Fundamentals of Reading Body Language for Law Enforcement

The ability to interpret facial expressions, posture and other cues is crucial for police officers and anyone in law enforcement. Being able to read body language helps to defuse potentially deadly situations and gives police officers the ability to determine whether people are telling the truth or being deceptive. Let's take a look at why this aspect of law enforcement is so vital.

When people think of the most important skills that police officers need, body language probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind. From a layman's point of view, this may seem like a vague or even esoterica area. However, experienced law enforcement officers understand it's a practical and essential skill and a key part of a training program for law enforcement.

Preventing and Managing Violent Behavior

People rarely act without giving some kind of clue to their intention. Understanding someone's state of mind can mean the difference between life and death in many situations. If a suspect makes a sudden move, police officers have to make a split-second judgment if he or she is reaching for a weapon and react appropriately.

Recognizing Deception

Law enforcement professionals need to develop a sense of whether or not people are being truthful. There are many signals that indicate whether someone is being honest or deceitful. John Bowden, the founder and director of Applied Police Training and Certification, identifies several key areas on which to focus when assessing truthfulness.

• Eye Contact. Lack of direct eye contact may indicate deception.
• Tone of Voice. Does the person's voice get lower or higher when answering certain questions?
• Physical Behavior. This may include posture as well as actions such as nervous fidgeting
• Timing. People may answer questions quickly or slowly. If someone takes too long to answer a simple question, for example, this may indicate deception.
• The Response Itself. The content of the answer must also be considered, of course.

Understanding body language, of course, is a complex science and not something you can master by memorizing a few simple rules. Experts spend many hours studying and verifying principles. The right kind of training, however, can help law enforcement personnel learn these principles and apply them to their jobs.