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INVESTIGATIVE AND FORENSIC HYPNOSIS

NCJ Number
61635
Journal
Detective Volume: 7 Issue: 3 Dated: (SUMMER 1979) Pages: 14-20
Author(s)
G L GRIFFITHS
Date Published
1979
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE CONTENDS THAT HYPNOSIS SHOULD BE USED ONLY AS A LAST RESORT IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DUE TO LEGAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS.
Abstract
ALL INVESTIGATORS LEARN TO OBTAIN DETAILED AND ACCURATE INFORMATION FROM VICTIMS AND WITNESSES. THEY SHOULD ALSO KNOW HOW TO OBTAIN VITAL INFORMATION THAT MAY HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN OR NEVER CONSCIOUSLY RECOGNIZED. INVESTIGATIVE HYPNOSIS IS ONE WAY OF REVEALING UNREMEMBERED INFORMATION, BUT AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE MIND WORKS IS ESSENTIAL. IN MANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, HYPNOSIS IS ONLY CONDUCTED BY A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, SUCH AS A PSYCHIATRIST, A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, OR A PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKER, WHO HAS SPECIALIZED TRAINING IN HYPNOSIS AND CLINICAL EXPERIENCE IN THE USE OF HYPNOTIC TECHNIQUES AND WHO IS CERTIFIED BY EITHER THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CLINICAL HYPNOSIS OR THE SOCIETY FOR CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL HYPNOSIS. WHEN DEALING WITH AN EYEWITNESS, IT MUST BE RECOGNIZED THAT PEOPLE SEE AND REMEMBER THINGS DIFFERENTLY. HYPNOTICALLY-OBTAINED INFORMATION IS OFTEN MORE ACCURATE THAN ORDINARY CONSCIOUS-LEVEL RECALL, BUT THE INFORMATION MAY STILL BE JUMBLED. FOR THIS REASON, ALL LEADS DEVELOPED THROUGH HYPNOSIS SHOULD BE VERIFIED WITH SUPPORTING PHYSICAL OR TESTIMONIAL EVIDENCE WHEN POSSIBLE, AND INVESTIGATIVE CONCLUSIONS SHOULD NOT BE BASED SOLELY ON HYPNOTICALLY-OBTAINED INFORMATION. ANOTHER FACTOR TO CONSIDER IS THAT THERE IS A CLOSE RELATION BETWEEN THE MEANING OF AN EVENT AND THE ABILITY OF A WITNESS TO RECALL THAT EVENT. INVESTIGATIVE HYPNOSIS IS AN EXTREMELY VALUE TECHNIQUE OF OBTAINING NEEDED INFORMATION WHEN ALL OTHER INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED. THE IMPORTANCE OF RECORDING INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED WHILE A SUBJECT IS HYPNOTIZED AND THE STATUS OF FORENSIC HYPNOSIS IN MILITARY COURTS ARE ADDRESSED. FIGURES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)