History

Hypnosis has been used in the detection of crime since the late 19th Century, but it has only been since the late 1950’s and early 1960’s that any serious attempt was made to formulate a more comprehensive and professional structure in its usage.

This was done primarily in the USA and Canada where Forensic Hypnosis now plays a significant part of many criminal and civil investigations. However, it still only has limited involvement in the UK.

1845 – The first recorded use of something approaching Forensic Hypnosis. A clairvoyant was put in to a trance to identify a thief who stole a few pounds. She told the police his description and where he went, and when they found him he was so surprised he confessed.

1897 – The Supreme Courts of California deem that evidence gained whilst in hypnosis is inadmissible.

1968 – In the case in the US of Harding v. State, a victim of attempted rape identified her assailant in after using hypnosis, leading the Supreme Court of Maryland deeming hypnosis to be the same as any other memory enhancing technique used, and hence admissible.

1980’s – A more restrictive approach is now taken in the US after a hypnotist used suggestion to entice Jane Sell in to implicating her ex-husband in an assault. Guidelines similar to those promoted by EIFH were brought in to place. Evidence gleaned in Forensic Hypnosis cases is now much more accurate.

2006 – European Institute of Forensic Hypnosis Founded. It should be remembered that using hypnosis in this way in the UK is still new, radical and groundbreaking. Just over 100 years ago fingerprinting was in exactly the same situation.