By C1 Staff
Offenders are not the most trustworthy of people, and it can behoove a correctional officer to know how to spot a liar.
Former FBI Agent LaRae Quy gives eight tips on how to spot a liar; check out the list below and see if you can utilize these tips in your day-to-day work.
Listen more than you speak
First of all, one must listen to a person to decide if they’re speaking the truth or if they’re lying. Quy says there are four ticks that a listener can spot in a liar’s voice:
- Speaking faster
- Talking louder
- Voice cracks
- Repetitive coughing, clearing the throat
These don’t automatically mean the person is fibbing, but they can be road signs to pay closer attention.
Watch for changes in behavior
Quy also says that a change in a person’s attitude or behavior can also be a sign of deception. He says to be careful if a person:
- Exhibits lapses in memory, especially if they were alert earlier in the conversation
- Refuses to provide details
- Speaks formally
- Gives exaggerated responses
Ask follow up questions
This pairs with the above where a person refuses to give details; if you ask for more information and the person is evasive, this could be the sign of a liar. However, it also might mean that the person is embarrassed, says Quy. Always explore a situation with follow up questions if you’re suspicious or curious about what’s being said.
Beware of too many compliments
Some people can be nice, but usually when it comes to inmates, compliments means they want something. If someone is trying too hard to make a good impression, Quy says, that means you might have a liar in your midst.
Pay attention to how they say “no”
There are five ways that someone saying ‘no’ might be lying to you.
- Saying no and looking in a different direction
- Saying no and closing their eyes
- Saying no after hesitating
- Saying no in a long, stretched out manner
- Saying no in a singsong manner
Surprise them
Someone who’s trying to deceive you will attempt to anticipate your questions in order to control the conversation. Prevent this by asking something they don’t expect, like suddenly changing the subject or moving to a tangent before moving back to the main topic. A liar will usually stumble, according to Quy.
Ask for the story backward
Liars already have the story in their head and try to stick to it word for word. If you’re suspicious about the story someone is telling you, attempt to get them to recall events backward to see if they can keep everything straight.
For people who are telling the truth, trying to recall things in a different order can help them remember details. Liars will usually contradict themselves.
Build rapport
The best way to get around or through to a liar is to build rapport,. ‘Good cops’ typically get better results than ‘bad cops,’ Quy says; be empathetic in conversations and you’ll get someone to open up far more easily.
How do you spot a liar when dealing with inmates in your correctional facility?