Quote from: Onejuror on Sep 15, 2003, 07:39 PMMarty, thanks for the "SOP" info. I am beginning to understand this "prop" usage better, re: doing interrogations to obtain confessions, etc. -- essentially that "anything goes" toward that end, and that in this respect the examiner was doing an excellent job. I think the general public expects it all to be more, well, "scientific" than that.Of course. Maintaining belief in the polygraph is considered important in it's effectiveness. As for interrogations, there is a thread on this board about pro's and con's of taping an interrogation. Some LE people believe jurors are not smart enough to understand LE techniques. It's an area of dispute in LE circles.
QuoteFYI: Having been through all the trial evidence, Westerfield now knows things he never knew before, especially about the victim's home -- which he claims never to have visited. As to any "crime scene," no one ever determined how, when, or where the child died. Her body was found 30 miles from her home. That "crime scene" was also shown in court. So I think the GKT possibility here is moot.Maybe, maybe not. Perhaps there are components of the landscape or surrounding area that would likely be burned into the perp's brain yet not documented in the crime scene photos. I don't know. Perhaps DW's atty should search out someone who specializes in GKT's (there aren't many) and knows what to look for.
QuoteThis is both true for the CQT (which looks only at differential responses) and a good interrogation ploy since it leaves no out for DW's "nervous" comments.
2. You did not seem to answer the questions about the subject's physical and possible medical conditions; or address the suggestion (source: another published tape) that one of the parents polygraphed was "hyper to the nth degree" and "totally out in left field" but passed with flying colors nevertheless.
QuoteThe research I've seen tends to show that drugs have little effect on the differential response of examinees. Other than having some sort of severe heart disease, there isn't much that disqualifies an examinee. Certainly not being nervous. Keep in mind the main reason for the polygraph is to set him up for interrogation.
Does the examiner not have to asssess his subject's physical condition before doing the test, as to being overly calm or overly hyper? Don't they have to at least ask if the subject is on medication (or any other drug, such as tranquilizers)? I really would like to know more about this aspect.
QuoteIf there is sufficient information about the crime scene that David has not been exposed to and that the perp would know then it might have some applicability even now.
Quote from: esterfieldKayle Brooks on Sep 14, 2003, 06:50 PMTo the experts, re: Westerfield's physical condition(s)Yep. It is common practice in an interrogation to say whatever puts the subject in the frame of mind to confess. Since DW didn't confess, and it is likely the poly was a way to interrogate DH more before he called for a lawyer, you shouldn't put much weight in the poly results. Whether or not other people passed you can be quite certain that post test the examiner will say they passed. It is considered appropriate during interrogations. Think of the case where there are 2 suspects and each suspect is told the other has fingered them. SOP. Keep in mind that the police are trying to nail the bad guys, not engage in some "fair" sort of dialog.
To sum up, my doubts about the Westerfield polygraph centered more on the qualifications of the Examiner than on the actual test questions. Am I barking up the wrong tree here?
Kayle
Quote from: Doodad on Sep 14, 2003, 05:43 PMThanks Marty...those are very helpful points. Maybe "scam" was an inappropriate word lol but I do understand that police have to use lies and such to be able to do their job sometimes; I just get a lil wired (pardon the pun) when the general public is then led to believe that it can lead to truth all the time, as in a poly result.That's my major gripe as well. In a democracy, people need balanced information. Some portion of the polygraph's effectiveness is broad belief that it works. It isn't lying that produces excitement, it is fear of detection of lying. Thus it is a sort of ethical catch 22.
QuoteInteresting. I didn't know that. Can't David release his atty from confidentiality so as to verify that? Perhaps you should look into Drew Richardson's device. If there is sufficient information about the crime scene that David has not been exposed to and that the perp would know then it might have some applicability even now.
Yes, a lot of people have based their POV on the alleged plea bargain. Westerfield has, of course claimed he was univolved in any such plea except to the extent that his lawyers told him the DA was willing to offer life for the body and he said he didnt know where the body cause he didnt do it. The ex DA has spoken about the plea several times but has never, given the chance, said straightout that Westerfield himself offered anything or initiated any plea. That alone leaves me a little suspicious since only Westerfields direct input into any plea is of any import as to his guilt in terms of that situation.
QuoteA properly administered GKT, where the examiner does not know the case facts, where the facts allow a GKT would be best. Few American examiners are trained in it and so even when opportunities come up the GKT is rarely used.
Another general question......maybe the stuff in Japan is the answer. Do any of you think that a technology can and will be devised capable of realistically measuring truth/falsehood? Are correlations between data and premise reliable even given say double blind trials?
Quote from: Doodad on Sep 14, 2003, 03:21 PMIf anyone is still interested in this poly, I have a few questions since I am of the opinion that this "failed" poly was a scam to elicit a confession...which makes the passed polys mentioned even bigger scams and misleading to the police and public in general.There are basically 2 reasons police use a poly. It can be used in investigations to somewhat focus limited resources where there are many potential suspects or it can be used as a prop (scam in your words) to produce confessions, often in the same session. The latter is the principal use. In my view both are legitimate. It is fact (and proper technique) that LE can and will sometimes lie, mislead, and manipulate things to get a confession. You might wish to review the statements made in the Elizabeth Smart case about their polygraphs. You can see evidence of full bore interrogation mode there. There is a major reason for this. A confession is admissible in court, the polygraph results aren't.