

利用真签名伪造文书的识别与检验

通常情况下,绝大多数人认为,签名真伪决定了文书真伪。司法鉴定实际工作中,事实上签名真伪与文书真伪并不是等同关系。利用真签名伪造文书有许多方法。由于签名真是书写人的笔迹,因此在利用真签名伪造文书的实际鉴定中,鉴定人往往忽视系统检验,从而作出不符合客观实际的鉴定结论。在检验中,应充分根据利用真签名伪造文书不同方法出现的不同特点,综合运用案情分析法、细节特征比较法、图像软件分析法、仪器检验法、系统检验法进行检验。在检验过程中,还应注意受理案件时的材料是否为原件;案件情况中双方当事人矛盾的焦点;签名是真签名还是摹仿签名。     

Identification of human figure drawings through questioned document examination techniques

Two cases were submitted for questioned document examination involving human figure drawings. As there was little information on ‘artist’ identification in the questioned document examination literature, a sample of 107 individuals was selected to participate in a study. The respondents were requested to draw two cartoons, one naturally and one disguised, in order to determine if standard questioned document examination methods could be employed to identify the ‘artists’. The findings indicated that ‘artists’ of human figure drawings could be identified using standard handwriting identification techniques.     

签名笔迹重新鉴定实务问题探究

签名笔迹鉴定是司法鉴定实务中的重点和难点问题。实践中，签名笔迹重新鉴定遇到许多鉴定失误和诸多疑难问题，有必要对此进行系统研究。通过采取实证分析的方法，从理论和程序操作的角度分析鉴定失误的原因，结合对疑难签名笔迹鉴定的种类和特点的讨论，总结同类疑难签名笔迹鉴定的方法要点和重新鉴定中的程序审查要求。     

Distinguishing Characteristics of Robotic Writing

Advances in robotic handwriting technology create new challenges for forensic document examiners. In the past, devices such as the autopen were used to replicate signatures of government officials and corporate companies. In today's technology, companies such as Bond utilize robots to create written documents, which mimic natural patterns of handwriting. They generate customizable written samples by simulating pen movements and letter formations. Four forensic document examiners were given various reproduced questioned documents and utilized a modified ACE‐V (analysis, comparison, evaluation, verification) methodology to determine their genuineness. Examiners were able to make a distinction between the human writing samples and the skilled robotic equivalents. Several distinct features that are not seen in natural handwriting, such as even pen pressure and the superimposition of letterforms were observed in the robotic samples. Careful examination of identifying features of the Bond produced documents resulted in an opinion of nongenuineness.     

参与式教学法在卫生法学与卫生监督课程中的应用

目的:探讨参与式教学法在卫生法学与卫生监督课程中的实践应用及效果,以提升课堂质量,增强学生的理论实践水平。方法:抽取卫生法学与卫生事业管理两个专业正在讲授该课程的班级,由教师在课堂上应用参与式教学法进行教学,然后用自行设计的调查问卷对学生参与课题讲学的效果和问题进行调查。结果:通过参与式教学法,76.2%的学生认为个人学习的主动性增强;79.6%的学生认为个人对知识的掌握和吸收程度增强;74.6%的学生认为个人独立解决问题的能力增强。结论:卫生法学与卫生监督课程开展参与式教学法具有良好的教学效果。但是在具体实施过程中,教师还应注意努力激发学生的学习兴趣和参与热情,在实施参与式教学前向学生充分讲授基础知识,进行充分备课,拓展背景知识。     

Using soft skills courses to inspire law teachers: a new methodology for a more humanistic legal education

ABSTRACT

Law schools have in recent years been engaged in a process of revising their curricula, in large part adapting to rapid changes in technology, but also in a more generalised effort to improve “teaching the law”. Yet thus far, legal pedagogy seems to focus disproportionately on the traditional model of the “thinking lawyer”, when it should equally promote the model of the “feeling lawyer”, helping students to sharpen soft skills such as empathy, integrity and problem-solving. The main claim of this paper is that law professors could begin to pay more attention to the growing importance of soft skills in legal education and preparedness for legal practice. In this direction, we propose a set of pedagogical principles revolving around four axes: compassionate, attentive, reason-based and empathetic teaching (CARE). This methodology could help law professors become more effective pedagogues. Soft skills courses constitute a well-suited vehicle for introducing these principles to law school curricula in different legal systems. By systematically incorporating them, law schools can encourage law teachers to provide a more inclusive learning environment for their students. At the same time, law teachers who implement the particular methodology can hopefully rediscover fulfilment in their teaching. Overall, teaching soft skills can significantly improve students’ and teachers’ experience in legal education.     

Forensic handwriting examiners' expertise for signature comparison

This paper reports on the performance of forensic document examiners (FDEs) in a signature comparison task that was designed to address the issue of expertise. The opinions of FDEs regarding 150 genuine and simulated questioned signatures were compared with a control group of non-examiners' opinions. On the question of expertise, results showed that FDEs were statistically better than the control group at accurately determining the genuineness or non-genuineness of questioned signatures. The FDE group made errors (by calling a genuine signature simulated or by calling a simulated signature genuine) in 3.4% of their opinions while 19.3% of the control group's opinions were erroneous. The FDE group gave significantly more inconclusive opinions than the control group. Analysis of FDEs' responses showed that more correct opinions were expressed regarding simulated signatures and more inconclusive opinions were made on genuine signatures. Further, when the complexity of a signature was taken into account, FDEs made more correct opinions on high complexity signatures than on signatures of lower complexity. There was a wide range of skill amongst FDEs and no significant relationship was found between the number of years FDEs had been practicing and their correct, inconclusive and error rates.     

Forensic examination of effects of Parkinsonism on various handwriting characteristics

Parkinsonism is a neurodegenerative syndrome that causes impairment of motor skills in affected persons. Thus, adverse effects may be produced in the handwriting of persons suffering from Parkinsonism. Medication used for the treatment of Parkinsonism is known to subside certain motor defects for specific time intervals, showing slight differences or improvement in certain handwriting characteristics during those intervals on the same day as compared to the ones executed before medication. Certain handwriting characteristics affected due to Parkinsonism may be mistaken as forged features due to poor line quality, which can cause suspicion upon the authenticity of important legal documents. The present research work has been carried out to determine the effects of Parkinsonism and medication used for its treatment on handwriting. Handwriting/signature samples executed before and after the onset of Parkinsonism (both pre- and post-medication) have been randomly collected from 70 participants. These handwritings have been evaluated separately and compared inter-se for various handwriting characteristics with qualitative and statistical approach. The results have demonstrated significant changes in most of the characteristics in both affected writings of majority of participants as compared to their corresponding earlier writings. Thus, forensic document experts should be aware of the detrimental effects of Parkinsonism on handwriting in pre- and post-medication conditions of this ailment.     

Competency for Chinese Handwriting and Signature Examination

Chinese characters had their root some 4000 years ago and, with the growth in population, are used by over 1.3 billion people worldwide today; it is inevitable that document examiners would encounter cases involving the examination of Chinese handwriting regardless of their location. Although there are extensive studies on the examination of English handwriting in the literature, similar studies on Chinese handwriting are relatively limited. We are seeking to explore the obstacles and challenges for a document examiner who is unfamiliar with Chinese characters to apply the principles of identification and elimination of authorship described in the literature to examine Chinese handwriting, and how can these document examiners demonstrate their competency for conducting Chinese handwriting examination. This study provides a review of the literature, compares the methodology and key features in English and Chinese handwriting examination, and describes various workshops and proficiency testing programs organized to assist document examiners seeking development in Chinese handwriting and signature examination.     

Kinematics of Signature Writing in Healthy Aging

Forensic document examiners (FDE) called upon to distinguish a genuine from a forged signature of an elderly person are often required to consider the question of age‐related deterioration and whether the available exemplars reliably capture the natural effects of aging of the original writer. An understanding of the statistical relationship between advanced age and handwriting movements can reduce the uncertainty that may exist in an examiner's approach to questioned signatures formed by elderly writers. The primary purpose of this study was to systematically examine age‐related changes in signature kinematics in healthy writers. Forty‐two healthy subjects between the ages of 60–91 years participated in this study. Signatures were recorded using a digitizing tablet, and commercial software was used to examine the temporal and spatial stroke kinematics and pen pressure. Results indicated that vertical stroke duration and dysfluency increased with age, whereas vertical stroke amplitude and velocity decreased with age. Pen pressure decreased with age. We found that a linear model characterized the best‐fit relationship between advanced age and handwriting movement parameters for signature formation. Male writers exhibited stronger age effects than female writers, especially for pen pressure and stroke dysfluency. The present study contributes to an understanding of how advanced age alters signature formation in otherwise healthy adults.