NCJ Number
47332
Journal
Police Journal Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY/MARCH 1978) Pages: 24-33
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
AN OVERVIEW IS PRESENTED OF THE HISTORY AND LEGAL STATUS OF HYPNOSIS AND OF ITS USES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
Abstract
THE DISCUSSION OPENS WITH A CASE STUDY ILLUSTRATING HOW HYPNOSIS CAN BE USED TO OBTAIN ACCURATE DESCRIPTIONS OF SUSPECTS. A BRIEF HISTORY OF HYPNOSIS AND A REVIEW OF SOME COMMON MYTHS CONCERNING HYPNOSIS FOLLOW. CASE STUDIES SUGGESTING WAYS IN WHICH HYPNOSIS CAN BE USED TO AID IN THE COMMISSION OF A CRIME ARE RECOUNTED, AS ARE CASES ILLUSTRATING THE USE OF HYPNOSIS AS AN ANALYTICAL TOOL FOR DETERMINING THE STATE OF MIND OF A DEFENDANT BEFORE OR DURING THE COMMISSION OF A CRIME, AND AS AN INVESTIGATIVE TOOL FOR GATHERING LEADS AND EVIDENCE. A RESEARCH PROJECT ON INVESTIGATIVE APPLICATIONS OF HYPNOSIS CARRIED OUT WITHIN THE LOS ANGELES (CALIF.) POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOTED. THE PROJECT INVOLVED TRAINING INVESTIGATORS IN THE TECHNIQUES OF HYPNOSIS AND EVALUATING THEIR SUCCESS IN USING HYPNOSIS TO GAIN INFORMATION IN INVESTIGATIONS. THE HYPNOSIS - TRAINED INVESTIGATORS RECORDED FAILURES AS WELL AS SUCCESSES. THERE WERE CASES OF HIGHLY ACCURATE COMPOSITE DRAWINGS MADE UNDER HYPNOSIS AND LATER CORROBORATED, LICENSE NUMBERS RECOVERED FROM TRAUMATIZED WITNESSES, AS WELL AS NAMES AND PLACES MENTIONED BY SUSPECTS DURING THE COMMISSION OF A CRIME. THE DATES, LOCATIONS, AND AGENDA OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING SEMINARS TO BE SPONSORED BY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT HYPNOSIS INSTITUTE IN 1978 ARE LISTED. (LKM)