SCAN Scientific Content Analysis WHAT S IN A WORD

SCAN (Scientific Content Analysis) WHAT’S IN A WORD How to obtain information and detect deception Chris Hudson Investigative and Security Consultants

Case Study – Theft of Bond Money On July 12, 1996, at approximately 7: 00 pm Officer XXXXX brought in subject XXX on a warrant. They came up to the bond window and XXX posted the $250. 00 cash bond. XXX was needing to change a $20 bill in order to post the exact amount, so I gave him two $10 s for his $20. No problem. He then gave me exactly $250. 00 in cash and when he gave it to me I filled out the bond envelope with the required information, and also filled out the cash receipt and gave it to XXX. No problem. I then entered the information in the bond book putting the receipt in the envelope as required. I then put the bond envelope in the cash box which is located in the safe. After placing it in the box, putting the cash box in the safe, I secure the safe. On July 14, I was contacted by Deputy XXX who wanted to know where XXXX bond money was. I explained to him that when XXXX came in that I had followed procedure as I am supposed to do and put everything in the cash box placing it in the safe and securing the safe exactly like I was supposed to do. I am not responsible for what happens after I leave my shift. I do my job and if something happens between when I take someones cash and when the court clerk gets the bond money that is not my fault. They probably need to find a better system to keep track of the money. But that is not my job, that is what they get paid the big bucks for. I just do my assigned duties.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE DON'T LIE!

That is …. PEOPLE DON’T LIE BY COMMISSION BUT BY OMISSION

HENCE THE OATH, TO TELL THE TRUTH THE WHOLE TRUTH

Linguistic codes have existed since language began. Recognised and developed by Avinoam Sapir Laboratory for Scientific Interrogation (L. S. I. ) , Phoenix, AZ, USA Former Israel Police polygraph examiner Introduced to Australia by Hudsons in 1988 SCAN is taught in USA, UK, Canada, Israel, Europe, South Africa, Mexico and Singapore

Q …. . . A……. Q. … A…

What did the person tell me? How can I develop the answer to get more information?

Everyone wants to give Every information To everyone

“I have a boyfriend who is Jewish” “A boyfriend” v. “My boyfriend” “Boyfriend” v. “Friend” “Who is Jewish “ v. “A Jewish boyfriend”

TOTAL BELIEF IN THE SUBJECT Does not mean we believe the subject to be truthful but by rejecting a statement as deceptive because you consider it to be “fishy” will prevent you entering the story from the inside or analyse the language to discover what is really said! (The vast majority do not lie by commission)

The SUBJECT is DEAD! The STATEMENT is ALIVE ! Probably the most important SCAN rule. Do NOT deal WITH PEOPLE But with WHAT THEY SAY!

THE EDITING PROCESS A person does not tell everything Only what is thought to be important for us. “Unimportant” information for the reader Is likely to be doubly important for the speaker/writer!

Could the story be true …. . but the subject still committed the [crime]? In most cases we don’t have to search for deception. Only what the person did NOT say!

I saw the fire, called the fire brigade and waited here” “I counted the money, put the bag in the safe and proceeded to go home. ” "I was in the living room. I heard a shot. I went to see what happened and found that he was dead. " WHERE IS THE LIE?

As children we were taught: 1. Be Truthful 2. But don’t say EVERYTHING!

TRUTH v. DECEPTION DECEPTIVE – builds the statement FROM IMAGINATION! TRUTHFUL - builds the statement FROM MEMORY! Will have connections to other issues outside the incident.

PRONOUNS The most significant part of speech For the reader/listener (analyst) Understood by all – gained at a very early age If in doubt, listen to kids …. . “Mine!”

THE PERSONAL PRONOUN “I” Identifies the person and establishes commitment.

THE USE OF “WE” IN RELATIONSHIPS

A letter from a business colleague “. . …during your visit to the States. Ed and I. . . …” NO “WE” = NO PARTNERSHIP

The victim of an alleged rape said: ". . . after he finished with me we went back to his car. . . "

USING POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS My house My car vs the house vs the car My ring vs the ring

THE MISSING POSSESSIVE PRONOUN “I went to the ladies’ room, took off the ring and washed my hands. ” “…. . my wife had taken off the ring. ”

CAUTION – Change in circumstances may justify absence of pronoun by truthful person ". . I gave him back the ring "

TENSE No one is a prophet! The version must be in PAST TENSE!

SUSAN SMITH ‘My children want. ED me. They need. ED me?

Annette Monstream Arrested by Niagara Falls police after a televised plea for her husband’s safe return in which she said, “John …was a good husband. ”

Avoiding Past Tense: “You know, you would lock the car…. . ” “I would never ask anyone to lie for me…”

Parts of Speech/Language The Golden Rule FIRST PERSON, SINGULAR, PAST TENSE

* CHANGES IN LANGUAGE. “The yacht…the boat…it…” * PASSIVE LANGUAGE “The car was parked. . ” *DISTANCE IN LANGUAGE. “I watched TV with my wife” *OBJECTIVE v. SUBJECTIVE TIME. The longer the event the more detail. * OPEN PURE VERSION Where the subject starts the story. * LINKS – to the main issue.

LISTEN TO/READ WHAT PEOPLE REALLY SAY

Case Study – Theft of Bond Money On July 12, 1996, at approximately 7: 00 pm Officer XXXXX brought in subject XXX on a warrant. They came up to the bond window and XXX posted the $250. 00 cash bond. XXX was needing to change a $20 bill in order to post the exact amount, so I gave him two $10 s for his $20. No problem. He then gave me exactly $250. 00 in cash and when he gave it to me I filled out the bond envelope with the required information, and also filled out the cash receipt and gave it to XXX. No problem. I then entered the information in the bond book PUTTING THE RECEIPT IN THE ENVELOPE AS REQUIRED. I THEN PUT THE BOND ENVELOPE IN THE CASH BOX which is located in the safe. After placing it in the box, putting the cash box in the safe, I secure the safe. On July 14, I was contacted by Deputy XXX who wanted to know where XXXX bond money was. I explained to him that when XXXX came in that I had followed procedure as I am supposed to do and put everything in the cash box placing it in the safe and securing the safe exactly like I was supposed to do. I am not responsible for what happens after I leave my shift. I do my job and if something happens between WHEN I TAKE SOMEONES CASH and when the court clerk gets the bond money that is not my fault. They probably need to find a better system to keep track of the money. But that is not my job, that is what they get paid the big bucks for. I just do my assigned duties.

THE VIEW QUESTIONNAIRE

End Thank you.