Hello, I am 20 years old and I am currently living in Canada. I was recently accused of sexually assaulting a woman who I had had consensual sex with. As a means to prove my innocence it was suggested that I take a polygraph test. I do not know the law in Canada well enough to know what the repercussions of me failing this test would be.
Furthermore I have read some of the most revealing posts in your forum so I have come to understand that I am supposed to react heavier to 'Control' questions then I am relevant ones but I have yet to understand how I am supposed to react to irrelevant questions or are these the ones that'll be used to measure whether I am, in the opinion of the polygraphers, being deceptive or not. If I am not correct please explain it in laymen terms. I really need to pass this. This woman is accusing me of something I did not do and it is threatening to ruin my life.
Passing a polygraph won't prove your innocence. Polygraphy has no scientific basis (https://antipolygraph.org/articles/article-018.shtml), and the results are not admissible as evidence in Canadian courts. I think the best option for someone in your situation would be to politely decline any offer to take a polygraph test, get a lawyer, and not speak with police without your lawyer present.
With regard to polygraph procedure, you clearly have not understood it. For a "Reader's Digest" explanation, see the AntiPolygraph.org home page and read down the middle of the page (after the list of bullet points):
https://antipolygraph.org
For more in-depth reading, see The Lie Behind the Lie Detector, especially at Chapter 3:
https://antipolygraph.org/lie-behind-the-lie-detector.pdf
When police offer an accused person the "opportunity" to prove his innocence by taking a polygraph test, it's often little more than a pretext for interrogating a person without a lawyer present. The suspect's "failing" may be pre-planned as part of the interrogation strategy. Interrogation techniques can be quite coercive and manipulative. See these lectures by law professor James Duane and police interrogator George Bruch for more on why you shouldn't proceed with the polygraph, or even talk with police without legal counsel by your side. Although they speak specifically with regard to U.S. law, the same general principles are applicable:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8z7NC5sgik
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08fZQWjDVKE
Quote from: InnocentFrame on Dec 09, 2008, 01:40 AMHello, I am 20 years old and I am currently living in Canada. I was recently accused of sexually assaulting a woman who I had had consensual sex with. As a means to prove my innocence it was suggested that I take a polygraph test. I do not know the law in Canada well enough to know what the repercussions of me failing this test would be.
Furthermore I have read some of the most revealing posts in your forum so I have come to understand that I am supposed to react heavier to 'Control' questions then I am relevant ones but I have yet to understand how I am supposed to react to irrelevant questions or are these the ones that'll be used to measure whether I am, in the opinion of the polygraphers, being deceptive or not. If I am not correct please explain it in laymen terms. I really need to pass this. This woman is accusing me of something I did not do and it is threatening to ruin my life.
Innocent,
I don't know the law in Canada. However as George said a polygraph will not clear you in most cases. It can only hurt you to voluntarily submit to one.
Contact a lawyer since the charge you face may be serious.
Taking a poly will only give the police the opp to interrogate you without an attorney.
Tell them to pound sand
Watch the video on George's post
Innocent,
Have nothing more to do with the police. If they want to speak with you, insist your attorney be present.
If they claim again, that taking a polygraph will exonerate you if you pass it, have them put that in writing, and address it to, you guessed it, your attorney. And ask them to send a copy to the local prosecutor as a courtesy copy.
TC