A detective from our local police contacted my 18 year old son recently to question him about $2000 that was stolen from a manager's vehicle outside my son's place of employment. The detective asked him to come in the following day for a Voiceograph. He agreed and I accompanied him, thinking little of it other than getting his name checked off the list of people that might have been involved.

After about 20 minutes the detective came out and informed me that my son had failed the test and that "he did it" and that the detective would be sending his file over to the prosecutor's office.

I insisted vehemently they were wrong and was repeatedly told "he did it." At several points in our conversation the detective said if this is his first time to be in trouble the prosecutor would probably work with him. 

My son and I left the police station and I read the riot act to him just in case he did do it. (I feel like a real sorry mother for that). It didn't take much for him to confirm to me that he had nothing to do with this crime. We went to my son's bank and obtained a printed transaction report of his bank account dating through the time the money was stolen. This clearly showed through multiple transactions that he was accessing his account for $5 purchases on his check card, withdrawing $20 from the ATM, and that his balance only reflected his income from working at his minimum wage job. None of which was congruent to the banking activities of someone who had stolen $2000.

We returned to the police station and I handed a copy of the bank transactions to the detective asking him to please include it with the "file" he was sending to the prosecutor. 

He began backing off at that point and told my son he would call the prosecutor on his behalf if my son would get a haircut. 

The following day I phoned the detective to inform him my son had a haircut (the haircut is the only good thing to come out of this) and to also tell him I'd done a little research on the net regarding the hokey voiceograph. His reponse was that one can find any information they seek to back up their position on the "internet." Futhormore he added, "the federal government is using it to interrogate Al-Queda." 

In the end, I have to say, I KNEW BETTER and disregarding my instincts I trusted the cops to do what was the RIGHT thing. However, their goal is to close another case regardless of how they do it. If a few innocent people get raked through the crap along the way that is just part of it.

Never again. I have given strict instructions to my son that if our police department or any law enforcement ever contact him again, he is to shut his mouth and wait for his phone call and a lawyer.

I am also writing letters to the editors of our local papers asking the local police departments to just buy Fisher-Price Kareoke Machines and tell the people they are investigating they are voiceographs. This should have the same effect as CVSA, yet save our tax dolllars.

momee

If the police have no other evidence than the CVSA, I wouldn't worry to much right now. It's not admissable in a court of law. It's only utility is badgering a confession from the subject. Tell your lawyer to check out this website. I believe I read where the inventer of the CVSA has admitted that it is no lie detector. It's only an investigation tool. Like the polygraph. Your lawyer should file a "Motion to Supress" this invalid test.

The courts have given the police permission to lie like a rug. But tell them a lie and it's hell to pay.

When your son wins the case, then file a damage lawsuit that will include lawyer fees. If people will do this, it won't long before these hokey machines and their operators will vanish.

When the police made the haircut deal with your son, they violated your son's civil rights and that is a federal violation. I would immediately file that action in your Federal District Court. A good offense makes a better defense.