Polygraph Unreliability Underscored in Oregon Murder Case

In an article entitled, “Key witness now prime suspect,” staff writer Michelle Roberts of The Oregonian reports that Mr. Humberto Castro Soler, who testified that he watched Mr. James Bryant shoot a Salem woman and her boyfriend over a 1999 drug deal gone bad, is now the prime suspect in those murders. Mr. Soler had … Read more

Shawnee County, KS Approves Funds for Polygraph

In an article entitled, “Sheriff’s department to get polygraph equipment,” Alicia Henrikson of the Topeka Capital-Journal writes: County commissioners approved the purchase of a polygraph instrument and polygraph training for a sheriff’s deputy on Thursday in a 3-0 vote at the county commission meeting. The cost for the instrument, training and a laptop computer is … Read more

Shawnee County, Kansas Sheriff’s Office Asks for Polygraph

In an article entitled, “Sheriff’s office asks county for polygraph,” Alicia Henrikson of the Topeka Capital-Journal writes: The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Department has never had anyone trained to operate a polygraph instrument. The department has never had such a need because it doesn’t have a polygraph. That may be about to change. The sheriff’s department … Read more

Mention of “Polygraph” Prompts Mistrial

Patrick E. Gauen of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes on the case of Rodney Woidtke, who was being retried for murder in Bellevue, Illinois: Polygraph, or lie-detector, tests are not admissible in Illinois courts, and case law suggests that mere mention of the word can be considered poison to a jury’s fairness.

“Domenici Wants Review Committee to Weigh Polygraph Benefits to DOE Lab Security”

In a press release occasioned by the commencement of the National Academy of Sciences’ polygraph review, Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM) expresses his concerns about the Department of Energy’s use of polygraphs: “I hope the work of this committee, backed by the NAS, will give us an objective analysis of polygraphs, and help determine the necessity … Read more

Birmingham, Alabama Police Captain Suspended for Refusing Polygraph

In an article entitled “Captain Suspended Over Missing Computers,” Carol Robinson of the Birmingham News writes: A Birmingham police captain has been suspended for nearly nine weeks for refusing to take a lie detector test in connection with missing departmental computers. Capt. Ellison Beggs, the highest-ranking officer suspended in recent memory, will be off without … Read more

“National Academy Begins Polygraph Study”

Steven Aftergood reports in today’s edition of the electronic newsletter Secrecy News: NATIONAL ACADEMY BEGINS POLYGRAPH STUDY The National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences is undertaking a new review of the validity and reliability of the polygraph, or “lie detector.” The 18 month review, which was proposed by Sen. Jeff Bingaman and … Read more