If you have been charged with a DUI, you may be asked to take a lie detector test, also called a polygraph. While most states do not accept the results of a lie detector test as evidence in court, the tests are still used by law enforcement agencies nationwide for helping them determine a person's innocence. Lie detector tests are used by both state and federal law enforcement agencies. If you have been asked to take a lie detector test because of a DUI charge, find out here why you need to hire an a DUI defense lawyer, such as R. Patrick McPherson Attorney At Law.

How An Attorney Can Help

If you have been charged with a DUI, you need an attorney for legal representation both in and out of court. Always remember the reason the prosecution is giving you a lie detector is for gathering evidence against you. In most cases, a the prosecution is not giving you a lie detector test to prove your innocence. However, your attorney can give you one before you take one for the prosecution so he or she can say you passed when the prosecution says you did not. If you pass a polygraph with your attorney, it leaves reasonable doubt of your innocence if you fail one for the prosecution.

How A Lie Detector Test Works

When you take a lie detector test, you will be asked set of control questions before being the results of other questions are recorded. Control questions are designed to gauge your physiological reactions to them so the examiner will have a control to measure your responses to other, more pertinent questions in the test. For example, a control question that will be used to determine if you are telling the truth may be a personal one like 'Are you a man?' when you know you are and you know the examiner knows you are as well. When the examiner can see how you react when telling the truth, he or she will have a control to go by that will show when you are lying.

Because of the questionable validity of a lie detector test, it is in your best interests to never consent to taking one without first consulting with a qualified criminal defense attorney. While you may eager to prove your innocence, you could end up making the circumstances worse for yourself if you take a lie detector and fail because you are simply nervous.