The word Polygraph goes all the way back to Jefferson, even though during his era it was used for different reasons. So, what does polygraph mean today? Polygraph testing has an important role and benefits many people when your examiner is an expert.

According to an article at policelink.monster.com, “Polygraph Testing”

“The polygraph, or “lie detector” is an instrument that measures and records physiological responses like breathing rate, pulse, blood pressure and perspiration. The underlying theory of the polygraph is that when people lie they get measurably nervous about lying. Its name stems from “poly” for the multiple sensors used and “graph” for a single strip of moving paper that records information, although most polygraph examiners now use computer images instead of analog instrumentation. A polygraph examiner is generally a highly trained interrogator as well as the technical operator of the devise and will use their experience in addition to the machine to detect your truthfulness.

One of the most intimidating parts of the polygraph exam is being attached to the sensors that will collect physiological data from at least three systems in the human body. After being attached to four to six sensors, your polygraph exam will likely start with a pre-test interview to gain some preliminary information which will later be used for control questions; this is called the “Control Question Test,” or CQT. Often, the examiner may ask you to deliberately lie several times to test your responses; this is a “Directed Lie Test,” the DLT. They may also ask “probable-lie” questions, such as “have you ever stolen anything?” (even the most honest person has “stolen” a pen from work or a candy bar from their little sister or some other “theft” that concerns them enough to show a stress response when answering).”

Need an expert polygraph examiner? Dr. Rovner is recognized throughout the judicial system; contact Dr. Rovner of polygraph-west.com for more information.

Do you need to take a polygraph test? Need to understand if your polygraph test  result could be admitted into court? Read below for more information.

According to an article at legalmatch.com, “Admissibility of Polygraph Tests”

“A polygraph, or “lie-detector,” is a machine that measures various physical attributes (blood pressure, perspiration, heart rate, etc…) and attempts to correlate them with telling lies.  In past times they were often used by police and government agents to interrogate suspected criminals, but as they have been proven to be extremely unreliable indicators of lying, their use has lessened in recent years (usually because of court rules prohibiting their use).

If I am Arrested For a Crime, Can I be Forced to Take a Polygraph?

No!  In no state can anyone be forced by the police or anyone else to take a polygraph examination.  However, many people are not aware of this, and police can often apply plenty of psychological pressure on a suspect to the effect that not taking the test is an automatic admission of guilt.   Moreover, refusing to take a test may often convince police that you are guilty, at which point you may be harassed and searched until some kind of evidence is found.  But even if one agrees to take a polygraph test and passes it, if the police consider you a suspect, they may believe you “beat the test” rather than told the truth, making it somewhat of a lose-lose situation.

What are the State Laws Concerning Polygraph Admissibility?

Almost every state fits into one of two categories; those that find them completely inadmissible and those that allow their admission with “the stipulations of both parties” (meaning both you and the prosecutor agree to admit the test results as evidence).

States like California, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, and Florida allow the tests if everyone agrees to them, but may put different emphasis on the tests accuracy.

• California, for instance, presents the results to the jury, and allows them to draw whatever inferences from it they wish.
• Georgia, on the other hand, allows defendants who suffer damage because of a false result on a polygraph test (which are somewhat frequent) to sue the polygraph operator for damages and attorneys fees.
• Florida is the one state that does require some people to submit to polygraph tests (previously convicted sex offenders), but even then those test results cannot be used against them in court, and are for use only within the course of their therapy.

The states in which polygraphs are inadmissible include New York, Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia.  In these states, even if both parties wish to enter polygraph test results into evidence, it is forbidden (except in very rare scenarios).

• Some states, like New York and Texas, forbid their use completely in all employment and law enforcement contexts.
• Other states, like Massachusetts, do not allow them to be entered as evidence, but CAN use them as supporting probable cause (to obtain search warrants).

Federal courts have their own rules on when to allow the admission of polygraph evidence (it is usually at the judge’s discretion).”

Dr. Rovner is well recognized in the courts as a leading polygraph examiner. Need an expert polygraph examiner for your client? Click here to contact Dr. Rovner of polygraph-west.com for more information on how we can help your client.