---
kind: "section"
citation: "34 U.S.C. § 10451"
title: "34"
title_heading: "Crime Control and Law Enforcement"
number: "10451"
heading: "Polygraph testing prohibition"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/34/10451"
units:
  - "Subtitle I — Comprehensive Acts"
  - "Chapter 101 — Justice System Improvement"
  - "Subchapter XIX — Grants to Combat Violent Crimes Against Women"
---

# §10451. Polygraph testing prohibition

- (a) **In general—** In order to be eligible for grants under this subchapter, a [State](/usc/34/11103.md?p=7), [Indian](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-18) [tribal government](/usc/34/11103.md?p=45), territorial government, or [unit of local government](/usc/34/11103.md?p=8) shall certify that, not later than 3 years after January 5, 2006, their laws, policies, or practices will ensure that no [law enforcement](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-23) officer, prosecuting officer or other government official shall ask or require an adult, [youth](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-52), or child victim of an alleged sex offense as defined under Federal, tribal, [State](/usc/34/11103.md?p=7), territorial, or local law to submit to a polygraph examination or other truth telling device as a condition for proceeding with the investigation of such an offense.
- (b) **Prosecution—** The refusal of a victim to submit to an examination described in [subsection (a)](#a) shall not prevent the investigation, charging, or [prosecution](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-28) of the offense.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 90–351, title I, § 2013, as added Pub. L. 109–162, title I, § 101(g), Jan. 5, 2006, 119 Stat. 2975.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 3796gg–8 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section not effective until the beginning of fiscal year 2007, see section 4 of Pub. L. 109–162, set out as an Effective Date of 2006 Amendment note under section 10261 of this title.