"Polygraph tests" Topic

SWIMBO was watching some real life crime show, and queried why polygraph tests are used. As we both work in law enforcement, we wondered about their admissibility or whether results are allowed as a basis for reasonable grounds/suspicion. As we don't have them here, and after reading various google answers I'm a little confused as to their purpose or effectiveness in an investigation as there seem to be different State laws governing their use. Makes me wonder about whether they could be used in cross jurisdictional cases if jurisdiction x uses them and Y can't; or am I reading too much into them?

Just curious

Polygraphs aren't considered reliable enough to use in court. An operator's prejudice can influence results. Psychopaths can often 'beat' the tests, and there are supposed to be ways that ordinary souls can do so, too.

They are not admissible in court in the US. They are used mostly to try to get the defendant to make an admission when the polygraph is being administered.

They are good enough for Maury though.
--
Tim

A source sez that the p-graph is only accurate in
<70 % of cases.

Another sez that the p-graph result is highly dependent
on the operator's interpretation of the subject's
reaction.

Dunno, myself, save that p-graph results can't be used
in court here in NC USA.

Trying to interpret a state of mind from gross physiological changes which are 'interpreted' by an individual is not likely to produce reliable results. My fear in taking one, should the situation arise, is that failing it would be damning and lead to endless investigation while passing it would merely put me lower on the list.

cheers guys. I didn't think it would be a reliable tool and yes, the results would be open to all sort of interpretations I suppose.

Practitioners of Yoga are supposed to be able to beat them too.