NCJ Number
64620
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 49 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1980) Pages: 5-8
Date Published
1980
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE FBI HAS ADOPTED A TEAM APPROACH IN ITS USE OF HYPNOSIS, USING GUIDELINES SET OUT BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SINCE 1968 AND INCORPORATING SPECIAL AGENTS AS HYPNOSIS COORDINATORS.
Abstract
THE FBI POLICY STATES THAT HYPNOSIS CAN BE USED ONLY IN SELECT CASES, SUCH AS A BANK ROBBERY WHERE FORCE OR A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY IS INVOLVED; KIDNAPING, EXTORTION, AND CRIMES OF VIOLENCE WHICH OCCUR WHERE THE FBI HAS JURISDICTION. ONLY KEY WITNESSES OR CRIME VICTIMS CAN BE HYPNOTIZED. NO AGENT MAY PARTICIPATE IN A HYPNOTIC INTERVIEW WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE CRIMINAL DIVISION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW MUST ALSO BE RECORDED, PREFERABLY WITH VIDEOTAPE. THE GUIDELINES SPECIFY THAT A QUALIFIED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, SUCH AS A PSYCHIATRIST, PSYCHOLOGIST, OR DENTIST, SHOULD BE USED AS HYPNOTIST. THE FBI ALSO HAS 60 TRAINED AGENTS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SETTING UP HYPNOSIS SESSIONS AND WHO COORDINATE FBI AND HEALTH PROFESSIONAL NEEDS. TO OFFSET THE PROBLEM OF LEADING WITNESSES WHO ARE IN A SUGGESTIBLE HYPNOTIC CONDITION, THE HEALTH PROFESSIONAL EXPLAINS THE NATURE OF HYPNOSIS, SOME MISCONCEPTIONS, AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN DURING THE SESSION. WITNESS PROBLEMS THAT MIGHT PRECLUDE HYPNOSIS ARE EXPLORED BEFORE STARTING. QUESTIONS ARE ASKED BASED ONLY ON WHAT THE WITNESS HAS REMEMBERED. DURING THE SECOND PHASE, THE WITNESS IS ASKED TO RELAX AND TRY TO REMEMBER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THE INCIDENT. THIS PHASE, WHEN REPEATED, BECOMES THE ACTUAL INDUCTION. THE TIME INVOLVED IS USUALLY 1-3 HOURS. ALTHOUGH THE FBI DOES NOT INTEND HYPNOSIS TO REPLACE NORMAL INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURES USE OF HYPNOSIS CAN SAVE MANPOWER IN INVESTIGATIONS AND MIGHT HELP REDUCE STRESS AMONG AGENTS INVOLVED IN UNDERCOVER OPERATIONS OR OTHER CRITICAL ACTIVITIES. A COORDINATOR CHECKLIST AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (AOP)