In the Americas and much of the world, suspects in criminal activity are subjected to confession-oriented interrogations. The use of these confession-oriented interrogation techniques is often predicated by the use, and often misuse, of credibility assessment techniques that can have high error rates. Moreover, the confession-oriented techniques are associated with the creation of false memory and/or false confessions. This On Demand course presents a non-coercive, evidence-based practice approach to obtaining information that is generalizable not only to forensic witnesses and suspects, but to any situation where it is important to obtain information from another person. The course reviews the basic scientific research on deception and deception detection, with a focus on dispelling myths often held by practitioners, while also indicating valid approaches to assessing credibility. A basic and highly-generalizable, evidence-based approach to interviewing is presented that is designed to be non-coercive and to protect against false memory creation and false confessions. The approach to this course stresses the commonalities of all good interviews in forensic, industrial, and clinical settings. Estimator and System variables of the interview setting are discussed, with a focus on the System variables associated with interviewing and in minimizing the possible biasing effects of interviewer behavior. In all settings, the goal to is to produce a complete and unbiased free narrative from the interviewee. We discuss exciting new research on the role of the physical setting in priming the interviewee to be forthcoming. Course participants are introduced to the current science on eyewitness memory with a focus on the impact of interviewing techniques on accuracy and quantity of what is actually recalled. We also discuss the role of interviewers in creating false memories and false confessions and how our approach avoids those problems. In addition, we provide instruction specifically for forensic and law enforcement professionals on how to prepare for an interview, build initial rapport, adjust the interview for the specific needs of the interviewee, and properly close the interview. The course instruction concludes with an introduction to the Strategic Use of Evidence (SUE) technique. SUE is a technique that helps determine whether a suspect who denies involvement in a crime is guilty (lying) or innocent (telling the truth). In SUE, evidence known to the interviewer is strategically withheld until the interviewee has given a complete free narrative statement. Interviewers then ask systematic questions pertaining to the known evidence in a manner that will force the lying suspect to “paint themselves into a corner” while giving the innocent suspect the opportunity to provide a statement that explains the evidence. The scientific basis of SUE is provided and the research validating its use is discussed.
More cost-effective and time-efficient than attending an in-person workshop but covering the same content, this innovative On Demand training is the first-of-its-kind.
Cost
Individual
Purchase attendance for a single individual
Non-Member Cost
US$325
GIFR Member Cost
– US$25
Group
To be considered a group, 10 or more individuals are required to participate. Purchase attendance for your team, facility, or library.
Why Train With GIFR?
Save Money
Eliminate hidden costs of in-person trainings including travel, hotel, food, and gas
Improve Outcomes
Increase the reliability and accuracy of your interviews using evidence-based interviewing strategies
Continuing Education
Earn 9 Continuing Education Credits from APA, ASWB, NBCC, ANCC, NAADAC, and CPA
Trainer Biographies
Charles R. Honts, PhD, is Professor of Psychological Science at Boise State University. Professor Honts continues a 37-year research program that focuses on applying psychological science to real world problems. He is internationally recognized as one of the world’s top experts on credibility assessment, having received The Harry Detwiler Award for contributions to the polygraph profession in Latin America and The John E. Reid Memorial Award for distinguished achievements in polygraph research, teaching or writing. Professor Honts has published and/or presented more than 350 scientific papers and has also published and given expert testimony in the areas of interrogation and false confession, eyewitness identification, and the forensic interviewing of children. In addition, he is frequently invited to lecture at domestic and international venues and has appeared in courts around the world as an expert witness more than 120 times. Professor Honts’s current research is focused on three areas: 1) Improving the standardization and criterion validity of the comparison question test for psychophysiological deception detection, 2) Deception detection with oculomotor measures, and 3) Interrogation, confession and false confession phenomena in real world contexts. Professor Honts was the President of the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association for the 2005-2006 term.
Mark Handler is a credibility assessment expert and lecturer and former US Naval Nuclear Engineering Technician and law enforcement officer and polygraph examiner. Mr. Handler has authored or co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed journal articles relating to credibility assessment. He has presented credibility assessment content nationally and internationally on behalf of local, state, federal, and international government entities. He is also the Director of Professional Services for Converus, Inc., based in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Maria Hartwig, PhD, completed her graduate training in her native Sweden, where she conducted empirical research on social perception and judgment in legal settings. In 2006, she joined the faculty of John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where she is now Professor of Psychology. She has published research on the psychology of deception and its detection and on interview and interrogation techniques using a broad sample of lay people, legal professionals and prison inmates. Dr. Hartwig has also carried out extensive training of legal professionals, including prosecutors, judges, police detectives, and intelligence and military officers. She is also an editorial board member of Law and Human Behavior and Legal and Criminological Psychology. In 2008, Dr. Hartwig received an Early Career Award from the European Association for Psychology and Law, and in 2012, she received the Saleem Shah Award for Early Career Excellence in Psychology and Law from the American Psychology-Law Society and the American Academy of Forensic Psychology.
1 Sponsorship: Multi-Health Systems, Inc. (MHS, Inc.) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. MHS maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The American Nurses Credentialing Center accepts Continuing Education Credit sponsored by the American Psychological Association. The Global Institute of Forensic Research, provider #1371, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Global Institute of Forensic Research maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 6/8/2022-6/8/2025. Social Workers completing this course receive continuing education credits. Multi-Health Systems, Inc. (MHS, Inc.) is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. MHS maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Multi-Health Systems, Inc. (MHS, Inc.) has been approved by NAADAC as an approved Continuing Education, Provider No. 144308. Programs that do not qualify for NAADAC credit are clearly identified. MHS maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The Global Institute of Forensic Research (GIFR) has been approved by NBCC as an approved Continuing Education provider. ACEP No.6711. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. GIFR is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Global Institute of Forensic Research (GIFR) is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0337. Multi-Health Systems, Inc. (MHS, Inc.) is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0036.
2 Refund/Cancellation Policy: If you wish to request a refund on account of technical difficulties, please contact [email protected].
3 Commercial Supports: Multi-Health Systems, Inc. (MHS, Inc.) reports no conflicts of interest in the development and sponsorship of this training. MHS receives no commercial support for its Continuing Education programs or from its presenters.
Note 1: The CPA’s approval of an individual, group, or organization as a CE Sponsor or Provider is restricted to the activities described in the approved application or annual report form. The CPA’s approval does not extend to any other CE activity the Sponsor or Provider might offer. In granting its approval, the CPA assumes no legal or financial obligations to Sponsors, Providers, or to those individuals who might participate in a Sponsor or Provider’s CE activities or programs. Further, responsibility for the content, provision, and delivery of any CE activity approved by the CPA remains that of the CE Sponsor or Provider. The CPA disclaims all legal liability associated with the content, provision, and delivery of the approved CE activity.