Are Polygraph Exams Admissible In Court?
Contrary to popular belief, polygraph results are admissible in most courts across the country. The Supreme Court has yet to rule on the issue of polygraph admissibility so it has been up to individual jurisdictions to allow or disallow them. There are some jurisdictions that have bans on admitting polygraph results, but most allow them if both the plaintiff and the defendant have agreed (stipulated) that the results of the test will be admissible prior to the examination being conducted. For more details on admissibility and case citations for each state, visit http://www.polygraph.
Polygraph results are admissible in some federal circuits and some states. The results are most often admissible when the parties involved have agreed to their admissibility under terms of a stipulation before the examination is given. A stipulation is a legal document prepared and agreed to by the attorneys representing the defense and the prosecution.
