In our last column we began a discussion of eye movements and their relationship to memory and creation of information. Memory is still very much a mystery, and many researchers consider it a process where bits and pieces from the mind and body help recreate the event in the mind. For years researchers believed that all memories were held within the brain. Later it became apparent that memories could be triggered using any of the senses and the central nervous system (Gazzaniga 1988). Surprisingly, memories can even be stored in the muscle tissue to protect the brain from intensely painful…

We had the opportunity to listen to a presentation by Dr. David Matsumoto on micro expressions at the Certified Forensic Interviewer Elite Training Day seminar in November. To establish the difficulty of identifying truth or deception, Dr. Matsumoto had everyone evaluate a series of videos and make judgments of the person's truthfulness. He then asked for the reasons why the person was ranked truthful or deceptive by the observers. Some of the attendees made their decisions based on the individual's verbal response, others used emotion, some word choice, but many focused on physical behavior to reach their conclusion. It was…

Did you do it? Well, did you? Did you remember to ask? Did you forget or just didn't think he would say anything? Or maybe, why bother because we can't interview on implications anyway. Or, maybe you didn't ask correctly. How many times have you gotten an implication from a dishonest associate? Sometimes getting an implication is as simple as asking who else is taking money or merchandise from the company. But, did you remember to at least ask for that admission? It is a heady experience to get a confession, and it is easy to forget to ask for…

We have undoubtedly taken some historical liberties with our discussions in the last two columns about the history of interrogation, so we continue the folly by predicting the future of it as well. With the smudges wiped from our crystal ball, we will gaze forward through the foggy mists of time and divine the future...pet rock...brick phones...gold at $600! Ah, here we go.   Changing Regulations Interviewing and interrogation will be under attack in the next decade by a host of critics attempting to force changes that fit their agendas. This is a similar pattern to the way the polygraph…

In the last issue we discussed the past history of interrogation beginning with the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to the Salem witch trials of the 1690s. This column will move forward and review the more recent past, beginning in the late 1800s to the present practices of loss prevention and the police.   The Third Degree The third degree, trickery, and deceit mentioned by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Brown v. Mississippi decision has its origins in New York City. Inspector Thomas Brynes headed up the New York City detective bureau from 1880…

We were asked to discuss the history of interrogation at a conference along with its present situation and possible implications for the future. When we originally began thinking about this project, we thought it might be as simple as doing a book report relating the facts as compiled by some prestigious historian. Unfortunately, we could not find a book like this. Our search did uncover one text called The History of Interrogation, which seemed to be the answer to our prayers. With great anticipation we explored the pages that listed interrogations throughout the ages. None of the listed interrogations contained…

Our favorite magazine is ten years old. Ten years! These years have gone by so quickly. Congratulations to Jim Lee, Jack Trlica, and the LP Magazine staff for ten years of providing good reading and a visionary platform of communication for the industry. Things seem to slip through the cracks in the rush of cases and day-to-day business. We poured over LP Magazine's last issue, which contained a timeline of loss prevention for the last ten years. What a flood of memories—people, places, cases, new ideas. What a ten years it was. Thank you for letting this column be part…