The identification of lying in both witnesses and suspects in interview has been a perennial problem for investigators of crime. Historically, the process has been either a matter of judgment exercised by investigators (and prosecutors) or the application of techniques (such as the polygraph) with dubious scientific validity. This paper examines the search for truth and the assessment of veracity in investigation and outlines a developing, science-based technique, Statement Validity Assessment (SVA) which offers hope for an objective analysis of evidence in written form. The processes and practices of SVA are outlined and critiqued.
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