How Do Forensic Psychiatric Investigators Know if a Perpetrator is Lying?
When forensic psychiatrists interview a suspect in a crime, they use several tools to get the information they want. However, that does not come without a price. Perpetrators of a crime will knowingly engage in any type of deception in order to fool the investigator any way they can. Suspects are very likely to lie, without taking into account whether they see forensic psychiatrists as enemies or probable associates in deception. If perpetrators can convince forensic psychiatrists that they are truthful, do not remember anything about the crime, or that they are simply crazy, then they definitely have an ally in court. For instance, suppose a suspect is no doubt guilty of a sexual assault or murder but shows that he has respect for women, when in fact he does not. The perpetrator may prevaricate about past interpersonal and sexual confrontations, change or completely make up beliefs and feelings all with the expectation of being declared incompetent to stand trial and thus circumvent a
