Lie Detector Tests

[Prima5]

What is the name of your state? Texas

Can a lie detector test be admissible in court? My sister's son has gone into therapy for suicidal thoughts that he had because of his step-mother who, as far as we knew, had been very verbally abusive to him. Well, in the session (he's 12 by the way) he revealed that she did something of a sexual nature (I don't want to get into the details) on two different occassions: once at the age of 7 and again at the age of 8 1/2, as well as spanking him with a bamboo stick. He also revealed that he discovered that his father smokes pot and had been lying to him, saying they were cigarettes. (We knew about the pot from the past but didn't know he still did that). Upon confronting his father about it, he did not deny it and apologized to him, promising not to do it in his presence again. Needless to say that the therapist has notified child protective services.

The father now is freaking out and saying that he'll get him and his current wife to take lie detector tests, which I laugh about because they have been proven to be inaccurate. Will it be admissible in court, should this thing get to court? Can they demand my nephew take one? I worry that he would be too nervous because he's never taken one before and he's just a kid so it might make him scared. He's been through enough already!!

Thanks,
Prima5

 

[cmorris]

Lie detector tests are NOT admissible in court. The courts are usually very sensitive to abuse concerning a child, and I could not believe a court would help traumatize a child. Now the father and his wife could pay out of their own pocket for a lie detector test for themselves, but it will not prove anything.

LDT's are used on talk shows. Not court.

 

[Prima5]

Thanks!

Thanks for your reply. I thought I was right but I just wanted to make sure.

Prima5

 

[0000]

an attorney can actually use lie detector test results during out-of-courtroom pretrial negotiations with the DA; if the the test results reflect the defendant's claimed innocence, the DA can be pursuaded that he is pursuing a false charge and convinced to motion to dismiss. only thing is that a reputable test will cost as much as an attorney.