Lie detector tests are a staple in cop shows, but Toronto criminal lawyer Edward Prutschi isn’t a fan. In fact, he always advises his clients against taking them. If police were willing to drop charges or pursuit of his client if they passed the test it would be another story.
However, Prutschi explains that police use lie detector tests to justify their hunches and reject results that don’t confirm their thoughts or beliefs. Not to mention, lie detector tests aren’t admissible in any court in Canada. They’re simply what Prutschi calls “a hunch affirmation device” used by police to confirm their suspicions.
A big issue of lie detector tests is that they rely on “yes or no” based questions. But life isn’t that black and white. Context is vital to the truth, and so far there is no test out there that takes into account that. So next time you get asked to take one, take Prutschi’s advice and say no to this junk science.
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