NCJ Number
63714
Journal
American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Dated: (OCTOBER 1974) Pages: 84-87
Date Published
1974
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER DESCRIBES THE USE OF HYPNOSIS WITH A VOLUNTARY WITNESS IN A MURDER INVESTIGATION. THE METHODS AND RESULTS ARE REPORTED.
Abstract
A MATURE ADULT FEMALE VOLUNTEERED TO TRY THE METHODS AS PART OF A MURDER INVESTIGATION. HEAVY INGESTION OF DRUGS HAD APPARENTLY AFFECTED THE WITNESS'S ORIGINAL PERCEPTIONS DURING THE CRIME INCIDENT, THE INVESTIGATION YIELDING ONLY VAGUE INFORMATION. HYPNOSIS MATERIALLY AIDED THE WITNESS'S RECALL OF EVENTS AND SUSPECT DESCRIPTORS. A POLICE ARTIST PRESENT DURING THE HYPNOSIS SESSION CONSTRUCTED A COMPOSITE PICTURE OF THE SUSPECT ACCORDING TO THE DESCRIPTION GIVEN BY THE HYPNOTIZED WITNESS. THIS LED TO THE APPREHENSION AND IDENTIFICATION OF THE CRIMINALS. THE HYPNOSIS SESSION TOOK PLACE AT THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT PSYCHOLOGISTS OFFICE AND WAS CONDUCTED WITH TWO INVESTIGATORS AND THE POLICE ARTIST PRESENT. SHE RECALLED THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AND DETAILS OF FACIAL APPEARANCE AND PHYSIQUE OF THE SUSPECT. THIS CASE SUGGESTS THAT, IN SPITE OF PERCEPTIONS IMPAIRED BY ALCOHOL, DRUGS AND TRAUMATIC SHOCK INCIDENT TO A MURDER, A WITNESS' MEMORY RECORDS DETAILS OF THE CRIME, AND VOLUNTARY HYPNOSIS CAN AID RECALL OF THESE DETAILS. HYPNOSIS WITH A WILLING WITNESS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE CRIME INVESTIGATION. (RFC)