NCJ Number
81712
Journal
Police Journal Volume: 55 Issue: 1 Dated: (January-March 1982) Pages: 71-74
Date Published
1982
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The use and degree of success of hypnosis in securing information from cooperative witnesses and victims are described for the Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco police departments, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and implications are drawn for its use in England.
Abstract
In Los Angeles, approval for the use of hypnosis in obtaining information from cooperative witnesses and victims was granted in 1975, after the proposal was studied by a panel of academic and clinical professionals, experts in the teaching and application of hypnosis, and senior representatives of the police and legal departments. Lieutenants and captains were selected for training. After first working in close consultation with a psychiatrist or psychologist, they used hypnosis autonomously. The 1-year pilot period involved 67 hypnosis sessions associated with a wide variety of crime types. New investigative leads were obtained in 77.6 percent of the cases, and the solution of 16.4 percent of the cases was directly attributed to hypnosis. The New York hypnosis project was stimulated by the success in Los Angeles. The pilot scheme started in 1976 and is continuing. A psychiatrist or psychologist is present during the hypnosis session, which has elicited new and valuable information in 70 percent of the cases. San Francisco has seen the same success with hypnosis as the Los Angeles and New York departments. Certain FBI agents are also trained in the use of hypnosis. However, hypnosis is used only in select cases with controls and permission from the Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division. The hypnotic interview must be recorded in its entirety. The FBI has used hypnosis in about 50 cases; relevant additional information was obtained in 60 percent of them. The use of hypnosis is recommended for British police agencies.