Keeping a Client From Being Charged

Any criminal defense lawyer's primary goal is to ensure their client is not charged with a crime. Assuming the client has the foresight to hire a defense lawyer immediately upon being arrested, the lawyer can work to avoid them being charged. A polygraph examiner in Knoxville can help with this process by providing a polygraph exam that proves the individual's innocence. This can help to stall prosecution. It can be essential in he said, she said types of cases where physical evidence or witness testimony may not be available.

Polygraph in the Courtroom

At present, polygraph exams are not admissible in court. However, that doesn't mean a polygraph examiner in Knoxville cannot help with a criminal defense. While the test may not be put in front of the trial jury, the judge does have the discretion to consider a broader range of evidence when considering sentencing, including a polygraph exam. That means having the test results in the case file can still have a significant bearing on the outcome of the trial, even though it has not been presented as evidence in court.

Public Perception

As noted above, if the accused has passed a polygraph, although it is not admissible in court, it can be used by the judge when determining sentencing. However, it may sometimes sway the decision, or the judge may not look at the exam results. In this case, the defense lawyer may make the results of the test public via the media in order to sway public opinion and garner support. Especially in high-profile cases, this has been known to have some bearing on the outcome of the trial.

Choosing the Right Polygraph Examiner in Knoxville

A big part of successfully using polygraphs as a tool for defense attorneys is making sure that you choose the right polygraph examiner in Knoxville. A polygraph machine on its own is nothing without a skilled examiner to read and interpret the results. The reliability of the test hinges on the skill and experience of the examiner you are working with, so it is important to make the right choice. At Kendall Investigations, all of our polygraph exams are administered by our founder, Kendall Shull. Mr Shull served as a Special Agent of the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) for over 25 years playing a key role in many major cases. He began conducting polygraph exams for the FBI in 1991, and by 1999 had been promoted to Chief of the FBI Polygraph Program. Since retiring in 2001 he has been running Kendall Investigations from his permanent office in Knoxville offering private investigation and security services and working as a polygraph examiner in Knoxville. Ken is the only person in the world to have achieved a Master of Science degree in Polygraphy and has appeared on multiple television shows. His research has also been published in several journals and professional publications. You will not find a more experience or more qualified polygraph examiner in Knoxville, or the United States!

Confidentiality Matters

Experience isn't the only thing you need to look for when choosing a polygraph examiner in Knoxville TN. Confidentiality is also a key factor in any polygraph exam, but especially when being used in a criminal defense situation. It is preferable that the results of the polygraph exam are not disclosed to the prosecutor or the police. This is also why most criminal defense lawyers will seek out an independent polygraph examiner in Knoxville rather than use a police examiner in order to make sure the test is impartial and questions are not manipulated to show guilt. The polygrapher you work with should formulate appropriate and relevant questions that can be answered with a yes or no and that are distinct enough to give definitive results.

If you are in need of a polygraph examiner in Knoxville, whether for litigation support or personal reasons Kendall Investigations is here to help. Reach out to us today to arrange your appointment.