NCJ Number
75427
Journal
Detective Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Dated: (Fall 1980) Pages: 6-10
Date Published
1980
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The U.S. Army Criminal Investigative use of hypnosis is discussed.
Abstract
According to a policy published in April 1980, only mental health professionals who are members of a hypnosis society may induce hypnosis. These persons are trained to handle subjects' emotional reactions to the re-experiencing traumatic events and courts are more likely to accept their use of hypnosis. Under the new rule (Rule 702), the results of hypnosis will be admissible in court through the vehicle of expert testimony. Hypnotist investigators should ask no leading or suggestive questions and should therefore be given information only on the kind of offense concerned and its approximate time of occurrence. Furthermore, subjects should be questioned only about those things they have already mentioned. Videorecordings should cover every aspect of the interview, and a clock should be included in the tape to provide a visual record of elapsed time. In addition, written consent is required of subjects before an interview is recorded. Only witnesses or victims may be hypnotised, and investigators should be certain that such subjects possess needed information and are willing to be hypnotised. The supporting staff judge advocate must also be agreeable to the use of hypnosis in a case. Myths concerning hypnosis should be discussed with potential subjects before interviews. Finally, all new information obtained through interviews must be corroborated if it is to be used in court, and a posthypnotic report should be sent to the Investigative Concepts and Doctrine Directorate which monitors the use of hypnosis in investigations. Myths concerning hypnosis are briefly reviewed. A reference list is not provided.