polygraph-posttramatic stress?

Question

thank-you to those that answered my question, he was interegated to take the test, the first time he went they went through the two and half hour preparations and hooked him all up and then told him they had to reschedule due to the machine not working. two months later he went through the whole ordeal again and he failed the test. we have two young daughters who were without my permission, interviewed at school by social services, and they stated it was ovious the girls were in no danger. Did I mention this has been going on for a year, it took the district attorney 9 months to contact us. I'm really scared that this poly-graph test is going to mess up our lives.

Answer 1

You need an attorney NOW.

First of all, the polygraph can only be used as an investigative tool. Any results are inadmissable in court because of the reliability issue, generally.

A polygraph examination is only ever as "good" as the examiner giving it. And their qualifications can differ a LOT. There are different ways of examining someone that can yield different results. What they are looking for is CHANGES in physiological responses (heart rate, respirations, galvanic skin response, etc) across the questions. They will ask questions that should produce a "neutral" response, not emotionally charged, like name, do you live at (and give address), etc. and then they will get the baseline measure of the physiological responses. Then they look for changes when they start asking the "critical" questions. The problem can be that virtually ANYONE when asked about touching a girl's breast would show a reaction, even if they didn't. This is usually counteracted in a polygraph by asking questions that would be emotional ONLY for someone connected with the crime. For example, if they know someone wearing a red hat was at the crime scene, they will ask, "Do you own a red hat?" Someone who owns one but wasn't there, should show NO reaction. If you own one and WERE there, you show a reaction because this is "guilty knowledge."

At any rate, my advice is to get an attorney to protect your rights throughout this process.

Answer 2

The polygraph is not going to mess up your lives, because they cant use it in court. What they are doing is looking for someone to investigate further.

If he has been charged, and you don't have the money, ask the court to appoint one ASAP.

Do not talk to anyone except your attorney.

If he has not been charged, do not talk to anyone, (except your attorney)

This is your new mantra: name, address and attorney's name.

Say nothing else. Volunteer nothing else.

You are supposed to be innocent until proved guilty in the country, and technically you are, but when it comes to child sex crimes it is vice versa.

Now repeat after me, your new mantra: name, address (which is all you are required to tell the police-also have to show them you ID) and attorney's name.

In the meantime, start thinking real hard about why your husband was targeted for this type of accusation.