Investigative Statement Analysis

Investigative Statement Analysis is highly effective in detecting deception, truthfulness and identification of hidden information in statements from criminal and civil investigations. Master Sergeant Bob Shaffer, a nationally-recognized statement analysis instructor since 1996, incorporates a validated, systematic, scientific process for examining the word choice, structure and content of a subject’s statements. Decades of research by experts in the fields of language, psychology and deception detection have led to the identification of these trends in language that are referred to as “linguistic signals”. ISA is equally effective with suspect, witness, and victim statements.

This highly interactive course will give investigators practical knowledge of ISA, allowing them to identify the linguistic signals that reveal areas of deception before the interview even begins. Thus giving them a remarkable advantage during the course of their investigations and interviews. Students will apply the technique to actual statements from a wide variety of crimes including theft, vandalism, sexual assault, homicide, assault, and arson. Students are encouraged to bring statements from past or current cases and a simple, four-function pocket calculator.

Upon completion participants will be able to:

• Understand concepts of truthfulness and deception
  • Maximize efficiency and effectiveness when interviewing
  • Understand how to collect valid statements
  • Identify linguistic signals that indicate deception and truthfulness
  • Gain the most information possible, improving confession rates
  • Interpret analysis results and integrating them with linguistic signals
  • Use the validity assessment process
  • Develop alternative interview strategies
  • Use the subject’s own words against them to elicit confessions