Polygraph Testing: Inappropriate for Rape Victims

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Lie detectors can be useful to determine whether or not on is telling the truth. However, polygraph test cannot be applicable to all crimes, as Raymond Hernandez discusses in his article about lie-detectors and alleged rape victims. The article is dated, however it provides a great reasoning of why not to use polygraph test on alleged rape victims. Particularly Hernandez is talking about a legislation that bans law enforcement to conduct polygraph tests on those who file rape complaints (Hernandez, 1996, para.1). The bill was discussed and talked over for years, and after pressure and lobbying by victims' rights activists it was passed. Activists argued that polygraph test forces victims to undergo unwarranted shock and recollection of damaging events. As well as the previous bill did not work effectively enough to protect those victims (Hernandez, 1996, para. 2, and 3). The bill is intended to give more elaborate protection to sexual assault victims, by not making them to re live the trauma all over again (Hernandez, 1996, para. 4). Despite the fact that law enforcement does not …show more content…

Its accuarcy is being questioned and not many states actually allow to introduce evidence to the court based on polygraph test discovery. Some states allow a certain amount of such evidence being introduced, but mainly judges are skeptical when it comes to polygraph testing. In addition, there is confusion among those who are paid to read the results off polygraph, because results may differ and different people present different results. Some might alter the readings of the test by manipulating their emotions and physiology. This aspect is still to be tackled by the law enforcement officers. Also, some might argue that tests are inadmissible because they were made up by non scientists, thus they have no knowledge in the

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