U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Your Witness, Counselor

NCJ Number
108868
Journal
Case and Comment Volume: 93 Issue: 1 Dated: (January-February 1988) Pages: 26-29
Author(s)
M Moore
Date Published
1988
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article discusses how handwriting analysis can help attorneys assess witnesses and jurors and describes mental process traits reflected in handwriting to demonstrate the value of graphology.
Abstract
While handwriting experts commonly appear in the courtroom as document examiners, lawyers also use them to help select juries or testify about personality characteristics. Traits which can be ascertained from handwriting analysis include mental processes, moral codes, fears, defenses, and integrity. This article relies on handwriting samples and case studies to illustrate applications of handwriting analysis. Traits which can be seen in handwriting are classified as primary (those seen in one stroke) and evaluated (a combination of two or more primary traits). Four types of mental process traits found in m's, n's and h's are described: keen comprehension, cumulative, investigative, and analytical. A handwriting sample is analyzed for these traits and the writer's potential as a witness assessed.

Downloads

No download available

Availability