Unit 2.

Deception Detection
1. Devices which record the psycho-physiological response
a. Use of a Polygraph or lie detector machine
b. Use of the Word Association test
c. Use of Physiologic stress evaluator
2. Use of Drugs that try to inhibit the inhibitor
a. Administration of truth serum- uses Hyoscine Hydrobromide
b. Narcosynthesis/ Narcoanalyis
- Sodium Pentothal or Sodium Amytal
c. Intoxication with Alcohol

Devices that records psycho-physiological response

- Central Nervous System includes brain and the spinal cord
- Peripheral Nervous System
o Autonomic-Sympathetic and Parasympathetic
o Somatic
------ when a person is under the influence or emotional stimuli, the sympathetic
predominates and overrides parasympathetic---increased heart rate, respiratory
rate, BP, sweating etc
1) Polygraph or Lie Detector
 Records physiological changes in association with lying in a
polygraph
 FEAR of DETECTION activates the sympathetic nervous system
 Done in a quiet, private and sound proof room and free from ay
disturbance
 Like ECG or EEG makes tracing on moving paper at a rate of 6
inches per minute
 Subject is seated on a chair beside a table where instrument is
located
 Pneumograph tubes are placed around the chest and the
abdomen, the BP cuff around the upper right arm and the
electrodes are attached to the 2 fingers of the other hand
 Back of the chair is equipped with inflatable rubber bladder
 All gadgets are connected to the recording instrument
 Subject looks straight ahead
 Answer all questions by a Yes or a No only
 Standard Test Questions
 Irrelevant questions – no bearing on the case, subject age,
marital status, etc
 Relevant questions- related to the criminal act, must be
specific
 Control questions- unrelated but of similar nature, eg. Have
you ever used or fired a gun?
 Supplementary Test
 Peak of tension test-if the subject is not yet informed of the
details of the offense for which he is interrogated
 Guilt Complex test- additional relevant question is asked
 Silent Answer test
2) Word Association Test
- List of stimulus or non stimulus word are asked on the subject who
is instructed to answer as quickly as possible
-The important factor is the time of response
3) Psychological Stress Evaluator
- Inaudible frequency modulations are measured
- When a person is relaxed, frequencies are registered clearly
 - When a person is lying, these frequencies tend to disappear

In vino veritas- In wine there is truth.

Clinical Signs and Symptoms in Relations to blood Alcohol Level

Blood Alcohol Clinical Signs and Symptoms
10 mg% or 0.01 Pleasant Clearing of the head
20 mg% 0r 0.02 Physical feeling of well-being
50 mg% or 0.50 The individual feels on top of the world
and has the wisdom of Solomon and
the talkativeness of Senator Claghorn
100 mg% or 1 “Under the influence”, mental
confusion, drowsiness, emotional
instability, decreased inhibitions
150 mg% or 1.5 All individuals are INTOXICATED.
Deterioration in performance and skills
150-300 mg% or 1.5-3.0 Lose of muscular coordination, inability
to walk properly and coordinate other
body movement, disorientation
300 mg% or 3.0 Stuporous, incoordination, loose of
sphincter control
400 mg% or 4.0 Anesthetic level

3. Scientific Interrogation
 Interrogation- questioning of a person of having committed an offense or of persons
who are reluctant to make a full disclosure of information in his possession
 done on a suspect or witness
Suspect- person whose guilt is considered on reasonable ground to be a
practical possibility
Witness- other than the suspect gives information regarding the incident
- Victim, complainant, accuser, source of info, custodian of an official
document

Attitude and Conduct of an Investigator

- Avoid impression that he is an investigator seeking confession or
conviction but merely seeking the truth
- Use more desirable words such as shoot, take, tell the truth instead of
kill, steal and confess
- Interrogator close to the subject without any piece of furniture
- Avoid pacing about the room, to give undiverted attention to the
subject
- Interrogator should minimize smoking and refrain fumbling with a
pencil to indicate lack of confidence
- Use understandable language
- Face the subject man to man not policeman to prisoner

Techniques of Interrogation
1. Emotional Appeal- make a mood conducive to confession, sympathetic
2. Mutt and Jeff technique
- 2 investigators with opposite character
- Mutt-arrogant and relentless, knows subject is guilty and will not waste
time for interrogation
- Jeff-friendly, sympathetic and kind, when Mutt is not present, advices
quick cooperation
3. Bluff on Split-pair
- 2 or more persons participated in the crime
- Interrogated on different rooms
- Claim that the subject was implicated and no use to deny
4. Stern Approach- harsh language with immediate response
5. Lengthy time consuming narration

Basis that Subject is not telling the Truth

1. statements have improbabilities and gaps on essential parts
2. statements are inconsistent with material facts
3. statements are incoherent, conflicting with one another

Confession-expressed acknowledgement of his guilt

Admission- statement of fact which does not directly involve the acknowledgement of
guilt
Ex. Admission by one accused of rape that he has a carnal intercourse with a
complaining witness becomes Confession if he further admits that he cohabited with her
without her consent.
Kinds of Confession
1. Extra-judicial Confession
- outside the court prior to trial
- not sufficient ground for conviction unless corroborated by evidence of
Corpus delicti
Maybe:
1. Voluntary Extra-judicial confession
2. Involuntary Extra-judicial confession-Inadmissible
- Force and intimidation-null and void
- Threat or promise
- Under a spiritual adviser
- Parental sentiment
2. Judicial Confession
- Confession in court
- Plea of guilty is sufficient for conviction