Guilty Conscience

[Fepaco]

If a suspect says they'll take a polygraph, then three days later refuses, all the while claiming they're innocent, do you think that's suspicious, or are people just jaded enough that even if they wanted to prove their innocence, they would still decline the test.

 

[Basi]

I would want to take the test. However the test is sometimes wrong. I would be weary of taking it knowing that it could say I'm guilty though I wasn't. Still, I would be suspicious of someone who said they would and are all the sudden declining. I would want to know their reasoning.

 

[Ukudi]

I think if you have nothing to hide, you would take the polygraph.

 

[Wuno]

I wouldn't take the poly. It measures things like heart rate and such, and someone like me who gets anxious for no reason at all, well I could indicate deception when I'm actually telling the truth simply because a question agitated me.

There's a reason the results aren't admissible in court.

 

[Oraba]

Agree with the others but wonder what the supposed reason was for backing out.

 

[Etes]

All I know is if it were me, I'd be happy to prove my innocence and not afraid of a test, that it'd be worth it to just make it clear I had nothing to hide, even knowing the test wasn't perfect.

 

[Usah]

I always thought those tests were terribly terribly inaccurate and like Wuno I would get anxious anyway regardless if I did anything or not. I would probably get anxious if it was a 'just for fun' type of thing. So I wouldn't take it.

Why back out...I don't know.

 

[Izo]

What was is the subject denying?

 

[Avuv]

Fepaco here, he's accused of sexual abuse of a minor.

 

[Izo]

I just had this horrible feeling that it was something big like that. I am so sorry. Are you married to him, a friend or family?

I can only imagine what this must be like for you. I would be very careful as often there is no indication that someone is sexual predator.

If you really look at this without mercy are there any signs that you can see in retrospect?

 

[Mesu]

Fepaco here again. Well... I didn't want to get biased answers, so... I tried to ask my question objectively, but it happened to me. The person I reported at first agreed to take a polygraph and then declined. I was hoping, well, that other people would think it looked suspicious too, help me feel better, since I didn't get closure, but I wasn't sure how to really take it.

 

[Izo]

Fapaco,

I think there are a lot of things that come into play when people answer and it doesn't mean they are just responding in the way you want.

Yes people could change their minds for the reasons described here but there can of course be sinister reasons for someone changing their minds - like there was with your perpetrator.

Sadly I imagine in court of law it would only be one factor. I am sorry you haven't got closure. It sounds like he was manipulative and used this to his advantage.

Someone refusing to take a lie detector for an accusation of this type of crime would certainly potentially be suspicious.