Forensic Hypnosis & its Use in Recovering Memory

QUESTION:

I witnessed a car accident a few months ago and saw a car speed by me.  Thinking that the car caused the accident, I followed it and tried to memorize the license number. Now, I'm accused of causing the accident and I would like to try to get that license number of the car passing on my left. Is it possible to extract the license number from memory by hypnosis?

ANSWER:

Yes, if you actually saw the license plate, you should be able to get the numbers back.  I’ve done this with two people before who were involved as witnesses in crimes. In one case it was trying to recover the full license plate number. The client recalled not only the number, but the color and make of the car.  In the other, it was witnessing a murder scene. The hypnosis allowed the client to recall many details helpful to the police.

Forensic work using hypnosis is designed to give more information to the investigators and/or confirm data they have on a crime or other incident.  It is not generally accepted in the courts as testimony, because people can lie, if they wish to. Remember, hypnosis isn’t making someone do something.  It is guiding someone into their own memory. So the receiver of hypnosis is actually in charge of what he or she will say or not say, divulge or not divulge.