NCJ Number
220051
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 34 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2007 Pages: 112,114,117
Date Published
August 2007
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article describes how SIMmersion, which was developed by Dr. Dale Olsen, uses video and DVD capabilities to create life-like simulations of people in realistic settings for training investigators in interrogation skills.
Abstract
The simulated characters portrayed in SIMmersion have realistic emotions and a "simulated" brain that uses real-time interaction and logic to reflect the way people actually speak and respond to one another in real situations. Each character has a built-in "memory" that allows the simulated person to respond based on the trainee's history of statements in realistic and logically consistent ways; for example, at the beginning of a conversation with the simulated character, the interviewer doesn't know whether the character "Mike Simmen" is guilty or innocent of the crime. The trainee must make decisions on how the interview should proceed based on the simulated character's behavioral patterns. In this process, practical skill is gained in identifying the signs of deception. As the trainee achieves a relaxed interaction with "Mike," he becomes more talkative and friendly. He provides more useful information, including important verbal and nonverbal clues that are often signs of deception. "Mike" is thus programmed to respond with useful information when the trainee employs effective interview/interrogation skills and practices. Trainees are scored according to their performance in deciding whether or not the suspect is being truthful or deceptive Most of the scored points will come from how rapport is developed with Mike and how accurately verbal and nonverbal clues are detected. Mike is programmed to act randomly in a variety of behavioral patterns that will vary in each interview, so it is not possible for trainees to develop a mechanistic, programmed approach to interrogation.