The use of polygraphs, voice stress analyzers, and forensic testing in sensitive areas, such as the questioning of suspects in criminal cases, recruitment processes (e.g. by the FBI), investigation of insurance fraud and interrogation of current or potential employees raises certain ethical issues. In particular, the appropriateness of compelling, or coercing people to undertake such testing needs to be examined. The use of polygraphs also raises the broader question of whether we want to live in a society that is dominated by these types of testing. Voice stress analyzers, unlike polygraph, are 98 percent accurate. These devices are so efficient and accurate, that many government agencies now use them. The major problem today in our criminal justice system is prosecutorial misconduct, consisting of hiding information to prosecuting those known to be innocent. The latter results in some 20 percent of our two million-inmate populations having not committed any crime. Despite this inherent difficulty in the relationship between psychology and the law, the forensic psychologist can assist a court or an investigation by giving an expert opinion on aspects of behaviour that will increase the probability of the outcome being correct; (i.e. can assist in avoiding miscarriages of justice). Forensic psychology, voice stress analyzers, and polygraph testing both in the mental health area and in other broader areas of behaviour have a body of knowledge that is of major value to the justice system; however, these issues have raised many controversies regarding its validity to the judicial system.
             The validity of polygraph examinations to detect deception has long been a controversial issue. Since development of polygraph techniques almost 80 years ago, their use both within and outside the Federal Government has been the focus of numerous judicial opinions and, as well, legislative and executive branch debates. A Polygraph or "lie detector" i...