How NITV's Defense Barrier Removal System Builds ...

His arms are folded over his chest; his legs are crossed. You, on the other hand, are sitting back, hands interlaced at the back of your head, legs in that position some women call &#;manspreading.&#; The suspect is being defensive, and you are showing you are in control. But are you? You can&#;t break down their walls with a show of power, and the suspect already knows he is under the spotlight. Instead, if you approach the suspect with openness and friendliness, you will come out of the interview with more information than when you went in.

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Police officers who are trained in using the  Computer Voice Stress Analyzer (CVSA®) use an interview technique called the Defense Barrier Removal,® which is designed to reduce stress and make suspects feel comfortable with the process of the interview and truth verification examination. DBR is a methodology that focuses on building rapport by creating a non-threatening environment and focusing on gradually gathering information&#;a highly effective method of getting a suspect to tell the truth.

Creating a Bond Between Unlikely Participants

Glynn County (Brunswick, Georgia) Police Detective Jay Wiggins found himself face-to-face with a suspect who had been brought in after a domestic call where shots were fired. The man was found grieving for his wife, who appeared to have shot herself in the head. Even so, Wiggins conducted a CVSA examination on the husband at the request of investigating detectives.

Wiggins, as a CVSA Examiner understood the principles of DBR and the value of putting his suspect at ease. For example, while the CVSA Examiner is dressed professionally, he would not be in uniform or display his gun, handcuffs, or other intimidating police equipment that may distress individuals. Even the decision about what to wear is important, as psychologists who study color and its effect on emotions point out that colors such as medium to dark shades of blue or gray are more likely to instill trust in a person. The actual interview focuses on non-accusatory questions leading up to the truth verification examination. 

Wiggin&#;s suspect failed the CVSA examination and asked to retake it&#;and then failed again. Although Wiggins trusted his own interview skills and the technology, he still needed a confession. The man was sticking to his story, which, if true, meant he should have been with family being consoled over the death of his depressed wife. No one wants to see someone suffer needlessly, so it was imperative that Wiggins clear this up quickly.

Using DBR to Resolve a Case

The Reid Technique, a style of interviewing that was formulated to work with the polygraph, is the most popular interviewing approach, even for officers who aren&#;t conducting polygraph examinations. However, this more adversarial approach is not an effective method of getting a person to open up and has led to false confessions because of its lengthy, stressful interrogations. The CVSA Examination, in contrast, is quicker and less invasive, using only a microphone to capture the human voice.

When someone is approached in an aggressive manner, that is when their walls go up. Suspects may try to manipulate the situation with mimicry of your body language or verbal communication style. They may laugh out of nervousness or as a tool to manipulate you, but inside, they&#;re just afraid they are going to be convicted.

Making an individual feel comfortable is the best route to obtaining truthful information. Working towards that goal includes everything from providing a comfortable setting for the interview to managing how that person perceives your body language. According to the principles of DBR, Wiggins would have opened the conversation in a casual tone, perhaps talking about the weather or sports. He would move into the interview phase in a friendly manner, indicating that perhaps this had all been a mistake or an accident. All the while, Wiggins would be analyzing the behavior of the suspect. Guilty individuals show more inconsistencies in their statements and more interruptions in their speech patterns, while innocent suspects are more confident in their answers.

After Wiggins showed the suspect the CVSA charts, the man finally confessed to shooting his wife. Although only a short period of time had passed, Wiggins had managed to build a connection and get his suspect to open up. Wiggins convinced him that making a confession was in his best interest when he had already lied not just once, but many times&#;to the other police and on two CVSA exams.

The suspect felt comfortable enough to confess, despite knowing he was probably going away for a long time. He&#;s not about to send Wiggins a &#;thank you&#; card, but the family of the dead woman is grateful that justice was observed. This kind of resolution is the ultimate goal of the police interview. Taking the DBR route to the truth is not only more expedient, but it allows the investigator to leave the interview room knowing they got information not with coercion but through analytical, strategic thinking.

Please reach out to us at NITV Federal Services to learn more about our CVSA systems and training programs.

Whether defending, restoring, or strengthening, in skincare there&#;s a lot of talk about the skin&#;s moisture barrier. Sometimes known as the skin's protective barrier too, aside from its name being pretty self-explanatory, it&#;s not always that clear however why we need to pay so much attention to the moisture barrier. For example, how does it get damaged, what are the signs of damage, and why is protecting the skin barrier so important?

To answer all these questions and more, here&#;s everything you need to know about the skin&#;s moisture barrier.

What is your moisture barrier?

There are various layers to the skin, each serving a different purpose. Your moisture barrier, also known as your acid mantle or stratum corneum, provides critical protection for your skin. This layer acts as the first line of defense, keeping good things in and bad things out. Those bad things it keeps out include environmental stressors, bacteria, pollutants, and other irritants.

And the good things? That mainly includes hydration or moisture.

Here's a not so fun fact, it's estimated that more than 75% of the population suffers from dehydration. And, you guessed it, that means your skin's moisture barrier is damaged. The good news is, you can restore it and at the same time, improve your skin's hydration levels and get rid of that tight, dry feeling.

How to tell if your moisture barrier is compromised

When your moisture barrier is healthy, epidermal cells are packed tightly to prevent water loss. This is similar to the way mortar fills in the gaps between bricks. It&#;s much more difficult for anything to enter or exit the skin when there's a solid line of defense blocking the road. The more it&#;s compromised, the more room there is in between your skin cells for moisture to escape and bacteria to enter. If your skin feels tight, itchy, or abnormally sensitive, your moisture barrier is likely damaged. A sure sign of a damaged acid mantle is when even your normal products cause sensitivity or reactions.

You may also have heard of a term known as inflammaging&#;inflammatory aging. Two of our least favorite things, this chronic inflammation is when the skin's barrier is damaged, becoming vulnerable to infection from microorganisms, pollution, toxins, UVA/UVB rays, increased cortisol levels, and more. Basically, your skin is working harder to defend against stressors. And, over time, inflammation leads to sensitivity, irritation, redness, rosacea, acne, and rapid aging - fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin texture.

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How to prevent moisture barrier damage

Nothing disrupts your stratum corneum quite like over-exfoliation. We always recommend exfoliation as part of every skincare ritual, but it needs to be kept within a reasonable amount. Chemical and physical exfoliation can be incredibly effective, as are monthly peels too, but should be used within the recommended frequency.

Everyone's skin is different, however, so make sure to listen to your skin and avoid exfoliation if you&#;re feeling extra sensitive. Reduce it for a while and see how that goes.

Another factor in damaged moisture barriers is winter or prolonged cold weather. Increase your moisturizer when the temps drop to help avoid dehydrated, dry skin. We promise, your skin will thank you.

How to repair your moisture barrier

If you notice that your skin is starting to show signs of a damaged moisture barrier, don't stress, just try these easy steps.

Stop exfoliating (chemical and physical) and focus on repairing your skin.

Switch to gentle products that use emollients to not only strengthen the skin but also hydrate and seal in moisture. Some of our favorite picks include:

Bio-Renew EGF Drops: The vegan epidermal growth factor (EGF) and bio-active peptides in this anti-aging serum gets to work restoring and repairing skin's barrier, ready for the hyaluronic acid to rehydrate and strengthen skin. 

Bio-Renew EGF Cream: Supporting our best-selling EGF serum, this award-winning EGF moisturizer is clinically proven to brighten, hydrate, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. EGF is an effective barrier repair ingredient, and when paired with phyto-retinol and peptides it makes this a super restorative moisturizer for daily or post-procedure use.

HA-Revive Hyaluronic Drops: Next-level hyaluronic acid-powered hydrating serum, boosts moisture levels, while plumping and strengthening for refreshed, radiant skin.

HA-Revive Hyaluronic Mist: Created to deeply hydrate and help prevent water loss by reinforcing skin&#;s protective barrier. Use it to rehydrate throughout the day or to prep skin for serum and moisturizer.

Vita E Essential Cream: A true medium-weight moisturizer that helps strengthen damaged skin, while also calming irritation and redness.

Restorative Mask: A nutrient-rich mask that helps restore skin&#;s strength and elasticity with the use of antioxidants and other conditioning ingredients. 

Be patient. Repairing your moisture barrier takes time. Remember you&#;re in a marathon, not a sprint, and the more gentle you are with your skin the faster you&#;ll see results.

Unsure whether you have dry or dehydrated skin? Find out more about both with our guide.

Want more information on Defensive Barrier? Feel free to contact us.