Would you take a lie detector test if accused of murder?

[OddBeMe]

You’re innocent. But if you refuse the cops’ll think you’re hiding something. If you fail, they’ll obviously think you’re being deceptive, growing their suspicions.

BUT…. Even the inventor doubts its authenticity. And its results aren’t allowed in court. It’s pseudo science that cops still use.

But do you take the test just to hope you get off the cop’s radar?

I’d take it and hope to pass

I’d decline to take it

Other

[Mr_twoface]

No, I would utter the word LAWYER, the minute they bring me in for question, whether or not they are accusing me of anything. Surely, I would do anything to prove my innocence, however, I will let the lawyer decide whether or not I should take the lie detector test.

[OddBeMe]

Well as a Batman villain, Twoface I’d imagine… :)

[Mr_twoface]

Indeed :P

[RavVid]

Unlikely I would. If I am accused I sort of react defensively so I would probably seem guilty. I assume a not guilty person is assumed to be calm and not defensive.

[AngryCarl]

UK here. The cops don't actually care who's guilty, they just want to hang the crime on someone to get a conviction. Maybe where you are it's different.

[RavVid]

@AngryCarl Aus. Not so sure about that. A girl who was raped told me that the brother of the guy who raped her substituted for him court. The police said well we've got him so we'll just go with him.

[AngryCarl]

@RavVid Dude went to jail for his brother? A selfless act but perverting the course of justice for sure so he should be in jail either way.

[OddBeMe]

I really hope you both are just blustering. Courts in civilized countries care which brother did the damn crime. Lol :)

[RavVid]

@AngryCarl He didn't because the girl said in court they had the wrong guy.

[RavVid]

No. Courts should care and police too but there is evidence that police can care more about getting "results" and do fit people up.

When a girl shares her 'my rape' story, I am pretty hesitant lest I provoke a big emotional response. So I didn't ask a lot of questions and don't know how the brother got into the dock. I presume it was a 'first mention' hearing in which the criminal process is kicked off.

How the wrong brother got into the dock was obviously incompetent but the crux is the police (prosecutor?) wanted to proceed after the victim said he ain't the guy. Why the brother got into the dock instead of dobbing the brother is interesting. Maybe he had a cast iron alibai.

But that is still not the key point of the police knowingly wanting to prosecute the wrong man.

Locally there was a recent scandal with the convictions of major crime figures. Turned out their lawyer was a police informant. She was sexually involved with them but started to get worried at the company she was keeping so she thought it best if they went to jail for a good long time.

There has been a Royal Commission as a result. You find stuff if you google Lawyer X.

[AngryCarl]

@OddBeMe The courts do care. It's only the courts that keep the cops relatively honest.

[IslaTheWitch]

I can't really lie... you don't need this thing to tell...

The police believe it more than the court. Unfortunately a lot depends on what triggers body response. And it could be both... the truth and the lie... so AFAIK, it can't be the only proof for convicting...

[KrakenAttackin]

@islathewitch. The polygraph helps investigators focus their efforts, it's not admissable in U. S. courts.

[OddBeMe]

@KrakenAttackin I hope the cops know it’s not any better than flipping a coin. I hope they use it as just a ploy on a suspect (like Chris Watts) just to make him confess.

[electromagnetic]

Nope cause if I’ve been accused, I probably did it. We’d be wasting time playing heart beatboxing.

[OddBeMe]

Damn. What would be the crime they’d get you for?

[OddBeMe]

Mine would be matricide.

[electromagnetic]

I had to google this one. Really? I’m sorry.

I don’t think I could ever commit a crime enough to send me to jail. I’m extremely selfish about the freedom I have.

[electromagnetic]

Maybe being accused of a crime I didn’t do but wrong place wrong time.

[electromagnetic]

Cause I can guarantee if it’s a crime if really being accused of, someone definitely pushed me over the edge enough for me to say, I’m going to jail but you’re going to meet your maker.

[OddBeMe]

I can’t even kill bugs. Lol

[electromagnetic]

Not even a roach?

[OddBeMe]

Nah, i toss it under the deck for the geckos. Theyre a foot long. Good boys.

[NaultD]

No ultimately the "lie detector test" is a good stress detector test.

Guess what being accused of a crime then strapped to a bunch of wires. Then ask asked leading questions makes people stressed. Go fucking figure.

[OddBeMe]

Very true. Lol

[Soteris]

No. Lie detector tests does not work and all I am doing is providing a possibility of being wrongfully convicted for no good reason. I dont care if the cops think I am hiding something when the alternative is giving them "proof" that I am.

[Anonymous]

I have heard lie detectors aren’t really accurate

[OddBeMe]

It’s a catch 22 with cops. Take it to try to get off their radar, or say no and get asked why. Then even if you are innocent the damn thing could say you’re lying when you’re just a freakin manic depressive like myself!

(Breathing heavily)

[jshm2]

There is no such thing as a "lie detector test".

It is largely a ruse used to "smoke" potentials into confessing.

[Sevenpointfive]

it won't help you but it won't convict you either. it's false evidence. passing a lie detector test never let anyone go

[slatyb]

In the United States, the result of a polygraph test is not admissible evidence.

[exitseven]

I would refuse it. They can be rigged and cannot be used as evidence so it is far from accurate

[NathanDavis]

sure... I'm a bad liar

[OddBeMe]

Don’t think that matters with lie detectors. Because they don’t detect lies.

[NathanDavis]

well it does... because those things do not detect lies

just patterns in stress

[OddBeMe]

Which don’t comport to lying with any certainty.

[NathanDavis]

doesn't matter... cops can't send me to prison

[Juxtapose]

No, I'm not giving them a single bit of cooperation that I am not legally obligated to give them.

[KrakenAttackin]

@Juxtapose. This is the best answer.

[Juxtapose]

@KrakenAttackin and one that I suspect a lot of lawyers would give.

[KrakenAttackin]

I was a polygraph examiner when I was a cop and still have my old polygraph set. For a single issue like "murder", the polygraph works very well.

[AngryCarl]

No, those things aren't reliable. That's why they're not admissable in court. I'd take a DNA test.

[DrPepper12]

NEVER take one. It's a lose lose situation

[OddBeMe]

That’s what I think. Lesser loss asking for attorney. Cops literally can lie to you.

[bolverk]

I'd take the test, but it would not make much difference as I know how to skew the readings.

[msc545]

No downside in taking it realli since the results are not admissable in court.

[KrakenAttackin]

@msc545. I would warn you, that as a former polygraph examiner, a good examination is a kin to a mental raping.

[msc545]

@KrakenAttackin Good to know. But - is it much different than a good interrogation sans the technology?

[KrakenAttackin]

@msc545. The tech adds a serious level of stress (it's designed to to do so). The test starts at an in-depth interview about the relevant and peripheral issues. We run a series of charts to determine if the subject is cancelling anything. If there is some indication of deception or omission, we go back to interviewing with a bit more pressure. After we have more information we return to testing. If the new admissions have lowered the subjects anxiety, we continue running charts and score the series of tests. If there is still deception, we keep stopping and praying for admissions.

If there is a particular area where the subject has difficulty, we do a "breakout" test which focuses on the problematic issue. If there is still deception indicated, we shift to a more interrogation mode.

[KrakenAttackin]

Interestingly, the more serious the event (i. e. murder), the smaller the elevation of stress level is noted. Our bodies will only allow so much stimulation before returning to homeostasis. If you are a suspect for murder your overall stress level is already very high, which means a smaller window to peak stress.

[msc545]

@KrakenAttackin What does peak stress look like from the examiner's point of view?

[msc545]

@KrakenAttackin Very interesting! How does the tech add stress specifically?

[KrakenAttackin]

Peak stress will be a max of blood pressure mostly (if I recall), with respiration, and galvanic skin response peaking as well. The examiner does a series of calibrations before the exam starts to get a baseline on the examinee, than the examinee adjusts the sensitivity on each channel.

The tech adds stress by simply being present. A modern polygraph is a very sophisticated instrument and it measures even very slight changes in the body. When you walk into a room when taking a polygraph, you quickly realize this is much more than just being "asked a few questions". I never had anyone be anything but humble and contrite after entering the exam room.

[shortster]

I would take it even if I was guilty. Lie detectors are nervousness detectors.

[Kelly6]

nope, never

[Anonymous]

Discuss with lawyer.