What Are We Teaching Future Australian Criminal Justice Practitioners About Lie Detection? A Review of Criminology Textbooks

Abstract

The use of fallible lie detection methods by criminal justice practitioners contributes to inaccurate convictions. Research suggests that most people believe liars will avert their gaze and display nervous-type behaviors; however, psychological research illustrates that these beliefs are incorrect. Myths about liars’ behavior should be debunked for those seeking careers in the Australian criminal justice system to ensure future law enforcers do not use fallible lie detection methods. However, research regarding what Australian criminal justice students are taught about lie detection is lacking. This study reviewed required textbooks for criminal justice-focused degrees in Queensland, Australia. Ninety-five textbooks were examined, seven discussed deception detection, and only four highlighted issues pertaining to the fallibility of nonverbal lie detection. This study’s findings suggest lie detection is not adequately addressed in criminal justice and criminology degrees. Recommendations are made for inclusion of empirically supported information about lie detection for criminology and criminal justice students.

Keywords:

• Criminal justice students
• Australia
• textbooks
• police
• education
• law enforcement

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rebecca Wilcoxson

Dr Rebecca Wilcoxson is from The School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Rebecca is a psychology lecturer, and her research is focused on lie detection cues used by Australians, and the impact EEG lie detection findings may have on potential Australian jurors.

Emma L. Turley

Dr Emma L. Turley is from The College of Law, Criminology and Justice CQUniversity, Ann Street, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Emma is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology and a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society. Emma is a critical psychologist and has a broad range of interdisciplinary research interests that span criminology and psychology. Her specialist areas of interest include gender, social justice, inequalities, LGBTQI + issues, feminism, sexualities, and the digital world. She is also interested in qualitative research methods, especially phenomenology and experiential research, and the use of innovative data collection techniques. Emma is a co-editor of the British Psychological Society’s Psychology of Women & Equalities Review.