Voluntary Polygraph Testing

<bgsound src='lawbit-polygraph.mp3' loop=1 controls='smallconsole'>

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT

This is Robert Scirocco bringing you today's Law Bit.

Polygraph or lie detector tests measure respiration, pulse rate and blood pressure to determine whether an individual is responding truthfully to questions posed. What if the defendant who is confident of his innocence offers to take a polygraph test to establish that he did not commit the crime charged? Can he do so? In most cases the answer is no. Unless the prosecution agrees to such a test being taken and the results being used, the defendant will not be able to introduce the results at time of trial. The reasoning goes something like this: Like hypnosis, the reliability of these tests is still uncertain, and thus better let a jury rather than a machine determine whether the guy on trial is telling the truth.

This is Robert Scirocco, Attorney at Law, Budd Lake, New Jersey, bringing you today's Law Bit.

END TRANSCRIPT