Forensic Handwriting Examination and Human Factors: Improving the Practice Through a Systems Approach
Expert Working Group for Human Factors in Handwriting Examination
Introduction
For some 6,000 years, humans have made an indelible mark on history through the loops, strokes, and other characters that constitute the written form of language – handwriting. Whether it is the movement of a stylus inscribing wet clay or the motion of a pen across paper, handwriting is one of the most familiar forms of expression and one of the most idiosyncratic. The study of handwriting is also an important part of forensic science. By analyzing the characteristics of a handwritten note or signature—not only the slant of the writing and how letters are formed, but more subtle features – a trained forensic document examiner (FDE) may be able to extract valuable information for determining whether a note or signature is genuine, as well as the likely writer.
The results of a forensic document examination can have far-reaching consequences: a person’s life or liberty may hang in the balance. An FDE may be called upon in a court of law to answer – or to supply information that would help a judge or jury answer – questions involving authenticity and writership. However, there is increased recognition and concern, highlighted by several recent studies cited throughout this document, that the nature of evidence and human factors have the potential to inadvertently influence forensic examinations, including handwriting.
The study of human factors examines the interactions between humans and other elements of a system – technology, training, decisions, products, procedures, workspaces, and the overall environment – with the goal of improving both human and system performance. Inadequate training, extraneous knowledge about the suspects in the case or other matters, poor judgment, limitations of vision, complex technology, and stress are but a few factors that can contribute to errors. Furthermore, poor management, insufficient resources, and substandard working conditions can also prove detrimental to an examination. Analyzing human factor issues in handwriting examination – how they arise and how they can be prevented or mitigated – can inform the development of strategies to reduce the likelihood and impact of errors.
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Office of Investigative and Forensic Sciences (OIFS) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Programs Office sponsored the work of the Expert Working Group for Human Factors in Handwriting Examination to encourage and enhance efforts to apply human factors research, reduce the risk of error, and improve the practice of forensic document examination.