Why are polygraphs not admissible in court? There are various reasons that point out to the inadmissibility of polygraph tests in court. Many argue that the lie detector machine does not have the ability to deduce whether a person is telling the truth or not. It is more concerned with the physiological responses of an individual with regard to the questioning.
Intelligence Surveillance
Though not acceptable in courts, lie detector tests play a vital role when it comes to intelligence surveillance. Many private investigation firms solely rely on the system to gather important information concerning a particular crime. Given that a polygraph is mainly used to establish whether a subject is experiencing changes in physiological activities such as enhanced heart rate or blood pressure when subjected to the test, it is easier for a private investigator to analyse the results and come up with a sound verdict concerning the subject’s involvement in any kind of treachery.
Employee Interviews
When there appears to be some negative reactions in a person, it is presumed that the person is not being realistic. Although many courts tend to question the authenticity of the lie detector results, many organizations and businesses have largely embraced the use of polygraphs during employee interviews. They argue in a verse that by so doing they have been able to avert a number of issues especially in cases where they are able to eliminate candidates they think would have had a negative impact on their businesses due to their past criminal records.
Recruitment
The police and military departments also use this system during recruitment. In this case, if you intend to join the forces, it is important to be aware of how a lie detector works so as to be able to prepare well in advance to avoid losing your only opportunity for employment.
Does A Polygraph Test Hold Up In Court?
Well, considering that we are a firm that has been operating with lie detectors for a long time, we understand a few things that lead to the lie detector test results inadmissible in many courts around the world. Despite the fact that a person may be innocent, he or she may feel intimidated thereby affecting the results on the polygraph system. This is a serious issue as it could result into a false positive (the innocent being incriminated) or false negative leading to a criminal being acquitted.
There are reported incidences whereby lie detector test examiners especially those attached to law enforcement agencies are trained in order to provoke positive reactions. To counter this, many people have devised ways to avoid being detected by a lie detector. These techniques include feigning coldness, having one’s posterior muscles squeezed etc. By doing so, the polygraph is bound to indicate a heightened level of bodily reaction even when one is telling the truth and therefore making it hard to notice changes when the individual is cheating.
Unearthing A Criminal Act
We understand the challenges polygraphs face especially in the criminal justice systems. The fact that they are not scientifically-oriented, many government agencies are yet to embrace their use. But from our point of view, polygraph tests can be of great help when it comes to unearthing a criminal act within a community or business. The fact that they are not at par with court requirements, doesn’t mean they aren’t useful.