Currently the FBI conducts polygraph tests of all new employees prior to them beginning their service. In addition, individuals with access to certain sensitive programs or cases are polygraphed and the polygraph is used during serious internal inquiries to resolve unexplained anomalies and ambiguities. Many scientist believe that the polygraph equipment is unreliable and ineffective in detecting if someone is lying.
Poll: Do you believe polygraph exams should be used by police during crime investigations?
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1) Yes, it will catch most dishonest people.
2) No, the equipment is unreliable.
3) Neither. It all depends on the training of the polygrapher.
Comments
I’ve seen it break both ways. I think the true value of a polygraph is primarily psychological. The interviewee believes it will catch him in a lie so he either tells the truth or gets so nervous that he registers on a seismograph, let alone a polygraph. Then again, I’ve seen detectives waste hours and days trying to prove the guilt of someone who is just simply scared to death of a polygraph and gives a bad test while being totally innocent.
i think there is something to polygraphs, but the technology needs to be given time to mature somewhat. it isnt very reliable yet, and greatly depends on the state of mind of both parties involved, how the information is interpreted etc, as well as the overall skill set of the interviewer. they should not be admissable, not yet.
As retired police officer I can tell you it’s just modern day witchcraft and used to mess with the mind of suspects. Often works that way it’’s amazing.