Course Description:

In many instances, law enforcement officers have limited opportunities to interview witnesses to narcotic-related crimes or interrogate suspects that are under arrest. It is crucial that officers obtain a truthful and accurate account of what occurred. Officers must understand and identify when witnesses or suspects are being truthful or being deceptive.

This course will teach officers how to reliably recognize and understand verbal and non-verbal cues of deception. Officers will also learn how to identify deception in written statements. Identifying verbal and non-verbal indicators of deception is a necessary talent for today’s law enforcement officers involved in investigating narcotic-related crimes. The instructor will illustrate various verbal and non-verbal indicators of deception using video-recorded interviews of actual witnesses and suspects. Practical scenarios will be used to reinforce the lecture.

 Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Identify the steps in the proper collection of a statement
2. Identify the proper structure in which to conduct an effective interview
3. Identify the key factors that are going to be analyzed in any statement
4. Identify the indicators of veracity in a written statement
5. Identify the indicators of deceit in a written statement
6. Identify the importance of the explanation of time in the written statement
7. Identify the role of verbs, nouns, pronouns, and adjectives in the written statement
8. Demonstrate knowledge of course material through the successful completion of the proper analysis of several written statements
9. Define behavior symptom analysis as it applies to the detection of deceit
10. Recognize the importance of eye contact as an indicator of deceit
11. Identify the general principals of behavior symptom analysis
12. Relate verbal behavior signs of deceit, recognize the difference between truthful and deceptive responses during an interrogation, and identify behavior provoking questions

Prerequisites: None

Course Length: 3 days / 24 hours

Who May Attend: Law Enforcement, Corrections, Military