Legal Question in Criminal Law in Missouri

Re: polygraph test

You are not required to take a lie detector test. The officers may try to intimidate you into taking it but I would refuse. Also, you should not talk to them without an attorney present. Most mistakes are made during the questioning period. If they ask you questions, tell them you don't want to talk to them without your attorney. If you can't afford one, don't talk to them at all. If they have enough evidence you will be charged anyway and then, if you meet the financial requirements, an attorney can be appointed for you. Good luck.

Re: polygraph test

You can and should refuse! You have a Constitutional right not to incriminate yourself, use it! If the police have enough evidence to convict you of a crime they do not need your statement. The only reason they want you to make a statement or answer questions on a polygraph is to collect evidence to use against you. The polygraph results are not reliable enough to be admissable in a Court, but they can be used by the police to "develop" evidence to convict you whether or not you actually ever did aything wrong! Simply advise the police that you decline to take the polygraph test or make any further comment upon the advice of legal counsel.