Lie Detector Tests

While a polygraph test or lie detector test can be a very useful resource in an investigation, the results are not always admissible in court. Some courts allow lie detector evidence only in certain kinds of proceedings or sometimes only when both parties agreed to its admissibility. Other jurisdictions do not allow lie detector evidence to be entered at all. The test is designed to measure a person’s physiological response to certain questions. Certain kinds of responses indicate someone is answering truthfully, and other kinds of responses indicate the person is lying. As such, even if the test is inadmissible in court, many attorneys and law enforcement officers continue to use the technology when questioning witnesses and suspects in an effort to assist with their investigation. If law enforcement administers a polygraph test to a suspect, then they need to issue the Miranda warning prior to conducting the test. If you have any questions about the use or admissibility of lie detector tests, contact an attorney in your area today.