I am being accused of something that I did not do. The detective asked if I would take the polygraph. I said I would but only if it is put in writing that if I pass, this issue will no longer continue. Also I said I want the presence of an attorney. They denied both of my requests. I am really nervous because I was in trouble 13 years ago. What do I do? How can I calm my nerves an still be truthful?

irlfupkr wrote on Jun 21^st, 2004 at 10:55pm:


Maybe you are asking for "help" in the wrong site. There is a lot of information here about polygraph. Understand, you are innocent until proven guilty, but you have to realize that the job of cops is to find and turn over for prosecution suspects that are likely to be found guilty. The police can't use polygraph results anymore than you can in court, whether favorable or not so obviously they are not going to sign up to clearing you based on a poly.

Even if you took a poly and the examiner swore there was a > 99% probability you were not deceptive, courts simply don't believe polys and will not consider allowing them or even letting you mention you passed a poly at trial.

This site is about polygraphy.  You need a criminal lawyer. Get one.

-Marty

irlfupkr,

You should refuse the polygraph and get a lawyer. The polygraph is not a genuine test to see whether or not you're telling the truth. As employed by law enforcement agencies in criminal investigations, polygraph "testing" is little more than a pretext for getting a suspect to agree to be interrogated in the absence of legal counsel, with the polygraph instrument serving as an interrogatory prop.

Polygraph "testing" depends on trickery, not science. To find out what you might be in for should you go ahead with the polygraph, see The Lie Behind the Lie Detector (especially Chapter 3) and the Department of Defense Polygraph Institute's Interview and Interrogation handbook.

I concur with Kona's suggestion that you not talk to the police anymore without legal counsel present.