Detecting Deception- 2 Days

Duration: 2 Days | Cost: $400.00 | Instructor: Michael Ruggiero | Professional Development Hours: 16 PD hours

This training program is particularly well-suited for law enforcement professionals, private investigators, prosecuting attorneys, human resource specialists, and others whose work involves conducting interviews or analyzing written and verbal communications.

Course Overview

Detecting Deception teaches participants to identify deceptive behavior through three primary channels: written communication, body language, and verbal statements. The curriculum addresses a significant gap in professional training, as research by renowned psychologists such as Dr. Paul Eckman has demonstrated that most individuals, including experienced law enforcement officers, lack adequate preparation to reliably distinguish truthful statements from deceptive ones. This course focuses on human behavioral principles that have proven consistent and reliable over time. Through extensive case examples and practical exercises, attendees will develop skills applicable to both active investigations and historical cases.

Course Components

Handwriting Analysis

The training begins by exploring the connection between the mind and body as reflected in handwriting. Participants will learn to develop profiles of a writer's personality and thought processes through handwriting examination. The course covers identifying markers of aggression, truthfulness, and deception within written samples—indicators that are frequently overlooked in standard practice.

Kinesics (Body Language)

Body language analysis provides substantial investigative value, yet law enforcement receives minimal formal training in this area. This component examines body language specifically as it applies to interview situations. Participants will study how nonverbal communication—including hand movements, foot positioning, eye contact, posture, vocal tone, touch, and other physical cues—can reveal whether a subject is being truthful, holding back information, or being fully transparent.

Statement Analysis

Attendees will gain proficiency in evaluating both written and verbal statements, including emergency 911 calls. The training covers statement length, decomposition techniques, pronoun patterns, and warning indicators. Practical application of these skills through hands-on statement review enables investigators to identify specific areas of deception or information withholding and direct follow-up questioning accordingly. Research conducted by the FBI demonstrates that departments employing statement analysis achieve a 6% higher case clearance rate than those without this capability.

Key Learning Outcomes

Participants will receive a detailed student reference guide for ongoing use beyond the training. The course employs a fast-paced, engaging format combining entertainment with substantial educational content. Attendees will develop the ability to pinpoint exactly where in a statement deception occurs, moving beyond intuition-based assessments to evidence-based analysis. These skills prove valuable not only in professional investigations but also in personal and everyday situations, from casual social interactions to media analysis.