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Manual of Investigative Operations and Guidelines
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67-7.10     Polygraph Examinations of FBI Applicants (See also MIOG, 
            Part I, 67-17.3.8 (4); Part II, 13-22.12, 35-9.2

            (1)  All FBI applicants for support and Special Agent (SA) 
positions, including on-board support employees who apply for the SA 
position, must undergo a polygraph examination focusing on national 
security issues, use or sale of illegal drugs and completeness of the 
FD-140 (Application for Employment - FBI).  Standardized testing 
formats have been provided to each field polygraph examiner for their 
use.  These examinations are to receive priority attention and should 
be handled in a manner that will expedite the applicant process.

                 (a)  Deleted

                 (b)  Deleted



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                 (c)  Deleted

                 (d)  Deleted

            (2)  The Special Agent Applicant Unit (SAAU) and the 
Bureau Support Applicant Unit (BSAU), Personnel Division will ensure 
all FBI applicants are advised that they will be required to submit to 
a polygraph examination during the processing of their application and 
prior to their employment to assist in the resolution of issues 
directly related to national security, the FBI guidelines regarding 
the sale and use of illegal drugs and the accuracy/completeness of the 
FD-140 (Application for Employment - FBI).

            (3)  Any pertinent information developed during the 
polygraph examination should be provided in writing by the applicant 
on a supplemental information form.

            (4)  A preemployment polygraph examination is one element 
of the overall applicant screening process.  It is not to be 
considered as a substitute for a thorough and complete background 
investigation.  The preemployment polygraph test is NOT designed to 
assess trustworthiness and suitability in areas NOT covered by the 
examination.

            (5)  Failure to submit to a polygraph examination, or 
failure to satisfactorily cooperate during the examination will be 
considered in determining whether the applicant shall be hired.  Prior 
to the examination, the examiner will obtain the applicant's agreement 
in writing to take the polygraph examination (FD-328b).

            (6)  SAAU and BSAU will notify applicants determined not 
to be eligible for employment based on admission of illegal drug usage 
during preemployment polygraph testing.  (See MIOG, Part I, 67-3.2.2 & 
67-3.2.3)



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67-7.10.1  Polygraph Examinations of FBI Applicants - Drug Issues 
           (See MIOG, Part II, 13-22.12.1.)


            (1)  All applicants for permanent employment with the FBI 
are required to submit to a polygraph examination on specific issues, 
i.e., those which relate to their trustworthiness and eligibility for 
a "Top Secret" security clearance (security issues) and those which 
relate to their use of illegal drugs (drug use) as well as veracity of 
information furnished on their application.  To address questions and 
concerns regarding use of the polygraph for drug issues, an applicant 
will be placed in one of three specific categories:

                 (a)  Passed - No Indication of Deception

                 (b)  Failed - Deception Indicated

                 (c)  Inconclusive - Unable to Determine Results

            (2)  Concerns raised regarding use of the polygraph to 
address drug use and/or results of drug use examinations predominantly 
are associated only with the second category--those cases in which an 
applicant failed the examination.  Cases involving a failed polygraph 
examination on drug use will be readily categorized as follows:

                 (a)  Failed - Subsequently Admitted Deception - Drug 
Use EXCEEDS FBI Suitability Standards

                 (b)  Failed - Subsequently Admitted Deception - Drug 
Use DOES NOT EXCEED FBI Suitability Standards

                 (b)  Failed - Denies Deception

            (3)  Applicants whose polygraph results fall into the 
first category above merit NO further consideration for employment.  
These applicants do not meet FBI suitability standards regarding drug 
use.

            (4)  Applicants who fall into the second category above 
are NOT eligible for further applicant processing.  A lack of candor 
displayed by an applicant during the polygraph phase warrants their 
disqualification.  Each applicant should be advised of the 
significance of candor during the applicant process and advised to 
tell the truth prior to their polygraph examination.

            (5)  Applicants whose drug use polygraph examination 
results fall into the last category, "Failed - Denies Deception," 



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warrant particular review.  In those instances in which an applicant 
fails the polygraph on drug use issues and maintains that he/she has 
told the truth and can offer no explanation for the deceptive outcome 
of his/her polygraph, the FBI will take the following action:

                 (a)  On-Board Support Personnel Applying for the 
Special Agent (SA) Position: When an on-board support employee fails 
a polygraph examination regarding drug use issues, that fact must be 
reported to the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) so that an 
appropriate inquiry may be conducted.  In such cases, the employee 
will be required to submit to an interview conducted under the 
auspices of an OPR investigation regarding his/her use of, or other 
association with illegal drugs, and a signed sworn statement will be 
taken from the employee regarding his/her involvement in the illegal 
use of drugs.  In addition, OPR will conduct appropriate investigation 
to determine if the employee has used illegal drugs post-employment 
with the FBI and/or used illegal drugs preemployment and failed to 
disclose the exact nature or extent of that use to the FBI. During 
the course of the OPR inquiry, the employee will be required to again 
submit to a polygraph examination regarding drug use.  The second 
polygraph examination will be conducted by a polygrapher other than 
the individual who administered the first examination.  If the 
employee fails the second examination, the administrative inquiry will 
continue, as may be appropriate, in accordance with current FBI policy 
in such matters and no further processing for the SA appointment will 
be conducted.  If the employee passes the second polygraph examination 
regarding drug use and has not admitted deception on the prior 
examination or involvement with or use of illegal drugs previously 
unknown to the FBI, OPR will complete its inquiries and forward its 
findings to the Adjudication Unit.  Upon adjudication, SAAU will once 
again consider the employee for the SA position.

                 (b)  Outside Applicants Who Fail the Polygraph 
Examination regarding Drug Use and Deny Deception: Individuals who 
seek FBI employment and fail their polygraph examination regarding 
drug use will be disqualified from further consideration except in 
limited circumstances.  Each applicant will be advised by the 
Personnel Division of the results of his/her examination and whether 
he/she has been determined eligible for further processing.

            (6)  If an applicant from outside the FBI fails the 
polygraph, and maintains that he/she has not been deceptive, he/she 
may request to be considered for further applicant processing.  This 
request should be sent by the applicant directly to the FBIHQ division 
head or SAC that previously has been sponsoring the applicant's 
employment application. If deemed appropriate by the FBIHQ division 



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head or SAC, the applicant should be thoroughly interviewed regarding 
his/her use/involvement with illegal drugs.  This interview should be 
conducted by an experienced Special Agent other than the polygrapher 
or SA previously involved in processing the applicant for employment.  
The result of that interview must be documented in detail in an FD-
302.  It will be the responsibility of an FBIHQ division head or SAC 
to personally review the applicant's file to determine if further 
consideration is warranted on the merits of the case.  An FBIHQ 
division head or SAC may submit a written recommendation to the 
Personnel Division to request that an applicant be given a second 
polygraph on the basis of the information developed subsequent to the 
polygraph examination.  Such information should, of course, provide a 
basis justifying the applicant's reexamination.  To ensure consistency 
and equity in decisions to afford such applicants further 
consideration, the Deputy Assistant Director - Personnel Officer, 
Personnel Division, will be responsible for approval of the decision 
to afford an outside applicant a second polygraph examination.



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