Please Stop Taking Lie Detector Tests
Turn on just about any crime show—or a personal favorite, Meet the Parents—and at some point, you’ll find someone hooked up to a polygraph examination (more commonly known as a lie detector test).
In real life, it almost always starts the same way: someone is contacted by law enforcement, and informed that he (or she) is considered a suspect in an ongoing criminal investigation or accused of some crime. Then, the officers offer to let him explain himself, assure him that they believe him, and give him the “opportunity” to fully clear the air by submitting to a polygraph examination and passing it. This is a phenomenon we’ve seen increasingly in sex crime investigations.
Yeah, no thank you. For starters, lie detector tests are infamously difficult to pass, even if you are telling the absolute truth. There is a reason why they aren’t admissible in court—because they’re notoriously inaccurate. So while you might stand to gain a little if you can pass the test, you stand to lose a lot if—and statistically, when—you fail.
Often, the police might also claim to already possess some DNA evidence that they don’t even have. Here’s a tip that far too few people know: cops can and will lie to you (to really drive this point home, we dedicated an entire blog post to this myth). So know that anything they tell you might very well be a trick.
The bottom line is that if the police were actually being honest when they said they had enough evidence to arrest you, they probably would have done so already. The “offer” to take a polygraph is because they need more evidence against you, not because they are trying to help you out. So think long and hard before agreeing to take a lie detector test, but more importantly, call a highly-qualified, locally experienced, criminal defense firm first to get some guidance throughout the process.
Have you or a loved one been contacted by law enforcement about an ongoing investigation? Give us a call today at (619) 295-3555 to schedule a consultation and regain control of your future.
The contents of this article and blog are for meant for informational and marketing purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Viewing and/or use of the blog does not form an attorney-client relationship. No statements in this post are a guarantee, warranty, or prediction of a particular result in your case.
Author Bio
David P. Shapiro, the managing partner and founder of a leading San Diego criminal defense firm, is driven by an unwavering commitment to providing the best possible representation to his clients facing criminal charges. With a deep understanding of the fear, uncertainty, and concern for one’s future that his clients experience, David approaches each case with empathy and dedication, advocating tirelessly for their rights and freedoms.
Focused on complex and high-stakes cases, David handles a wide range of serious charges, including felonies, violent crimes, sex crimes, drug offenses, and white-collar crimes. Since establishing his practice in 2010, David has earned a reputation as one of San Diego’s most respected criminal defense attorneys.
His firm has been recognized by LawFirm500 as one of the nation’s fastest-growing law firms and was a 2022 Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics Winner. The San Diego Business Journal named David’s firm the 17th Fastest Growing Private Company in San Diego from 2019-2021 and recognized David as one of San Diego’s 500 Most Influential People in 2022. With a strong dedication to his clients and community, David continues to be a driving force in the San Diego legal landscape.
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