NCJ Number
107508
Date Published
1987
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This chapter reviews uses and abuses of hypnosis with defendants, witnesses, and victims and presents guidelines for the appropriate forensic use of hypnosis.
Abstract
Several cases illustrate how hypnosis may be abused by obtaining a coerced confession, by falsely implicating the innocent, and by encouraging victims and witnesses to confabulate. In general, courts have excluded the content of hypnotically induced testimony from trials. However, hypnosis can be used to enhance memory and elicit information that can be subjected to further corroboration. Research suggests that hypnosis is not effective in enhancing recall of meaningless materials and that hypnotic recall may be highly subject to leading questions. For meaningful information, hypnosis has been found to elicit both accurate and inaccurate information that cannot be disentangled without external verification. When used as an adjunct to other investigative techniques, hypnosis should be conducted by a professional trained in clinical and investigative procedures. Careful prehypnosis records should be kept; the session should be recorded, preferably on videotape; hypnotizability of the subject should be assessed; and leading statements and questions should be avoided. 56 references.