NCJ Number
79911
Date Published
1980
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This training key for police officers delineates how hypnosis, when properly used, can be a valuable criminal investigative tool.
Abstract
The use of hypnosis in criminal investigative started in the late 1950's. By the 1970's, interest in investigative hypnosis had become widespread. Hypnosis is beginning to be used as an investigative tool to gather leads and evidence. So far, hypnosis has aided in the enhancement of recall in the preparatory phases of criminal cases involving witnesses and victims. Once these investigative leads are obtained, police officers need to independently verify the information. However, the use of hypnosis by the police on a criminal suspect is not recommended, but there may be cases in which the defense counsel employs hypnosis of the defendant as an analytical tool to determine the state of mind of the defendant before or during the commission of a crime. The key discusses misunderstandings about hypnosis, gives case examples of investigative hypnosis, and cites legal cases relating to the use of hypnosis in this way. Basically, hypnosis can be used three ways as an investigative aid: to stimulate recall (to help a subject to remember events that have been forgotten or suppressed); to help break a repression, or total block out of a traumatic event; and to supplement and verify results of the polygraph. A discussion guide is appended.