Usefulness of Hypnosis as a Tool to the Police - Essay Example

There have been several issues that have led to several debates about the effects of investigative hypnosis practice over the years. The Courts have heard numerous ethical, legal, professional, and scientific issues in the practice, especially by the police (Hill et al. 2005 pp. 99-103). Scientific concerns are best addressed by answering the question of whether the practice has any impact on the victim’s memory and whether the remembered material affects the individual psychologically.

The scientific issues have been investigated over time, mostly, in laboratories. The tests have revealed that some of the information provided by hypnotized victims or witnesses will be false (Kleeinhauz et al. 2007 pp 77-80). Moreover, individuals become more confident of the information they provide after hypnosis regardless of its accuracy (Mutter C. 2004 pp. 42-51). On the side of the professional issue, the big concern has been the qualifications that a forensic hypnotic should have to be able to perform the procedure.

The greatest concern in recent times has been on the police in particular. Those opposed to the hypnosis practice are not particularly happy with the police involvement in hypnosis (Russchaert N. 2014 pp. 269-284). In the US, for instance, this method is controlled by legislation. The law states that only registered dentists, psychologists, medical practitioners, or prescribed persons are allowed to use hypnosis. In the event forensic hypnosis becomes an option, a decision will need to be made on whom to perform the procedure (Schreider et al. 2009 pp. 40-44).

In terms of legal issues concerns, the central question is how credible or reliable a hypnotized witness’ testimony is (Wagstaff G. 2011 p. 3-7). Studies show that various factors surround hypnotically influenced statements. Some of the considerations include the area of specialization/ expertise, credibility evidence, and common knowledge about the incident at hand (Mutter C. 2004 pp. 42-51). In recent surveys to determine the popularity of the practice and whether the practice should be allowed to continue indicates an increased desire for hypnosis.

A study by Fortescue (2003) reported that information is stored in the subconscious and that hypnosis can be used to gather it in the event the witness cannot remember. He further reports that in 1985, 300 cases were resolved with the help of hypnoses in Australia (Mutter C. 2004 pp. 42-51).
Hypnosis use by the police has helped in solving several cases across the regions that have practiced it. There has been the question of the purpose it serves in the investigations that police carry out. Just to name some; hypnosis has been used for evidentiary purposes. In this case, the victims of the crime or the witnesses are hypnotized so they can remember most of the information about the crime scene (Wagstaff G. 2011 p. 3-7).

It has also been instrumental in investigative purposes for the police. Security cameras have been placed in most parts of our country, but not all regions in the country can boast of this development. Criminal acts that occur in such areas are missed in most cases. Investigations of such crimes on end up in futility. It is in such situations that police require the assistance of the victims or witnesses to help find out how the scene was. Moreover, sometimes the victims or the witnesses may not remember most of the drama that took place. Hypnosis helps to close up the missing parts of the story told or gathered by the witnesses or the victims (Castleman T. 2007 pp. 45-67).

Hypnosis, when used properly, can be used to provide additional information about the events, vehicles, and other witnesses. The victims and witnesses can give a clear and vivid chronology of events upon hypnosis. Clear narrations assist the investigators or a court of law to find relevant or irrelevant reports or accusations respectively (Constanzo M. 2008 pp. 109-128). Hypnosis does all the above by improving the victim’s memory and further helping those who were emotionally upset on while the incident to remember. It can also help in identifying the suspect’s activities during the time of the event. Lastly, it can be used to determine the suspect’s or defendant’s motives by obtaining a confession or preventing them from giving false information to the police or the court. The last purpose, though, is controversial as it inflicts on an individual right (Wagstaff G. 2011 p. 3-7).
Furthermore, the police is that police often know the circumstances around a case or a scene from their investigations, hence are in a better position than other professionals as psychiatrists to ask the subject relevant questions (Castleman T. 2007 pp. 45-67).

There is a need for policies and guidelines on the use of hypnosis to be put in place. The confusion about what the relevant government policy and the policies that exist at the police level should be sorted out once and for all. Systems would help avoid so much confusion about whom, when how, and why hypnosis practice should be. In brief, hypnosis has no documented adverse effect on human health. All that there is how and whom should be given the mandate to do it.