Can a Lie Detector Test Help My Case in Illinois? Combs Waterkotte attorneys Christopher Combs and Joshua Boardman discuss everything you need to know about Illinois sex crime charges, including sexual assault, sexual abuse, rape, and more.
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Interview Transcript
Scott Michael Dunn: Can a lie detector test help my case in Illinois?
Joshua Boardman: Yes, Chris is a huge proponent of lie detector tests.
Christopher Combs: So yes, I am a big proponent of it. And the reason I am is because early on in my career I was advised by my mentor at the time how helpful those can be. I have been able to prevent charges from being filed and I have spoken to other members of the defense bar, other defense lawyers that also are big proponents of the polygraph examination. And law enforcement puts a lot of importance on a polygraph. Now, we will conduct our own privately. If our client passes, of course, we’re going to present that to the state and oftentimes they ask for the graphs and the charts and things like that. But one good thing is it’s kind of a free roll of the dice because you conduct your own polygraph. At least the guys that we use, they’re so well trained that they’ll call me and say, “Look, we did the pre-interview, we did the interview. You don’t want this guy taking a lie detector test.” You know what I mean?
Dunn: Right.
Combs: So you kind of get a good idea, you can take a barometer on your client and kind of see where you stand and based upon … And I trust our 27-year former sex crimes detective who now sits on every polygraph board, has every accolade imaginable.
Dunn: Wow.
Combs: And he’s telling me, “Look, you don’t want me to test this guy.” You know, it’s like, “Okay.” But if he says, “Look, let’s test this guy.” And you pass, I mean, I’ve been able to prevent many people from being charged based upon a successful polygraph. So, I will always be a huge proponent of that.
