Lie detector tests (or polygraph tests) are often used as evidence to arrest people. While you may be under no legal obligation to take one if police ask, it is still important not to agree to it.
The truth is that these tests are useless and should never be used in court. Here are a few reasons why.
They’re a waste of time
There’s no doubt that the police use lie detector tests all the time – and they aren’t just used in crime cases. They’re also used to clear people for certain types of jobs, and they’ve been the deciding factor in many plea bargains.
Known as polygraphs, these machines measure physiological responses to questions asked by a police examiner. They can include the person’s heart rate, blood pressure, and skin conductivity to determine whether they are lying.
The problem is that these machines are not fool proof, and they’re not admissible in court. In fact, the Supreme Court of North Dakota ruled in 1950 that results from polygraphs are not valid evidence in a criminal case.
Nevertheless, the police still use them because they work as a deterrent against sex offenders, domestic abusers, and terrorists. That’s because those subjects know that they will be subjected to a polygraph test if they commit a crime. The implication is that they will be arrested and go to jail.For more info, do visit this website UK Polygraph Association.
They’re a waste of money
Lie detectors, also known as polygraph machines, don’t actually detect lies. They do measure changes in a person’s breathing, pulse and sweating that can occur when they are nervous or stressed. But the correlations are not high enough to convict someone. A liar’s heart rate will rise, but so will the rate of people who aren’t lying. A person can also train themselves to pass a polygraph test by controlling their own physiology.
Moreover, even if the machine is able to detect stress caused by lying it can’t tell when a person is telling the truth. The best way to know if someone is telling the truth is to ask them, which is why good cops don’t use lie detector tests. They are a waste of time and money.
They’re a waste of resources
Despite the hype from the media, there is no evidence that so-called “lie detectors” work. The machines are designed to measure certain physical reactions, such as sweating and breathing, when asked questions that may or not be lies. The test administrator analyzes these reactions and determines whether a person is lying.
Unfortunately, there are many ways to skew the results of a polygraph test. For example, some people use yogic or biofeedback techniques to calibrate their emotions, and others use drugs, both legal and illegal, to manipulate the machine’s readings. In addition, some medical conditions, such as epilepsy and nerve damage (including essential tremor), make the tests more difficult to perform.
When a police officer asks you to take a lie detector test, you should immediately refuse. They will likely attempt to interrogate you or threaten you in order to get you to confess or admit something. This is a form of coercion and can be used against anyone, including innocent people.
They’re a waste of human resources
Police use lie detector tests to try to get confessions from suspects. They may do this at the beginning of an investigation or to weed out people who have already confessed to other crimes. They also might ask a suspect to take a test to increase the chances of getting a lenient sentence.
The truth is that they don’t really work. In fact, there are 2 documented cases of innocent americans being sent to prison due to a flawed polygraph test.
Despite the name, polygraphs do not detect lies. They only detect stress levels, and a calm person can easily beat one. They’re basically high-tech witch doctors. In addition, a clever operator can make the subject feel stressed when they shouldn’t. This is just another reason why they’re not accurate. They should only be used in extremely limited circumstances. Otherwise, they’re a waste of time and money. The best way to tell if someone is lying is to observe their behavior and body language.