The Issue of Polygraph Tests in Poland

• Authors: Wazny, Andrzej

Abstracts

EN

The article presents the issue of polygraph tests in Poland. It discusses the law in Poland concerning the use of the polygraph, and concentrates on Polish legal situation described in articles 192a and 199a of Polish Penal Code. In view of the Polish Penal Code law, passed on the 6th of January 1997, the issue of the use of the polygraph is controversial, and the position of the doctrine – divided and fragmented. The judicature in this matter is failing to respond to the issues presented. However, the fundamental doubts about the legitimacy or legality of the use of ‘lie detector’ in Polish lawsuits were rejected. It happened after the introduction of the criminal procedural law, which makes it possible to conduct polygraph tests on the basis of the amendment of the 10th of January 2003. The author presents the view that the tests conducted by the polygraph and their results are ancillary, indirect and should not be treated as a substitute for independent evidence. The article compares Polish legal regulations to similar regulations existing in systems of many European countries, and is concluded with a summary presenting final thoughts on the issue, such as the necessity of the consent of the person undergoing polygraph tests.

Keywords

EN

criminal proceedings; polygraph; polygraph test; unconscious body reactions

• Publisher: Wyższa Szkoła Policji w Szczytnie
• Journal: Internal Security
• Year: 2011
• Volume: 3(1)
• Pages: 223-231

Contributors

author

Wazny, Andrzej