Can someone help me know the laws of the lie detector test

[nativegrl]

Ok so my boyfriend is in a lot of trouble right now with the law and i was wondering my mother said they could force us both to take a lie detector can they really can they court order it mind u i am in the state of north dakota and if we refuse to take it can they hold it against us? Even if i tell them about all the bad things i have read about them and give them a very good reason y i would not like to take one? and will they just consider him guilty if we dont take one or what would happen? can someone please help me soon i need to know

[George W. Maschke]

No, neither you nor your boyfriend can be forced to submit to a lie detector "test," and refusing to take it cannot be used against you in a court of law. The only exception might be if either of you is on probation or parole with terms specifying that you must submit to a lie detector test upon demand.

At this point, you would be wise to get a lawyer and refuse the polygraph. You should be able to truthfully say that you're refusing the polygraph based on your lawyer's advice. If your lawyer advises you to take the polygraph, fire him or her and get a more competent lawyer. You have nothing to gain by submitting to this invalid test, and potentially much to lose.

While not specifically related to polygraphs, see these lectures by a law professor and a police interrogator on why you should not speak with police at all without legal counsel, even if you're innocent:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8z7NC5sgik

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08fZQWjDVKE