enrichedrajat@gmail.com

1. Mishra Rajat M.
Investigative Forensic
Hypnosis

2. • the name ''hypnosis'' comes from
the greek God hypnos(the God of sleep), which
means ''sleep''. it was so named because while a person
is in hypnosis it appears they are sleeping. their eyes
are closed, their body is relaxed, and they respond
slowely like a person just about to fall asleep or just
waking.

3. ‘’Not everyone can be hypnotized, and some
people are more hypnotizable than others’’
Stanford Hypnotic Suspectiblity
Scale
test used to see who is a Good subject
for hypnosis…

4. Forensic Hypnosis
• An investigative memory retrieval technique
used to enhance recall in legally relevant
situations
• Hypnosis is a state of increased receptivity to suggestion
characterized by an altered state of consciousness.
‘ ‘’Hypnotized persons
are aware of what is going on’’…!!

5. Guidelines for Forensic
Hypnosis
• Its use must be consistent with state law..
• Hypnosis should be used for major crime only
after all other procedures have been exhausted
– Not recommended for use with juveniles..
– Not recommended for use with persons
having cognitive disabilities…

6. Guidelines
• A psychiatrist or a psychologist experienced in the use of
hypnosis should conduct the hypnotic session.
• All information given to the hypnotist must be recorded,
either in writing or in another suitable form.
• Before inducing hypnosis, the hypnotist should obtain a
statement of facts from the subject as the subject
remebers them.
• All contacts between the hypnotist and the subject must
be recorded.
• Only the hypnotist and the subject should be present
during all phases of the hypnotic session, including
during pre-hypnotic interviews.

7. the difference between Therapeutic &
Investigative Hypnosis..
Investigative Forensic Hypnosis
Function
• Objective
• Historical truth
• Emotionally neutral
• Goal is no change
• Suggestions undesirable
• Leading questions avoided
• Video taping required
• Rules of Evidence
• Methodology is constant unorthodox procedures are
not used
• The intention is that the evidence may be used in
court
• Procedures governed by case law
• Practitioners need not be members of a
professional association
• Fees non claimable except through application at
court
• Practitioner experienced in therapeutic
investigation/legal process
• Practitioners should be registered
• Confidentiality
Therapeutic Clinical Hypnosis Function
• Subjective
• Narrative truth
• Emotionally oriented
• Goal is change
• Suggestions required
• Leading questions required
• Recording considered intrusive
• Hypnotherapeutic techniques
• Various therapeutic modalities may be employed
• Nil intention that the procedure will be used in
court
• Procedures governed by professional association
rules
• Practitioners should be members of a professional
association
• Fees can be claimable with private health funds
• Practitioner experienced in therapeutic process
• Practitioners should be registered
• Confidentiality

8. Challenges to Hypnotic
Memory Retrieval
• Confabulation
• Faking
• Memory hardening & suggestibility

9. Confabulation
• Confabulation is a fantasy that has
unconsciously replaced fact in memory ..
– May be based partially on fact
– May be complete construction of imagination
– It is a filling in of the memory gaps to make
the event more comprehensible

10. Faking
• “Hypnosis can be faked”
• People are capable of lying in hypnosis
– No single indicator exists to be sure that the
subject is faking

11. Memory Hardening &
Suggestibility
• Memory hardening gives the subject increased
confidence in things remembered during
hypnosis, whether the facts are true or false…
• Suggestions made during the post-hypnotic
stage can become permanent...

12. Challenges to the use of
Forensic Hypnosis
• In 1985 the American Medical Association
recommended the use of hypnosis be
limited to the investigative processes and
results not be used as evidence in court…
Few courts allow the introduction of hypnotically
induced information…
Texas and Nevada are examples with law that
specifically allows hypnotically refreshed recall for use
in criminal and civil cases….

13. During interview
• Prior to asking for the narration, recreate the
circumstances associated with the event …
• Look for their state of mind just prior to the event
and the physical environment surrounding the
event…
• Instruct the interviewee to think about the
circumstances that surrounded the incident…

14. Report Everything
• Through out the interview remind the
interviewee that you would like them to talk
about everything they remember….
• Give the interviewee permission to recount
everything…

15. Changing the Perspective
• Instruct the witness to recall the incident
from the perspective of others who were
present …
• Try to put himself or herself in the role of
someone else and think about what he or
she must have seen..

16. Additional memory
 Sensory Cues
 visual images, sounds,weapons, odors, tastes, skin sensations,
weather, lightening
 People
 physical appearances,remind you of anyone,why,clothing,behavior,
anything unusual
 Conversation
 What was said by whom,what particular words,phrase,numbers,high-
low- odd-even, high or low voice
 Time
 year, month, day, time of day…
 Place
 location, surroundings, where were you,cars, furniture,
equipment of any kind

17. Closure of interview
• Always end the interview on a positive
note, so be sure to spend the time helping
him or her mentally relocate to present
time.
• Thank the interviewee for their time and
effort.
• Remind him/her to call new information is
recalled.

18. Summary and Closure
 Briefly summarize the information the
interviewee has provided
Ask the witness to interrupt immediately if
he/she remembers new information or
there is any errors in the review

19. What is Forensic
HYPNOSIS??
 “ Forensic hypnosis is the use
of hypnosis for investigative purpose in
both civil and criminal cases and for the
both the prosecuter and the defense. It is
primarily utilized to enhance a witness
meomory.”

20. FORENSIC HYPNOSIS
SESSION
Begin auduo/video taping of session when subject enters in the room..
Initial greeting and meeting for the hypnotist and the subject
Pre-session interview
Personal information
Explanation of hypnosis
Memory of incident before hypnosis
induction (Relaxing of the subject)

21. Memory of incident under hypnosis
clarification of details
End of hypnosis session
Bring the subject out of hypnosis
Review of memory of incident after hypnosis
Debriefing of subject
Answer questions about hypnosis or what subject
experienced
Stop audio/video taping of session when subject leaves

22. Do’s and don’ts
• Don’ts
Don’t use hypnosis on any defendent,suspect or person suspected
of being involved in the crime.Remember that if a person can lie
outside of hypnosis,they can lie in hypnosis.
Don’t rush the hypnosis session. ‘’TAKE YOUR TIME’’.
Don’t ever trick or try to force someone FOR hypnosis.
Don’t ever touch your subject, even as a deeping technique,without
securing his permission first.
Don’t work alone, Always have a witness in the room with you.if the
subject is of the opposite sex,try to have a witness in the room who
is of th same sex as the subject.
Don’t fall into the trap of believing that hypnosis is a truth
serum.’’PEOPLE CAN LIE”

23. Don’t ever make deals in exchange for someone
agreeing to go into hypnosis.the subject must want to go
into hypnosis willingly.
Don’t get so wrapped up with the subject and the crime
that you become emotionally tied to the success or
failure of the session.
Don’t ever ask an embrassing question of your
subject.this is unprofessional and could lead to the
subject putting up defenses against you.
Don’t perform any therapeutic suggestions during the
forensic sesssion,even you are qualified to do so.
Don’t refer to hypnosis as ‘‘sleep’’ or an’’unconcious
state” when discussing hypnosis with the
subject...explain to him that he will hear everything that
is said during the sesssion,will be able to speak,and will
not go into a deep trance in which he will not know what

24. Don’t have spouses,relatives , or boy/girl friends present during
hypnosis session .the only exception would be allowing a parent to
observe a session for the comfort of his child.other individuals,
nomatter how well intentioned, can become more of a diverson
during the session than a help.
Don’t promise anyone results. Hypnosis is not a sure thing and is
very dependent on the subject.
Don’t forget that all the informations obtained from the hypnosis
sesssion must be collaborated by evidence.
Don’t tell a ausbject or the investigator that the session was a
failure. Neither the subject nor the hypnotist can fail. Either a
subject is able to slip into hypnosis or he isn’t.Even if the subject
does go into hypnosis, the information retrived may not be
segnificant. Often people only see a small portion of the event, and
their imaginations fills the details. Under hypnosis, these imagined
details are often removed and you are left only with what the subject
actully saw, which couldbe very little. The hypnotist cannot force
someone to report something that he did not experience or see.

25. Do’s
 Do use the term ‘’hypnosis’’ when talking about it.
 Do keep in mind that subjects can lie under hypnosis and will only
reveal information they want to.
 Do explain that all hypnosis is self-hypnosis.the hypnotist has no
power over his subjects,they are in control.assure them there is no
danger from hypnosis.
 Do inform your subjects that there is no way for themto be stuck in
hypnosis.there are only three options for them,
• They can open their eyes
• They will fall asleep
• or they will remainin hypnosis for as long as they decide they want
to be..

26.  Do make sure your subjects know they will be fully aware of
everything gooing around them.
 Do make sure your subjects to be safe and secure.
 Do keep in your mind that hypnosis is a tool,not a toy to impress the
people...
 Do tape(video or audio) the entire session from hello to Good bye.
 Do strive to earn and keep the subject’s confidence in you. You
must keep their confidentiality.Your words is your bond for your
hypnosis subject.
 Do decline discussing your hypnosis cases with the media.
 Do establish and maintain a high level of competency..Read current
journals on hypnosis,attend seminars.
 Do treat the subject underhypnosis with the utmost courtesy and
respect. ACT LIKE A PROFESSIONAL
 Do make sure that all video and audio tapes from hypnosis session
aresecured in a evidence area, such as the property room ata a
police department.Document when tapes are destroyed and the
resons for the destruction.
 Do pose only one question at a time to your subjects,allowing them
sufficient timeto respond.

27. Induction technique
 Eye fixation method
 Hand levitation method
 Chiasson’s method
 Spiegel eye roll (levitation method)
 Erickson technique
 Dr. Flower’s technique

28. Induction techniques and
children
• When using hypnosis on children,remember not to use it
on a child under the age of 5,and do not talk down to
them,but use words on their level.
 Magic TV
 Heavy pendulum
 Pen light

29. THANK YOU..............
-Reference