NCJ Number
66409
Journal
Security World Volume: 17 Issue: 3 Dated: (MARCH 1980) Pages: 40-41,61
Date Published
1980
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THE BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS INTERVIEW (BAI), WHICH INTERPRETS NONVERBAL BEHAVIOR IN AN INTERVIEW DESIGNED TO BRING OUT TYPES OF BEHAVIOR, CAN SUCCESSFULLY REVEAL EMPLOYEE THIEVES OR CAUSE THEM TO CONFESS.
Abstract
THE BAI WAS DEVELOPED IN 1948 BY A POLYGRAPHIST WHO RECORDED THE BEHAVIOR OF SUSPECTS DURING THE POLYGRAPH TEST AND MATCHED THE RECORDS OF THEIR BEHAVIOR WITH EVENTUAL JUDGMENTS OF GUILTY OR INNOCENT. HE THEN FORMED A CLASSIFICATION OF BEHAVIOR CHARACTERISTICS FOR THE GUILTY AND INNOCENT. THE GUILTY ARE CLASSED AS SHOWING ILL EASE, RESENTFULNESS, AND EVASIVENESS. THE BAI TECHNIQUE INVOLVES A SHORT, FACE-TO-FACE NONACCUSATORY INTERVIEW DURING WHICH THE INTERVIEWER ASKS A NUMBER OF STRUCTURED BEHAVIOR-PROVOKING QUESTIONS. THE TECHNIQUE CAN BE USED WITH MULTIPLE SUSPECTS BUT SHOULD CONSIST OF TWO OR MORE INTERVIEW SESSIONS, EACH NARROWING FURTHER THE FIELD OF SUSPECTS, IN THIS CASE. THE BAI WAS FIRST CONDUCTED IN 1948 TO DETECT A LOCKERROOM THIEF; ALTHOUGH IT DID NOT ITSELF UNCOVER THE THIEF, IT PROMPTED HER TO CONFESS OUR OF FEAR OF THE TEST. OTHER CRIMINALS WERE UNCOVERED UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES IN DORMITORY THEFTS, INDUSTRIAL SABOTAGE, AND EMPLOYEE TIME-CARD PADDING CASES. A PROFICIENT BAI INTERVIEWER CAN ELIMINATE 80 PERCENT OF INNOCENT SUSPECTS IN THE FIRST INTERVIEW AND IDENTIFY THE CRIMINAL WITHOUT RESORTING TO THE POLYGRAPH. (PAP)