NCJ Number
196933
Journal
Polygraph Volume: 31 Issue: 2 Dated: 2002 Pages: 43-48
Editor(s)
Deedra Senter
Date Published
2002
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article reviews what is known about voice stress devices and to what degree voice stress technology can provide a reliable means for detecting deception.
Abstract
Throughout history, determining whether a possible suspect is lying or telling the truth has been a difficult problem for law enforcement. Over the years, science has attempted to provide several techniques and devices to overcome this problem. One of the newer devices introduced within the last 25 years has been voice detection devices. They are seen as an important tool for law enforcement in solving crimes. The voice detection device offers several advantages over the polygraph, such as low cost, convenience, low training and education time, less time to administer, no sensors to place on the body, and a recording can be received from a remote location. However, these devices have problems in regards to their level of accuracy, specifically the track record of voice stress analysis has been questioned in previous empirical studies. The Federal Government’s interest in voice stress technology has created numerous research undertakings to weigh the costs and benefits of utilizing voice detection devices. In addition, researchers outside the Government have studied voice stress for lie detection. The general conclusion has been that the accuracy is modest to poor for a handful of experimental approaches and uniformly poor for those relying on the device. References