2006-09-07 05:02:58 · 29 answers · asked by horsegal 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
I've worked with polygraphers before. It's not 98% accurate. Where you got that from I have no idea.
My brother can fool those things. I've watched. I knew for a fact that he was lying because I was at the event in question. But according to the polygraph, the story my brother told was the truth.
I had to spend a week with a polygrapher and we got to talking about it. One afternoon we had a couple hours to kill and he sat me down and gave me the test. He asked me questions about what we did that morning and even though I told the truth, the results showed that I was lying.
2006-09-07 05:25:16 · answer #1 · answered by darkemoregan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they were 98% accurate that would be a good question, members of a jury would probably find this helpful evidence to have, together with other evidence, in coming to a view. But they aren't. Only people with a vested interest claim that they are. From a more balanced perspective, the reliability of lie detectors is highly doubtful.
2006-09-07 12:20:42 · answer #2 · answered by Sangmo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What if you are in the 2%?
2006-09-07 12:05:07 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because they are not 100% accurate. In our courts, the defendant has to have been proven guilty beyond any shadow of a doubt. If 100 people were sentenced solely on lie detector test results, 2 innocent men would go to prison. That is an unacceptable number.
2006-09-07 12:04:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lie detectors are not as accurate as manufacturers and law enforcement have led you to believe.
"Last year, Attorney General John Ashcroft estimated the false-positive rate of polygraphs at 15%, about a one-in-six chance, at a news conference."
Also even at 98%, if everyone charged took one and guilt could be based on it then 2% over say 100,000 offences is 2000 innocent people being convicted of crimes they didn't commit or at least the lie detector was incorrect about their responses giving rise to a guilty verdict.
At the 15% quoted by US source, where lie detector use is common, it would be 15,000 innocents convicted.
Scary...
2006-09-07 12:11:41 · answer #5 · answered by The Pirate Captain 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who told you they are 98% accurate. They are not. Best estimates are at 80-90%, but those are disputed by many experts. In our courts sytem, there is this thing called "reasonable doubt". With lie detectors, the accuracy is not enough to erase it.
2006-09-07 12:11:25 · answer #6 · answered by jerry f 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Theye are not even 98% accurate. All they do is measure & record certain physical states while questions are asked of the subject. All they produce is a bunch of wiggly lines on graph paper that must be interpreted by an expert polygraph operator. It is his opinion that is introduced for consideration by a jury. And opinions tend to favor the party who retains the expert.
2006-09-07 12:09:51 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They do not tell if your lying, personal experience.
They do a great job telling someone your nervous about a subject or a question but, guess what when your hooked up to a lie detector your nervous!
2006-09-07 12:11:04 · answer #8 · answered by BOB W 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because there is no basis in scientific fact that the test it self is able to gage the truth of the person being tested. People can control the items that the test measures. heart rate, body movement, perspiration, etc. Until a test is developed that these items aren't being manipulated by the person undergoing the testing, they won't be allowed in as evidence.
2006-09-07 16:18:34 · answer #9 · answered by InDyBuD2002 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because of the 2%
2006-09-07 12:05:10 · answer #10 · answered by Lou 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋