Is it possible to Say No to a Lie Detector Check in Singapore? And various FAQs

A lie detector or polygraph is actually a device that tries to determine when someone is lying. They are generally employed by regulation enforcement authorities investigating crimes all over the planet, like in Singapore. If you are asked to take a polygraph examination, below’s what you need to know.

How Does a Polygraph Check Perform?
The polygraph makes an attempt to detect lies by reference to particular physiological responses, thought to get indicative of lying, for instance irregularities in respiratory patterns, blood pressure, pulse and skin conductivity. These are generally measured by hooking the topic up to your equipment via numerous attachments for the chest and one particular hand and arm.

The polygrapher then asks a number of issues, many of which are related towards the crime and several of that happen to be just meant to established a baseline for a real and Phony final result. The subject is asked to lie to an irrelevant query for your latter.

Nonetheless, there aren't any distinct physiological reactions which can be persistently related to lying. Unique persons’s bodies respond differently when they lie. Some individuals’s breathing pattern modifications correct prior to they lie, other sweat a little more, some individuals’s heart price raises – but Other people’ don't.

Because of this polygraph tests are recognized to be wildly unreliable. Innocent but anxious topics in some cases are unsuccessful them and responsible but tranquil topics often move them.

How Can a Polygraph Examination be Employed towards Me?
The brief answer is, it can’t, at least not as proof versus you inside of a felony scenario.

In Singapore, and without a doubt in Considerably of the rest of the globe, polygraph tests are inadmissible as evidence versus an accused human being in a very felony situation. It is because its inherent unreliability means that evidence of this sort is a lot more more likely to only make confusion and controversy concerning its evidential worth, instead of really weigh clearly to guilt or innocence.

How come the Police Use Polygraph Exams?
Even though polygraph checks are inadmissible as evidence in the prison situation, regulation enforcement businesses however uncover them beneficial for choosing regardless of whether to endorse prosecution, in circumstances wherever they could experience they don’t presently have sufficient evidence to do so.

The place the law enforcement are to the fence a few suspect’s guilt, a unsuccessful polygraph exam may be more than enough to make them lean towards recommending prosecution, or at least recommending additional investigation, if they experience they have insufficient evidence to protected a conviction.

Conversely, a handed polygraph exam might be sufficient to persuade police, inside a case exactly where There's small evidence of anyone’s guilt, to advise steering clear of squandering more methods on continuing the investigation.

I’ve Been Requested to Take a Polygraph Check. Must I?
If you're requested to post into a polygraph test, The excellent news would be that the law enforcement Obviously haven’t chose to suggest prosecution but. Regardless of whether you should go ahead and take exam is a huge concern and one that ought to be viewed as in gentle of every one of the facts of your respective situation. As a result, if you end up in this kind of circumstance, you should say you need the perfect time to get authorized advice in advance of choosing and then quickly contact a prison lawyer.

It's because your reaction to the police’s invitation will inevitably affect their evaluation of your respective guilt. By way of example, if you decide to go ahead and take polygraph test:

Therefore you pass the check, the law enforcement might conclude that you are harmless and consider no even further action.
But for those who fall short the test, the law enforcement may conclude that you will be guilty and propose prosecution.
However, for those who decrease to go ahead and take polygraph examination, the law enforcement might conclude it can be since you are responsible and recommend prosecution. They may wish to report Yet another assertion from you about the reasons why you chose to say no using the polygraph exam.

If this happens, you need to simply just state for that record that your decision to decline the exam was centered exclusively on legal suggestions you been given. Since your authorized assistance is roofed by solicitor-customer privilege, it is actually difficult to pry any even further than that.

If supplemental achievable good reasons for refusing the test are recommended to you personally, which include you becoming frightened the examination will suggest your guilt, it is best to just repeat the sole motive now specified (i.e. that the conclusion to say no was primarily based exclusively on authorized guidance you obtained) and make sure that Here is the only rationale A part of any published assertion you indication.

In the end, internal police choice-earning Criminal defence lawyer (on issues including no matter whether to advise prosecution) is definitely an opaque and secretive process. It is actually difficult to establish irrespective of whether sure final decision-producing requirements are being utilized constantly, or if so, what they are.

That’s why it’s important to search for authorized assistance from an unbiased prison law firm on this vital choice as opposed to basically rely on any verbal assurances from law enforcement officers about the most likely end result of the final decision.

Can I Volunteer to Take a Polygraph Test?
You unquestionably can but if you do, you probably won’t be provided one particular Until the law enforcement believe that It might be useful to them.

Volunteering to take one will surely usually counsel innocence although. Therefore, should you had volunteered to take a polygraph exam when currently being interviewed to get ready your statement, you should be certain that The truth that you have got volunteered to have a polygraph take a look at is exclusively included in your created statement.

Can I've My Law firm Existing When I'm Using the Polygraph Test?
The law enforcement are less than no obligation to permit your attorney to become present As you have a polygraph and are incredibly unlikely to take action.

Having said that, For anyone who is a toddler or have an intellectual disability, you'll want to elevate this and ask for an suitable Grownup to get present.

Am i able to Elect to Solution Just some Issues and never Other people?
You have a appropriate towards self-incrimination, this means You aren't required to say just about anything that would recommend that you are responsible of an offence. So in theory, Indeed, you can opt to reply some concerns instead of Some others.

Nonetheless, you should Remember the purpose of the polygraph exam. It isn't to assemble evidence to employ towards you, as Along with the statement-having approach. It's only for the police to kind an impression of your respective honesty and innocence.

In the event you decrease to answer some inquiries throughout a polygraph, the perception formed of the innocence will definitely become a negative one particular and you will have failed to accomplish the only attainable aim you could have in getting the polygraph exam: displaying you have nothing at all to cover.

Therefore if you think that you may perhaps require to say no to reply any question that is likely being questioned in the course of a polygraph take a look at, you may be far better off declining to go ahead and take test altogether. It is best to seek legal suggestions on this situation if it’s applicable to you.