The much despised polygraph...

[CPES]

Well guys, I know we have some people on here who are in the Phoenix metro area, so I'm excited to say that I'll be in Mesa the week of October 7th-13th taking their test and moving through the expedited "out of state" application process.

I'm hoping to do well, but I've never had the (dis)pleasure of being tested via polygraph before. It seems easy enough. Don't lie and you'll be fine, right? Well, I've known several people who are pretty straight shooters that have failed these damn tests.

I'm going to be nervous as hell in the first place since I've never taken one before, but can anyone give me the basic rundown of how it goes? Any helpful tips?

[retired]

You got the part right about don't lie. If you lie about something that wouldn't keep you from passing in the first place, you will be DQ. Also, that will follow you in any test with another dept. as any other one will want to know and will find out, who you have tested for.

If you have a sealed juvie record and believe you don't have to answer truthfully, immediately forget that. A backround investigator can get that info very easily.

Now, I'm not saying any of this applies to you, just be aware of it.

First, they will probably go over a list of questions they plan on asking before you are hooked up to the machine. Then they will ask you the same questions while hooked up. Obviously, they had better be the same.

I won't tell you to relax, because you can't. They tell you the machine takes that into account, but I don't know if that is BS or not. I was put on the polygraph more than once during my career; once as a possible witness during an I.A. and once during an on duty shooting by another deputy while I was present. You are going to be nervous and it's expected.

Do not fidget during the test as the operator knows that is one way people with something to hide try to disrupt the test and give false readings. Tho difficult, try to be calm and give honest yes or no answers. Only answer the question asked.

I wish you good luck and hope if you are qualified, you become a leo. I fully enjoyed my career and can look back proudly in what I did. Good luck.

[XD45X2]

http://antipolygraph.org/

[PackerfanXD]

My BIL is a Maricopa Deputy Sheriff. I don't know anyone as straight laced as this kid. He failed his polygraph 2 times, IIRC...

[GatGatGat]

ya, the poly was the only thing that kept me out of the sheriffs dept here in MD. was sick as hell the weekend before called up on that monday to ask if my tue poly could be set back a day or two since i had a bunch of meds in me and was hackin to high heavens, they said no.. so right off the bat im screwed, sat through the whole thing coughing like crazy, then he said i showed signs during "theft" and "domestic abuse" i was like... you gotta be kidding me. im good friends with the col (then captain) he said he has seen more people fail harford county and go to baltimore county and pass, than he has seen pass on their first try. Its BS in my book... wont hold up in court, shouldnt hold up in real life..

[Brickboy240]

Ugh...the polygraph...what a miserable experience.

I had to take one many years ago, during a criminal investigation (we were acquitted...we were not involved...long story).

I honestly don't know how those things are all that reliable. The polygrapher made us so nervous and riled us up so much, we looked guilty and began questioning our own answers. They asked embarrassing questions to establish a baseline as well. A totally demeaning and miserable experinence. I don't know what they got out of it.

Their result for my "test"...inconclusive. They could not tell if I was lying or not. I told the truth the entire time and their reaction to "I don't know" as an answer (when I truly did NOT know and did not want to make somethign up) was unnerving. I thought at any minute the rubber hose and spotlight was going to be pulled on me. Awful.

We were no-billed by a grand jury and someone else was indicted and charged for what we were accused of later on but I really think they can "bend" the results of a polygraph test to say whatever they want.

Scary if you ask me. I now know why the polygraph is so controversial.

- brickboy240

[limblessbiff]

the polygraph is only a big deal if you let it be one. first time i was very nervous, but after that its not a big deal at all, now i wont tell you i dont get nervous at all, because i do, but only a little bit. the polygraph is the easiest part of the process in my opinion. the Oral Review Board ****ing sucks. and thats to put it nicely.
at my oral review, one of the panel members told me that he thinks that I "would be the biggest waste of time and money, and would be an embarassmant to his academy and the department"
ive been working for that same department for 3 years lol.
the interview is where they really mess with you. it is where you make it or break it. everything else is a just a filter. worry about that before you freak out about your polygraph. be open, relax, and just remember, it isnt really about what you have done, its more about how honest you are about it and if you have changed your ways.

[REEDHMB]

I agree with everyone else, just tell the truth. But I am going to add one more thing. Tell the truth from the very beginning. When the background packet asks for information, tell the truth, during any subsequent background interviews, tell the same truth and when you’re hooked up to the poly also tell the same truth. If you get to the poly and suddenly treat it like you’ve come to confessional your going to fail. The truth of the matter is the Poly is a tool to get you to tell the truth more than it is a tool to catch you in a lie. Good Luck, Mark

[dannyg0811]

I don't think its really responses to questions that will get you. Its the long pause between answering a question to when the next question is asked.

After answering a question don't think about your response. I think thats when they really monitor you. Don't doubt yourself. Find a spot on the wall or in my case the door knob, and just try to focus on it. Don't fidget either.

As someone else said only answer the questions asked, don't need to go into detail. YES or NO. Unless they ask for an explanation.

Don't drink a lot of coffee or energy drinks before hand. It will increase your heart rate. Most important, be honest.

Good Luck.

[Mike TRT]

its not the machine, its the examiner.......some are pretty cool, some are a-holes.........every little line, tick, bump or wiggle on the machine is open to interpretation........I have none, nada, zip, zero faith in polygraphs, my advise is to just relax, make damn sure you understand what the goof is asking you, and tell the truth, the rest is not up to you.......if you are absolutly truthful, you'll "probably" do fine, but only you will know if you were......if you were and you fail, chaulk it up experience and remember " I told you so".....

good luck