Why Hypnosis Is Used In The Forensic World (And Its Relevance To You)

Would you buy one of the most expensive hypnosis books in the world?

Maybe, maybe not.

After all, it is titled “Investigative Forensic Hypnosis.”

And it’ll set you back $113.95.

Who would buy such a book?

Criminal investigators, defense attorneys, psychologists studying memory, and perhaps prosecutors.

Because in criminal prosecutions, forensic hypnosis has been used to help witnesses unlock forgotten details from their subconscious mind. Things like:

• The digits on a license plate speeding away from a crime scene
• The color of an alleged assailant’s shoes
• A face glimpsed for just a second — but seared into memory

These fragments, recalled under hypnosis, can sometimes become the missing puzzle pieces that lead to a conviction or acquittal.

What Is Forensic Hypnosis?

Forensic hypnosis is the specialized use of hypnosis within the context of criminal investigations.

The process involves guiding a subject—typically a witness or victim—into a relaxed, highly focused state where they may be better able to retrieve memories that are not readily accessible in ordinary consciousness.

Unlike stage or therapeutic hypnosis, forensic hypnosis is not designed for entertainment or healing. Its sole purpose is memory retrieval: helping a person recall sensory impressions, details, or fragments of an event that stress, trauma, or the passage of time may have obscured.

Forensic hypnosis is usually employed when traditional methods fall short—for example, when a witness can only recall fragments of what they saw, when a victim’s memory is clouded by trauma, or when an investigation has stalled and police are searching for fresh leads.

How It’s Been Used in Investigations

• Investigative Aid, Not Court Evidence: U.S. law enforcement agencies have used hypnosis to help witnesses recall critical details, such as license plate numbers or descriptions of suspects—but such evidence is often not admitted in court without corroboration.
• A Notable Case: In the famous 1976 Chowchilla kidnapping, forensic hypnosis helped the school bus driver recall nearly all the digits of the kidnappers’ license plate, leading to their capture.

Balancing Value and Ethics

Yes, forensic hypnosis has contributed valuable leads in criminal investigations—even prestigious law enforcement units trained in its application—but its role remains controversial and tightly circumscribed.

Think of it not as a definitive memory retriever, but as a potentially helpful tool when handled with extreme care.

Final Take

Would you buy that pricey hypnosis book? Not necessarily.

But its existence underscores something important: forensic hypnosis is taken seriously—but with good reason to be cautious.