Neil Shortland – författare

ORBIT (Observing Rapport Based Interpersonal Techniques) is an approach to interviewing high-value detainees, encompassing not only analysis and research into the methodology, but also a framework for training. ORBIT: The Science of Rapport-Based Interviewing for Law Enforcement, Security, and Military offers comprehensive treatment of ORBIT's unique perspective on human rapport and the role it plays in the interrogation of difficult subjects, including suspects, detainees, and high value targets. Alison and colleagues provide an overview of ORBIT, which was developed from analysis of nearly 2000 hours of recorded interrogations. They go on to define rapport, explaining how and why it works by reference to this corpus of data--by far the largest of its kind in the world. ORBIT reveals what this data shows: that rapport-based methods work, and that coercion, persuasion, and threats do not. Outlining the development of their own unique stance on rapport and its influences, the authors demonstrate, through real-life examples and careful analysis, why harsh methods must be rejected and why compassion and understanding work.

ORBIT (Observing Rapport Based Interpersonal Techniques) is an approach to interviewing high-value detainees, encompassing not only analysis and research into the methodology, but also a framework for training. ORBIT: The Science of Rapport-Based Interviewing for Law Enforcement, Security, and Military offers comprehensive treatment of ORBIT''s unique perspective on human rapport and the role it plays in the interrogation of difficult subjects, including suspects, detainees, and high value targets. Alison and colleagues provide an overview of ORBIT, which was developed from analysis of nearly 2000 hours of recorded interrogations. They go on to define rapport, explaining how and why it works by reference to this corpus of data--by far the largest of its kind in the world. ORBIT reveals what this data shows: that rapport-based methods work, and that coercion, persuasion, and threats do not. Outlining the development of their own unique stance on rapport and its influences, the authors demonstrate, through real-life examples and careful analysis, why harsh methods must be rejected and why compassion and understanding work.

ORBIT (Observing Rapport Based Interpersonal Techniques) is an approach to interviewing high-value detainees, encompassing not only analysis and research into the methodology, but also a framework for training. ORBIT: The Science of Rapport-Based Interviewing for Law Enforcement, Security, and Military offers comprehensive treatment of ORBIT''s unique perspective on human rapport and the role it plays in the interrogation of difficult subjects, including suspects, detainees, and high value targets. Alison and colleagues provide an overview of ORBIT, which was developed from analysis of nearly 2000 hours of recorded interrogations. They go on to define rapport, explaining how and why it works by reference to this corpus of data--by far the largest of its kind in the world. ORBIT reveals what this data shows: that rapport-based methods work, and that coercion, persuasion, and threats do not. Outlining the development of their own unique stance on rapport and its influences, the authors demonstrate, through real-life examples and careful analysis, why harsh methods must be rejected and why compassion and understanding work.

What is terrorism? Can anyone be radicalized? How can we respond to terrorist acts? The Psychology of Terrorism seeks to explain why some acts of violence are considered terrorism and others are not, and why some individuals may be more susceptible to engaging in radical terrorist behavior. Debunking myths and lazy stereotypes, the book delves into some of the most shocking atrocities of our times to discuss the complex and varied psychological characteristics of individual terrorists, organized groups, and their acts. Whilw there is no simple solution, The Psychology of Terrorism shows us that a growing reverse radicalization movement and modern interventionist techniques can give us hope for the future.

What is terrorism? Can anyone be radicalized? How can we respond to terrorist acts? The Psychology of Terrorism seeks to explain why some acts of violence are considered terrorism and others are not, and why some individuals may be more susceptible to engaging in radical terrorist behavior. Debunking myths and lazy stereotypes, the book delves into some of the most shocking atrocities of our times to discuss the complex and varied psychological characteristics of individual terrorists, organized groups, and their acts. Whilw there is no simple solution, The Psychology of Terrorism shows us that a growing reverse radicalization movement and modern interventionist techniques can give us hope for the future.

A field guide to the next decade of forensic psychology—40 innovative ideas that will influence investigations, courts, and correctional decision-making In Big Ideas in Forensic Psychology: 40 Innovations that will Define the Future of the Field, Professors Neil Shortland (Director, Centre for Terrorism and Security Studies, UMass Lowell) and Laurence Alison MBE (Director, CAMI Research, University of Liverpool) curate an insightful and provocative look at what’s coming next in policing, corrections, and criminal law decision-making. Drawing on contributors who span policing, courts, corrections, intelligence, and security, the book tackles the hard problems practitioners face – false confessions, biased decision rules, digital crime, AI-enabled workflows – and shows how to address them with defensible, research-anchored methods. Organized as a fast, “annual question”–style collection, each chapter answers: What big idea will change the field in the next ten years? The result is a panoramic and rigorous map of near-term shifts: science-based interviewing beyond confession seeking, rights-consistent detention and oversight, digital-trace analytics for threat assessment, simulation-driven training, and the governance of frontier AI. As the launch title in the refreshed Wiley Series in the Psychology of Crime, Policing and Law, it situates these ideas within the series’ broad focus – from courtroom psychology to extreme-team decision support – giving readers both immediate takeaways and a durable research agenda for practice. A deliberately cross-sector view – chapters from senior detectives, trial consultants, clinical evaluators, intelligence specialists, and methodologists – distills what will actually change interviews, hearings, and field operations on Monday morning This resource offers: Concrete, testable advances: SUE-informed questioning, verbal baselining 2.0, rapport-based interrogation, and live-time intelligence provenance—each framed with constraints, failure modes, and implementation stepsTechnology with guardrails: practical blueprints for using AI in investigations, risk triage, and simulation training—paired with governance principles to avoid rights violations and model-drift harmsLaw and policy integration: chapters on virtual courts, prosecutorial communication with CSA survivors, plea validity, and judicial decision-making research pipelines—bridging bench, bar, and behavioral scienceThreat and prevention, not just post-incident response: leakage analysis, grievance-fueled violence models, and environmental harm-reduction strategies grounded in transparent data practicesPerfect for investigative leaders, interview trainers, forensic clinicians, courtroom psychologists, threat assessment teams, and methodologists responsible for evidence standards, Big Ideas in Forensic Psychology will also benefit policy makers, prosecutors/defense, judicial researchers, and graduate programs aligning curricula to real-world constraints. The compresses state-of-the-art, field-tested ideas into actionable, defensible guidance that anticipates the technology and governance pressures already reshaping practice in the real world.

Should I change careers? Is it time to end my relationship? Can I move halfway across the world?We have to make choices everyday, big and small, but it's the life-changing ones that often cause us to freeze or react too quickly, without thinking. What can we do differently?Laurence Alison and Neil Shortland have spent over 20 years helping soldiers, police officers, doctors and other professionals in high-stakes environments make tough decisions when lives are on the line. In Decision Time, they show us how those same decision-making techniques apply to everyday life, whether that's deciding to take a new job or change career later in life, end a relationship, move across the world or declaring your undying love for your best friend.With tips, studies, interviews and observations from their training with police officers together with role-play scenarios for you to try, this book will help you identify and fight off the common enemies of good decision-making - inertia, procrastination and indecision - and empower you to make the choices that matter the most.Highly accessible and interactive, Decision Time will guide you through each step of the decision-making process so next time you a find yourself at the crossroads, you'll be able to make your way with confidence.