CURRICULUM VITAE

I am Derrick Watkins, Court Qualified Forensic Document Examiner and Handwriting Expert. I have over 15 years experience in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. 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: Curt Baggett, Don Lehew, Dr. Joe Alexander, Bob Baier 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
• 2000-2006-Handwriting University, Dallas, TX: Certified Handwriting Expert
• 2006-Forensic School of Document Examination, Dallas, TX

TRAINING and APPRENTICESHIP

• School of Forensic Document Examination
• Training is on-going 2006
• Associate of Handwriting Services International
• Certification -American Institute of Applied Science (AIAS)

FURTHER QUALIFICATION:

I have reviewed over 1000’s signatures, examined case documents and rendered and opinion on cases from the following states: Texas, New Jersey, California, and New York, Pennsylvania. In addition, I have rendered an opinion from the following country: Italy.

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, Dallas,TX

PUBLICATIONS

• Conversations on Success

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• Handwriting University
• A Vision In Motion Speakers Bureau
• Toastmasters International
• National Association of Business Coach
• Certified Mediation Consultations
• Bookaspeaker.com
• New Jersey City University-Adjunct Professor