Handwriting identification: Challenges and solutions

Abstract

As a historic technology, handwriting identification, especially that of Chinese characters, plays an important role in judicial trials both in domestic and abroad. However, in recent decades, handwriting identification has faced a challenging situation; the scientificity of handwriting identification has been questioned. This article analyzes the reasons for questioning handwriting identification, focusing on the aspects of standards, methods, quantitative analysis of handwriting identification, and qualification, training, and assessment of document examiners. Besides, corresponding solutions for the above aspects and some other characteristics, such as systematic identification, cross-examination of expert opinions, and rule of corroboration, are proposed.

Keywords

• Challenge
• handwriting identification
• scientificity
• solution