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  • Investigative Statement Analysis

OVERVIEW

Investigative Statement Analysis is a method for detecting likely deceptions and omissions in language. In this concise, practical one day course, students will learn the elements of Statement Analysis and how to apply them for more effective interviews.  We will analyze a variety of written and spoken statements – including suspect interviews, criminal interrogations, press conferences, 911 calls and ransom letters.  Because our work is not just to identify deception but to overcome it, we will then discuss how to use a subject’s own language to focus our interviews and investigations.

Investigative Statement Analysis complements investigators’ understanding of interview & interrogation methods and non-verbal communication.  This training is designed to enhance the work of detectives and investigators in the areas of: criminal investigations; internal affairs; background investigations; officer-involved incidents; corporate security and human resources investigations. Statement Analysis is particularly useful for investigators whose cases involve telephonic and audio-recorded interviews, transcripts, and written responses – when clues must be found in words alone.

Seminar Highlights

  • The language of deception
  • How to recognize when someone is not answering the question
  • Countering omissions through micro-action questioning
  • 911 calls: summoning help, or building a cover story?
  • Evaluation of victim and suspect claims in sexual assault investigation: beyond “he said” “she said.”
  • Using Investigative Statement Analysis to focus interviews and criminal interrogations

Course Outline

Course Details

  • Introduction
    • A method for recognizing truthfulness and detecting deception/omission based on systematic review of a subject’s language
      • Like the polygraph and the investigative interview/interrogation, SA is predicated on the notion that normal people are made uncomfortable by lying.
    • SA is a tool to be used in conjunction with other investigative techniques (interview, polygraph, evidence gathering).
      •  Application
        • Limitations
          • Statement Analysis Pre-Test: Boyfriend in Child Sex Abuse Case
            • Kinds of Statements
          • Case Study
        • 911 Calls
  • Statement Analysis in Real Time
    • Elements of Statement Analysis
      • Changes in how time is reported
        • Text bridges
          • Practical Exercise: Case Study statement (child murder)
            • Practical Exercise #2: Wife of murdered husband case study
              • Equivocation and Negation
                •  Nouns/Pronouns/Verbs
                  • Case Study Statement
  • Practical Exercise: Two Reports of Sexual Assault
  • Statement Analysis and 911 Calls
    • Study of 100 homicide calls found:
  • Practical Exercise:  911 Call and  “Ransom” Note
    • Summary of Case Facts and Question
  • Practical Exercise: Chappaquiddick

Seminar Speakers

  • The information presented was highly relevant to my job and was presented in a manner that was organized and very easy to digest.

    —Michael McGarvey, California State Prison, San Quentin

  • It not often that you go to a training that you really, really want to pay attention to. Because of the high quality information and style of presentation, I knew that if I looked away I was going to miss out.

    —Quinten Graves, Oregon State Police

  • I highly recommend this training for any Probation staff who have the necessity to interview/interrogate individuals for investigation purposes.

    —R. Bret Fidler, Santa Clara County Probation Department

  • Instructional style is engaging and highly effective.

    —George Laing, Fire Prevention Captain, Investigator

  • Incredible training with amazing real world instruction. I have been taking law enforcement classes for over 30 years and by far this is the best presented and most useful.

    —Det. Brian Dale, Portland Police Bureau

  • I will continue to use and pass on this information because I really believe in the instructors and their approach.

    —Kimberly Meyer, Washoe County Sheriff's Department

  • Effective teaching teams! The presentation of the material was consistently interesting, and intelligent without being too intellectualized.

    —Michele Keller, Deputy Probation Officer, County of Alameda

  • This training by far has been the most informative and most effective I've attended. The instructors engaged the students in a manner that made me want to speak my opinion, ask questions, and participate.

    —Julio Ibarra, Merced County Sheriff’s Office

  • Your training has made the greatest and most direct impact on my assignment of any training class that I've taken.

    —Ken Gelskey, National City Police Department

  • Your training gave me the confidence and tools to interview the suspect for over 5 hours and to bring a closure to the case.

    —Daniel Phelan, San Jose Police Department

  • This was, by far, one of the most useful training classes I've attended since becoming an investigator.

    —Steven Aiello, Antioch Police Department

  • This training provided the useful tools necessary for assessing the veracity of a suspected child abuser, which goes a long way in helping to protect children.

    —Sunny Burgan, MSSW, LCSW, Social Work Supervisor, Santa Clara County DFCS

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