I am Derrick Watkins, Forensic Document Examiner and Handwriting Expert. I have over 20 years experience in Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice and Social Services. I am currently an Associate with Handwriting Services International, based in Dallas Texas, apprenticing under some the leading court –qualified Forensic Document Experts in the country such as: Don Lehew, Dr. Joe Alexander, and Bart Baggett, whose curriculum vitae are available upon request. Currently any and all document examinations performed by me, are independently verified by one of the aforementioned Forensic Document Experts.
FORENSIC EXAMINATION PROVIDER FOR:
Disputed documents or signatures including: wills checks, contracts, deeds, account, ledgers, taxes, child support, school documents, medical records, and autograph authentication. Investigation and analysis including: questioned signatures, suspect documents, forgeries, anonymous letters, alterations, obliterations, erasures, typewritten documents, altered medical records, graffiti, handwritten numbers, and computerized and handwritten documents.
EDUCATION:
1983-1987-New Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ: B.A / Communications
1995-1998-Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ/ M.S.W. / Social Work
2006-2008-Forensic School of Document Examination, Dallas, TX
TRAINING and APPRENTICESHIP
School of Forensic Document Examination
Associate of Handwriting Services International
American Institute of Applied Science
FURTHER QUALIFICATION:
I have reviewed over 1000’s signatures, examined case documents and rendered an opinion on cases from the following states: Texas, New Jersey, California, New York and Pennsylvania. In addition, I have rendered an opinion from the following country: Italy.
I have appeared as a expert witness in Staten Island, New York.
SPECIFIC AREAS of TRAINING
Handwriting Identification and Discrimination
Signature Comparison
Technique for Distinguishing Forged Signatures
Disguised Handwriting
Altered Numbers
Anonymous Writing, I & II
Laboratory Procedures
Forensic Microscopy and Forensic Photography
Identifying Printing Methods
Papers and Water Marks
Factors that Affect Writing
Demonstrative Evidence Training
Demonstrative Evidence in the High-Tech World
Forgery Detection Techniques
Detection of Forged Checks
Document Image Enhancement
Graphic Basis for Handwriting Comparison
Ethics Business and the Legal System
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT USED FOR EXAMINATION
Numerous Magnifying devices including 30x, 20x and 10x loupes, ultraviolet lighting devices, protractor, metric measuring device 35mm and digital photography equipment, Lighted Microscope, Apple MacPro Computer, IBM Computer, Toshiba Computer, High Resolution Printer, Scanner, Copy Machine and Fax
LIBRARY
Numerous forensic document titles and other handwriting reference materials, including
“ Handwriting Identification: Facts and Fundamentals” by Roy A Huber and A.M. Headrick.
CONFERENCES ATTENDED
2001 Handwriting University, Dallas, TX
2002 Handwriting University, Dallas, TX
2003 Handwriting University, Washington, D.C
2004 Handwriting University, California
2006 Handwriting University Forensic Document Examination Conference, Dallas, TX
2007 Handwriting University Forensic Document Examination Conference, Las Vegas, NV
2008 Handwriting University Forensic Document Examination Conference, Las Vegas, NV
