[HPforGrownups] Veritaserum

[Beck, Jim]

No: HPFGUIDX 29917

Hollydaze queries:
 
"There are actually things VERY similar to this in the Muggle world, not
just lie detectors but truth potions, things you can take to get the truth
out of someone (saw it on the news regarding terrorists) but they are not
used that often because of some law or something that means that if you
force the truth out of someone with a potion like this then that evidence
can not be used in a court of Law (sorry they never said why) something to
do with it not being given willingly, maybe there is a similar law in the
Wizard world."
 
I am a lawyer and I can explain this.  The real world "truth serum" is a
chemical called sodium pentothal.  Nobody is quite sure how it works, but it
reduces inhibitions and apparently encourages the telling of what people
believe is the truth.  It is not used in court in criminal cases because of
the constitutional prohibition in the USA against forced self-incrimination.
It is not used in civil cases because it is not viewed as accurate enough.
Evidence in civil cases must pass a test of scientific validity and because
nobody is quite sure how it works.  Sodium pentothal is used as an
investigative tool by law enforcement in extreme situations, but not with
the expectation that SP-enhanced testimony itself would be admissible in
court.
 
-- Bexis




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