NCJ Number
50836
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 283-285
Date Published
1978
Length
3 pages
Annotation
A CASE STUDY IS PRESENTED TO ILLUSTRATE HANDWRITING AND EVIDENCE ANALYSIS PROBLEMS PRESENTED BY UNUSUAL WRITING SURFACES, CERTAIN WRITING INSTRUMENTS, FACTORS WHICH CAN DISTORT WRITING, AND VARIATIONS IN TEENAGED WRITING.
Abstract
THIS CASE STUDY CONCERNS THE MURDER OF A TEENAGE GIRL AFTER A BIRTHDAY PARTY. THE MAJOR PIECE OF EVIDENCE WAS A BROKEN YELLOW BALLOON FOUND IN THE SUSPECT'S CAR. THE ANALYSIS CONCERNS THE FOLLOWING: (1) PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN IDENTIFYING THE HANDWRITING OF TEENAGERS; (2) PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED WHEN FELT-TIPPED PENS ARE USED; (3) DISTORTIONS CAUSED BY UNUSUAL WRITING SURFACES, DISTORTED WRITING POSITIONS, AND EMOTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES; AND (4) EXPERIMENTS CONDUCTED WITH BALLOONS RELEVANT TO THIS PARTICULAR CASE. THE WRITING ON THE BALLOON WAS SHOWN TO BE THAT OF THE MURDERED GIRL. THE CASE WAS SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTED IN COURT. (GLR)