Normal Topic VA: Polygraph Inadmissible in Probation Hearing (Read 12040 times)
Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box George W. Maschke
Global Moderator
*****
Offline


Make-believe science yields
make-believe security.

Posts: 6230
Joined: Sep 29th, 2000
VA: Polygraph Inadmissible in Probation Hearing
Jul 31st, 2003 at 3:03pm
Mark & QuoteQuote Print Post  
From the SW Virginia law blog (29 July 2003):

Polygraph evidence inadmissible in probation hearing

In White v. Com., the Virginia Court of Appeals in an opinion by Judge Benton joined by Judge Clements and Senior Judge Hodges held that evidence that a probationer failed a polygraph test is inadmissible in a hearing on probation revocation, and the trial court's consideration of such evidence was apparently not harmless error, even though the probationer was a sex offender and the trial court had resolved not "to gamble with with this man and young children."
  

George W. Maschke
I am generally available in the chat room from 3 AM to 3 PM Eastern time.
Tel/SMS: 1-202-810-2105 (Please use Signal Private Messenger or WhatsApp to text or call.)
E-mail/iMessage/FaceTime: antipolygraph.org@protonmail.com
Wire: @ap_org
Threema: A4PYDD5S
Personal Statement: "Too Hot of a Potato"
Back to top
IP Logged
 
Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box orolan
Especially Senior User
*****
Offline



Posts: 363
Joined: Dec 25th, 2002
Re: VA: Polygraph Inadmissible in Probation Hearin
Reply #1 - Jul 31st, 2003 at 4:58pm
Mark & QuoteQuote Print Post  
Love this sentence from the opinion. Pretty much says it all Smiley
Quote:
In a long line of cases, spanning almost thirty years, [the Supreme Court has] made clear that polygraph examinations are so thoroughly unreliable as to be of no proper evidentiary use whether they favor the accused, implicate the accused, or are agreed to by both parties. 
  

"Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done." &&U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis
Back to top
WWW  
IP Logged
 
Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box suethem
Very Senior User
****
Offline



Posts: 196
Joined: Apr 29th, 2003
Re: VA: Polygraph Inadmissible in Probation Hearin
Reply #2 - Aug 1st, 2003 at 5:28am
Mark & QuoteQuote Print Post  
I wonder what the ramifications will be?

Seems like without a confession the polygraph will have little meaning in VA probation cases. 

I am guessing that confessions in VA probation cases will sharply drop off.

Does anyone know what the law in VA is regarding the admissability of the polygraph in criminal trials?

What does the pro-poly side think?

  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box orolan
Especially Senior User
*****
Offline



Posts: 363
Joined: Dec 25th, 2002
Re: VA: Polygraph Inadmissible in Probation Hearin
Reply #3 - Aug 1st, 2003 at 5:45am
Mark & QuoteQuote Print Post  
Suethem,
Virginia does not allow polygraph evidence in criminal trials, but the exclusion is by court precedent, not statute.
  

"Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done." &&U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis
Back to top
WWW  
IP Logged
 
Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box suethem
Very Senior User
****
Offline



Posts: 196
Joined: Apr 29th, 2003
Re: VA: Polygraph Inadmissible in Probation Hearin
Reply #4 - Aug 1st, 2003 at 6:26am
Mark & QuoteQuote Print Post  
Orolan,

Thanks for the info.

from the VA state police officer selection process.

"Phase II:

Polygraph examination

All applicants who successfully complete Phase I will be contacted and arrangements made for the administration of a polygraph examination.

Background Investigation.

A thorough background investigation is conducted on all applicants who proceed to Phase III of the hiring process."

Interesting wording.  Obviously if you do not pass the polygraph they never conduct a background investigation. At least most agencies pretend that your background comes first and then the polygraph is used to confirm your story.  Its like the VA state police are not even trying to hide it.

The Polygraph, not good enough for VA criminal court or probation, but good enough to pick it's state troopers!!   
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box Saidme
Especially Senior User
*****
Offline



Posts: 311
Joined: Jun 11th, 2003
Re: VA: Polygraph Inadmissible in Probation Hearin
Reply #5 - Aug 1st, 2003 at 2:02pm
Mark & QuoteQuote Print Post  
Suethem

I'm not sure what the effect will be regarding probation cases, but I seriously doubt confessions will drop off significantly.  This ruling will have no affect on confessions obtained as a result of polygraph in criminal cases.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box suethem
Very Senior User
****
Offline



Posts: 196
Joined: Apr 29th, 2003
Re: VA: Polygraph Inadmissible in Probation Hearin
Reply #6 - Aug 1st, 2003 at 7:03pm
Mark & QuoteQuote Print Post  
Saidme,

I am guessing that once people in the probation system in VA are told by other probationers that, if you don't confess during the polygraph interview, you will not be violated,  the number of confessions will drop off.   

People on probation in VA read the papers, share information and use the internet just like eveyone else.   

I would assume that you are right that confessions obtained  by a polygraph examination in a criminal case will still be used in court.

But I would also guess that the number of confession during a polygraph examination are on the decline (of course that is just a guess based on the availibility of information regarding the dubious accuracy of polygraphy and the use of countermeasures).

Its a shame that perspective VA state troopers have to pass a 'test' that  VA's own courts don't think is accurate or valid.   



  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box Saidme
Especially Senior User
*****
Offline



Posts: 311
Joined: Jun 11th, 2003
Re: VA: Polygraph Inadmissible in Probation Hearin
Reply #7 - Aug 1st, 2003 at 7:10pm
Mark & QuoteQuote Print Post  
They don't think they're valid regarding judicial processes.  As George has previously stated it's based in part on the Frye standard and other cases.  Although I don't agree with pre-employment polygraphs, they exist and I support those organizations who choose to use them.  Don't let old George fool you.  He's got his sights set on pre-employment polygraph's right now, but he and his criminal followers (rapists, pedophiles, murderers, and thieves) have all polygraph's in their sights, including criminal specific testing.  Why, because more often than not those same people are providing confessions on a daily basis that are admitted in court and ultimately put their guilty asses in jail.  From a personal stand point, I can say without a doubt confessions as a result of polygraph have not subsided.  Now we're just getting confessions to CM's along with the relevant issues.  George, continue to challenge us. Wink
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box suethem
Very Senior User
****
Offline



Posts: 196
Joined: Apr 29th, 2003
Re: VA: Polygraph Inadmissible in Probation Hearin
Reply #8 - Aug 1st, 2003 at 7:31pm
Mark & QuoteQuote Print Post  
Saidme,

If the polygraph is not good enough for judicial proceedings than it should not be used it all.

Regarding your stance on pre-employ polys...

That does not make sense to me.  If you don't agree that they are accurate in this use, then why support the agencies that use them, for using them?



  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box Leisa
Guest


Re: VA: Polygraph Inadmissible in Probation Hearing
Reply #9 - May 17th, 2016 at 4:56pm
Mark & QuoteQuote Print Post  
If someone goes for a polygraph test and they ask a question of if they have been on the internet and it comes back that they have been and they aren't supposed to be on there what will happen? Will they be arrested immediately or what?  Undecided
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box Ex Member
God Member
*****
Offline



Posts: 710
Joined: Dec 9th, 2012
Re: VA: Polygraph Inadmissible in Probation Hearing
Reply #10 - May 17th, 2016 at 5:22pm
Mark & QuoteQuote Print Post  
Quote:
Will they be arrested immediately or what?

Leisa, nobody here can give any kind of legal advice and policies differ by jurisdiction. In a general sense though, the polygraph is used by probation and parole officers to aid them in helping where they should dedicate their resources. I doubt if someone would be immediately arrested for showing deception about violating terms, but it would for sure bring intense scrutiny, questioning and searches.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
VA: Polygraph Inadmissible in Probation Hearing

Please type the characters that appear in the image. The characters must be typed in the same order, and they are case-sensitive.
Open Preview Preview

You can resize the textbox by dragging the right or bottom border.
Insert Hyperlink Insert FTP Link Insert Image Insert E-mail Insert Media Insert Table Insert Table Row Insert Table Column Insert Horizontal Rule Insert Teletype Insert Code Insert Quote Edited Superscript Subscript Insert List /me - my name Insert Marquee Insert Timestamp No Parse
Bold Italicized Underline Insert Strikethrough Highlight
                       
Change Text Color
Insert Preformatted Text Left Align Centered Right Align
resize_wb
resize_hb







Max 200000 characters. Remaining characters:
Text size: pt
More Smilies
View All Smilies
Collapse additional features Collapse/Expand additional features Smiley Wink Cheesy Grin Angry Sad Shocked Cool Huh Roll Eyes Tongue Embarrassed Lips Sealed Undecided Kiss Cry
Attachments More Attachments Allowed file types: txt doc docx ics psd pdf bmp jpe jpg jpeg gif png swf zip rar tar gz 7z odt ods mp3 mp4 wav avi mov 3gp html maff pgp gpg
Maximum Attachment size: 500000 KB
Attachment 1:
X