Handskriftsjämförelse

Handskriftsjämförelse, or handwriting comparison, is the examination and analysis of handwriting samples to determine if they were written by the same person. This process is frequently used in forensic science, particularly in questioned document examination, to identify or eliminate individuals as the author of a document. It can also be used in historical research to authenticate documents or establish authorship.

The methodology involves a detailed study of various characteristics within the handwriting. These include individual letter formations, stroke direction, slant, pressure, spacing between letters and words, baseline alignment, and the presence of unique flourishes or hesitations. Experts analyze both class characteristics, which are common to a group of writers, and individual characteristics, which are unique to a single writer.

A thorough comparison requires a sufficient quantity of known handwriting samples from the suspected writer, known as exemplars, and the questioned document. The quality and authenticity of these exemplars are crucial for a reliable conclusion. Forensic document examiners use specialized tools and techniques, often including magnification and digital imaging, to meticulously document and compare these features.

The conclusions drawn from a handskriftsjämförelse are typically expressed in terms of probability, ranging from identification (very likely the same writer) to elimination (very unlikely the same writer), with inconclusive results also being possible. The process is complex and relies on the expertise and judgment of the examiner to assess the significance of the similarities and differences observed.