Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
Should polygraphs be admissible in court?
Position1 of 2›

Yes, polygraphs should be allowed in court

This position holds that polygraphs should be admissible in court. It argues that lie detectors help determine a subject's truthfulness and often induce confessions, that they are already used elsewhere in law, and that technology should aid the justice system's search for truth.

Supporting arguments · 4

  1. The illusion of justice is more powerful
    Lie-detector tests increase the public faith in the justice system, which creates a more stable, law-abiding society.
  2. Polygraphs are already used in other aspects of law
    Polygraph tests have been successfully implemented in other parts of the legal process.
  3. Polygraphs induce confessions
    The test itself is not as important as its ability to induce a confession. Making them admissible in court would put increased pressure on a guilty suspect to provide a full confession.
  4. Lie detectors work
    Lie detectors can detect falsehoods with an 80-90% accuracy rate.