Are Lie Detector Tests Admissible in Court

In TV shows such as courtroom dramas and police procedurals, one device that is likely to show up on many occasions is a lie detector. Despite how common they are in these fictional settings, their use in real life is a bit different.

For the most part, lie detector tests are not accepted as evidence in a trial. However, lie detector test are still very useful for many investigators and also for defence attorneys. There are also situations where the results of the lie detector test are used to make final legal decisions.

If the lie detector test you're taking isn't being conducted by a professional investigator, you might be wasting your time or, worse, being misled.

There are many factors in lie detector tests that rely on the investigators' skills and experience levels. Only certain private investigators are able to deliver the desired accuracy levels consistently. In this regard, you'll want examiners i.e. investigators that have received training through the APA. This is the leading professional organization in the world for lie detector testing experts.

In law enforcement, lie detectors are especially useful in certain situations. Many suspects have been known to confess to crimes before, during or after lie detector tests. This has made it a very useful tool for interrogations.

Defence attorneys also use private investigator lie detector tests to try and convince the police or prosecutors to drop the charges against their clients. This tactic often works since very few guilty people will be will to risk taking a test that could expose them.

Unfortunately, lie detector tests are rarely admitted into courts. This has less to do with the accuracy of the tests and more to do with the ability of other factors to affect the outcome of lie detector tests under such circumstances.

Professional private investigators are always able to limit the effect of such factors but it's difficult to prevent or account for unprofessional behaviour or testing situations in other fields. This is why it's so important to work with investigators who have received proper training from a body that also emphasizes the need to respect the professional ethics that are in place.