Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
Should polygraphs be admissible in court?
Position‹2 of 2

No, lie detectors should not be admissible in court

This position holds that polygraphs should not be admissible in court. It argues lie detectors are not accurate enough for legal proceedings, carry inherent racial bias, usurp the jury's role in judging credibility, and infringe the right against self-incrimination.

Supporting arguments · 4

  1. Lie detectors have an inherent racial bias
    In several different experiments, people of color were overrepresented as failing the test when they were innocent. This means that allowing polygraphs to be admissible in court introduces another mode for racial bias into the justice system. Even worse, since results from lie detectors are presented as objective scientific findings, this bias is given legitimacy.
  2. Polygraphs violate the right to not self-incriminate
    Defendants have the right not to self-incriminate. Lie detectors would infringe on that right.
  3. Polygraphs diminish the jury's role
    The trial by jury is a bedrock of many Western legal systems. Lie detectors diminish the role of the jury in the legal process.
  4. Lie detectors don't work
    Lie detectors are not accurate. They are little better than a coin toss.