In Poland, the prosecutor's office hired a hypnotist to interrogate suspects with his help. Is that allowed?

Illustrative photo. Photo: vecteezy.com

More than 20 years ago, in September 2004, investigators tried to find out the burial place of one of the murdered criminals. The purpose of involving Kaczorowski in the work was to help one of the suspects in the case, known by the nickname "Jakubek," recall this location. For this, a procedure was carried out, officially called "psychological research to unlock memory traces."

According to documents, the prosecutor's office paid 300 zlotys per hour for the expert's participation. The case materials mention that the procedure was protocolled and supposed to be video recorded, but only a short protocol and an invoice for services were submitted to the court.

The main dispute arose because the Polish Criminal Procedure Code prohibits the use of hypnosis during interrogations. At the same time, Kaczorowski himself claimed in a conversation with journalists that he had put "Jakubek" into a hypnotic state, after which he allowed the prosecutor to ask him questions.

The prosecutor's office, however, insists that hypnosis was not used, and it was a lawful psychological examination. Critics note: if it was indeed a regular examination, its results should have been properly documented and attached to the case file.

Kaczorowski later tried to retract his words. Upon receiving the interview text for approval, he stated that he was allegedly under the influence of alcohol during the conversation and therefore could not confirm his statements. However, journalists claim that a few days prior, he had told the same thing to other media representatives.

Even the identity of Andrzej Kaczorowski as an expert causes controversy. A number of specialists in forensic psychology and hypnosis have questioned his qualifications. According to them, Kaczorowski does not have known professional certifications in the field of hypnosis and is not a member of relevant scientific organizations.

It also became known that controversial situations had arisen around him before. In 2004, the Lower Silesian Medical Chamber appealed to the prosecutor's office with a statement about possible unlawful self-representation as a medical specialist. The results of that review are unknown to the public.

Kaczorowski's public appearances and online videos caused separate criticism. In one video, published in 2025, Kaczorowski conducted a ritual he called an exorcism, claiming to "cast out demons" from a person.

The case is now actively discussed by Polish lawyers and psychology specialists, as it touches upon questions of the legality of using non-standard methods during criminal investigations.

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