REPORT REVEALS Junk Science in ‘Trauma-Informed’ Investigations, Recalls Earlier Exposés of Flawed Forensics, Wrongful Convictions
A newly released report documents the flawed science in an investigative method known as “trauma-informed.” Trauma-informed concepts were originally developed to help counselors and therapists assist persons who had experienced life-threatening events, such as human trafficking or forcible rape. But now, trauma-informed precepts are being used by detectives and investigators as a way to explain away inconsistencies in complainants’ accounts for events that are not life-threatening. The report, titled “Trauma-Informed Theories Disguised as Evidence,” was issued by Families Advocating for Campus Equality (FACE), a campus due process organization. The highly referenced FACE report documents five logical fallacies and scientific flaws in the use of trauma-informed concepts in the investigative context:
- Is used to explain an ever-expanding range of symptoms and behaviors, some of which are not based on research.
- Illogically applies concepts like “tonic immobility” to situations that are not life-threatening.
- Presumes that failure to remember incidents is caused by trauma, not alcohol-induced black-outs or other factors.
- Asserts that stressful events impair memory, when research shows such events actually enhance recall.
- Ignores complainants’ vulnerability to post-event suggestions by friends and advocates.
As a result, investigators become susceptible to “tunnel vision,” decision-makers disregard exculpatory evidence, and the presumption of innocence is lost. Overall, a forensic possibility –- trauma-induced memory loss -– is converted into an investigational certainty that is pre-determined and ideologically ordained.
prosecutorintegrity.org– R. Stewart
