Apparent False Positives in 9-11 Terror Investigation

In an article titled, “Nation’s Frantic Dragnet Entangles Many Lives,” Los Angeles Times staff writer Patrick J. McDonnell reports on wave of detentions — often on scant evidence — that have come in the wake of the terrorist attacks of 11 September. The FBI has made wide use of polygraphy in interrogating detainees. This article … Read more

“Mayor Race Gets Down and Dirty”

New York Post writers Robert Hardt, Jr., William J. Gorta, and Maggie Haberman report on a lie detector “test” at issue in the New York City mayoral campaign. Excerpt: November 5, 2001 — The mayoral race exploded yesterday, with Mark Green and Michael Bloomberg trading furious charges – and Green demanding his rival release the … Read more

“What Gives a Liar Away?”

The British Broadcasting Corporation reports on the detection of deception. Excerpt: Do you know when you’re being lied to? Probably not, since even experienced police interrogators are no more adept at spotting porkies than the rest of us. Improve your chances (only moderately, to tell you the truth) with BBC News Online’s expert tips. 1) … Read more

Wisconsin Assembly Passes Antipolygraph Bill

The Wisconson state assembly approved Assembly Bill 484, which “prohibits law enforcement officers and district attorneys from requiring, requesting, or suggesting that a person who alleges that he or she is the victim of a sexual assault submit to a lie detector test, regardless of whether the victim gives prior written and informed consent to … Read more

“LAPD Polygraph Test Results Don’t Tell Full Truth”

AntiPolygraph.org’s George Maschke comments in this Los Angeles Daily News op-ed piece. Excerpt: LOS Angeles has awarded a $615,000 noncompetitive contract to a company to give polygraph tests to Los Angeles Police Department recruits, paying double the going rate for lie-detector experts. Phyllis Lynes, assistant general manager for the Personnel Department’s Public Safety Bureau, has … Read more

“Big Lies”

The Los Angeles Daily News discusses the city’s recent polygraph contract in this editorial. Excerpt: City Hall’s budget woes get worse every day. This year’s projected deficit has nearly doubled in just a week. Maybe that’s because City Hall pays twice the going rate for its services and contracts. Take lie-detectors — and frankly it … Read more

“Double Charge for Cop Exams”

Beth Barrett of the Los Angeles Daily News reports on the non-competitive contract recently awarded to US Investigation Services to provide polygraph support for the Los Angeles Police Department. Excerpt: Without seeking bids, Los Angeles hired an East Coast security firm — at double the going rate — to perform lie detector tests on LAPD … Read more

Army Revokes Clearance of Jewish Major Who Passed Polygraph

Arieh O’Sullivan reports for the Jerusalem Post in an article titled, “US Army strips Jewish Major of security clearance.” Excerpt: JERUSALEM (October 24) – The US Army has revoked the security clearance of a Jewish reserve officer, forcing him to give up command of an intelligence unit, The Jerusalem Post has learned. The officer, Maj. … Read more