Police want me to have a polygraph

[hellothere]

I am a suspect in taking some high value equipment from a business because I'm a key hold of the company. I DID NOT take anything and spent over an hour in a room with a detective while he questioned me over and over about if I stole the equipment. Of course I kept saying no because I didn't. But then he asked me if I would submit to a polygraph test, I said yes. But now I'm thinking that I shouldn't have said yes. The only reason I said yes was because I felt it would make him believe me more. The polygraph test hasn't been scheduled yet, can I still back out of it? Will it make me look guilty to back out now? And I have no money for a lawyer, how can I get a lawyer to help me? I don't feel I should spend money on a lawyer for something that I didn't even do !

[George W. Maschke]

I am a suspect in taking some high value equipment from a business because I'm a key hold of the company. I DID NOT take anything and spent over an hour in a room with a detective while he questioned me over and over about if I stole the equipment. Of course I kept saying no because I didn't. But then he asked me if I would submit to a polygraph test, I said yes. But now I'm thinking that I shouldn't have said yes. The only reason I said yes was because I felt it would make him believe me more. The polygraph test hasn't been scheduled yet, can I still back out of it?

Yes, you can and should refuse the polygraph. It is not a "test." It is a pretext for an interrogation in the absence of legal counsel.

Will it make me look guilty to back out now?

Perhaps. But you already look guilty.

And I have no money for a lawyer, how can I get a lawyer to help me? I don't feel I should spend money on a lawyer for something that I didn't even do !

Perhaps you could borrow money, or work out an arrangement with a lawyer to pay in installments. At minimum, I think it would be wise to seek a consultation. You could then tell the police that you're declining the polygraph based on legal counsel.

For reasons why you should not again speak with the police without a lawyer by your side (let alone agree to a polygraph interrogation), see:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc

[figs]

If you cant afford a lawyer and your in the US, you might be elegible for legal aid - http://legalaid.uslegal.com.

also some lawyers offer free consultations, if you call ahead and ask.