Content warning: The following story mentions sexual assault.
What’s going on: Last week, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) signed a law that bars government officials from asking sexual assault survivors to take polygraph tests. For years, Utah prosecutors could request the tests, even though they’re not admissible in court due to their unreliability. Still, officials could use the results to decide whether to pursue criminal charges. In some cases, like this one, those results can shut down cases that are very much worth pursuing. The law goes into effect in May.
Tell me more: Only about half of US states explicitly limit law enforcement’s use of polygraphs in sexual assault cases. Experts have long questioned the tests in the legal space. So-called “lie detectors” measure physical responses like stress, fear, and anxiety — not truth. That creates a problem for sexual assault survivors, who understandably may show intense physical reactions tied to trauma. Yet, the test can register those responses as deception. The process can also "revictimize" survivors, which is why even the International Association of Chiefs of Police advises against their use in these cases. As Utah changes how officials handle these investigations, advocates say much of the rest of the country still has work to do.
