NCJ Number
119195
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 37 Issue: 3 Dated: (March 1989) Pages: 72-75
Date Published
1989
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) established a hypnosis program in 1980 and has conducted 940 hypnosis sessions between July 1980 and December 1987.
Abstract
DPS emphasizes that hypnosis should be used as an aid to investigations rather than as a substitute and cautions investigators to use standard investigative methods before using hypnosis. Texas appellate courts have upheld convictions where hypnosis was used with either a victim or witness for the purpose of memory enhancement. The five stages of an investigative hypnosis session are the pre-hypnosis interview, induction, information eliciting, de-hypnotizing, and the post-hypnosis interview. A main task for the hypnotist during the initial interview is to establish and maintain rapport with the individual to be hypnotized. An audio or video recording should document the entire contact between the police hypnotist and the victim or witness. Before considering the use of hypnosis, a case investigator should check with the prosecutor to determine the legal status of hypnosis in the jurisdiction. Sample checklist.