Journal of Forensic Research

Forensic Examination of Handwriting Attributes Under the Influence of Different Intoxicants

Abstract

Aarushi Nair*, Baljeet Yadav and Anu Singla

Handwriting is an acquired knowledge and learned neuromuscular activity, composed of letters, words or designs. Intoxication of certain drugs affects the neuromuscular system which causes variation in handwriting. In the present research work a total of 25 individual’s handwriting samples including both men and women were collected. Effect of intoxication of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and their combinations on handwriting was examined. Handwriting samples were collected twice before and after the consumption of intoxicants. Deterioration in the handwriting was examined both qualitatively and quantitatively. The handwriting parameters such as pictorial effects, spacing between letters, words and lines, alignment, size, proportion and tremors were analyzed. The volunteers who were habitual drinkers showed slighter variations in their handwriting under the influence of alcohol. The results revealed that alcohol alone can cause gross changes in the handwriting and signature, whereas tobacco and marijuana cause less effect than alcohol. It may be concluded that variations in the handwriting characteristics under the influence of intoxicants help to distinguish between the writing of drunken and sober person.