Don’t Take a Polygraph!

When law enforcement asks you to take a polygraph test, it may seem logical to comply in order to demonstrate your innocence.  After all, you have nothing to hide, right? Wrong! There are myriad reasons to decline any such requests by police or anyone else!

Why Say No

Beside the fact that the results of your polygraph test won’t likely be admitted in court, and the fact that a definitive result showing you to be honest will not induce police to release you, there are some very compelling reasons to avoid taking one, including:

• The police have no interest in helping to prove your innocence. If you are a suspect in a given crime, there are no rules about lying to you in order to confuse or frustrate you. You may have passed with flying colors, only to be told by detectives that the test confirmed your guilt.
• There’s the possibility that you actually fail the test. If deception is indicated in the slightest, it could fuel law enforcement to come at you even harder.
• Even though the results of the polygraph may never make it into a courtroom, anything that you say can still be used against you, whether it was said in the pre-polygraph interview or during the test itself.
• The tests aren’t even considered reliable (hence the reluctance of courts to allow test results as evidence). The machines used in polygraph testing measure an individual’s physiological reactions to various questions. Is it possible to experience changes in breathing, pulse, or perspiration simply as a result of one’s anxiety or nervousness? Do innocent people ever fail the test? Can guilty people who feel no remorse or who have psychopathic tendencies pass the test? The answer to these questions is a resounding yes.
• In consenting to take a polygraph test, you are giving up your Fifth Amendment right to remain silent. That, in itself, may be the biggest mistake anyone on the radar of law enforcement can make.

Instead… 

Whether to take a lie detector test is completely up to you. You have no legal obligation to comply with a law enforcement request, regardless of the amount of pressure exerted by authorities. A better option is to politely ask for your attorney. That is the one person who is guaranteed to be in your corner, regardless of the charges or circumstances. When you are a suspect in a criminal case, your defense attorney is the person who can guide you through every stage of your defense.

Call Today 

The experienced Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys at Lobo Law always fight to achieve the best possible outcomes for you. To discuss, schedule a confidential consultation in our office today.