The reliability and effectiveness of polygraph has been debated for decades despite various evidences proving its dependability. Although the polygraph does not actually measure lies, it is still a useful tool for investigating crimes and capturing criminals. Instead the polygraph measures the physiological changes in a person's body in response to stress. Crime in this day and age makes it necessary for any and all useful tools that could be used for detecting and …show more content…
There are some who believe that because the polygraph occasionally produces false negatives or false positives it should not be considered reliable. According to the president of the American Polygraph Association (2010), Raymond Nelson, the test isn't perfect, but its accuracy rate is still above 80 percent. A polygraph test isn’t enough to convict a suspect, but it is enough to be used as evidence to help make a conviction. Although the polygraph does experience errors, that is a possibility for any test. There will be errors because the “perfect” test does not exist. Another argument against the reliability of the polygraph is that there are individuals who are capable