Forensic Handwriting Identification:
Fundamental Concepts and Principles
By Ron N. Morris
Academic Press, San Diego, California,
2000
ISBN 0-12-507640-1
Reviewed
by:
Dorothy-Anne E. Held
Questioned Document Examiner
Questioned Documents Unit
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Washington, DC
In the introduction to his book Forensic Handwriting Identification,
Ron N. Morris states that the purposes of the volume are to aid
the following individuals: "... the investigator who must
rely on handwriting comparison to assist him in his investigations,
the attorney who retains the services of [a forensic document
examiner] or has to use his services during a trial." He
asserts further that "It can also be used by trainees of
the profession...." It is an ambitious undertaking to meet
the needs of this varied group. Does Mr. Morris succeed?
The book is primarily devoted to the physiological
aspects of writing and examines, in some detail, various movements
associated with writing. As a natural outgrowth of this, the
author discusses some but by no means all features of handwriting
which are considered during a handwriting comparison examination.
This information is of very limited use to the investigator and/or
the attorney, but it provides considerable interesting information
to the document examiner trainee.
Morris' discussion of the substance and principles
of questioned document examinations is thorough. However, some
of the views expressed are open to misunderstanding. For example,
he notes on page 148, "This does not mean that a naturally
written sample cannot be compared with a disguised or unnaturally
written questioned document." A statement of this kind leads
to the assumption that comparisons involving distorted writing
are viable, useful, and lead to meaningful results.
Early in the book (page 15), while noting
that a forensic document examiner does not determine character
or personality from his/her examinations, he goes on to say "...
personality and character can influence how a person writes.
For example, self-assurance, sincerity, carelessness, imagination,
aesthetic taste, etc., can all have an impact on the artistic
nature of a person's writing." Speculations regarding personality
traits do not come under the purview of a professional document
examiner, and considerations of them should not be encouraged.
The final few chapters of the book, which
deal with the submission of questioned document materials for
examination and in the courtroom, contain much information valuable
to the investigator and attorney. Morris' discussion of taking
and collecting exemplars is very thorough, and his final chapter
offers a step-by-step protocol for preparing both attorney and
examiner for testimony.
Portions of the book are repetitive and might
have benefited from judicious editing. Throughout the book Morris
refers to the standard texts of the field of document examination.
He also shows a heavy dependence on some that are less well regarded.
With these caveats, however, the book does fulfill its stated
purposes. It could be of value to interested individuals but,
as with any such text, should be considered as only one component
in a varied program of readings in the field of handwriting and
its identification.
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