Original reporting and commentary about polygraphs, voice stress analyzers, and other purported "lie detectors."
Augusta (Georgia) Chronicle staff writer Johnny Edwards reports. Excerpt: The Atlanta chapter of the Service Employees International Union, which covers state employees, is accusing the Department of Juvenile Justice of using polygraph tests to muzzle Augusta workers and possibly violating their First Amendment rights. Guards and nurses at the Augusta Youth Development Campus who have …
This short report from the Spokane, Washington Spokesman-Review, published under the title, “Deposit bags stolen from parking garage,” is cited here in full: Almost $8,000 was stolen from the River Park Square parking garage on or about June 29, the Saturday of Hoopfest. Two deposit bags were taken from the garage office safe within the …
Doug Moore of the St. Louis Post Dispatch reports in an article titled, “City fires three employees, charges them with stealing from meters.” Excerpt: Three St. Louis city workers have been fired and charged with stealing quarters from parking meters. As a result, the treasurer’s office is asking some of its other employees to submit …
Pseudoscientific polygraph “tests,” which may be conveniently rigged against the examinee, are a favorite bureaucratic tool of intimidation. In an article titled, “Sheriff says broken trust led to firing,” Beth Velliquette of the Durham, Chapel Hill, and Research Triange region Herald-Sun reports on the case of fired Chatham County, North Carolina sheriff’s deputy Dan Phillips, …
Fiona Hamilton reports on polygraphy in the workplace in Queensland, Australia in this article published in the Courier-Mail. Excerpt: LIE detector tests are the latest weapon for Queensland employers in vetting prospective employees and investigating workplace thefts and frauds. Insurers are also using lie detectors to check the veracity of claims, offering to pay if …
In an article titled “Squeal Like a Pig” published in the Riverfront Times, Bruce Rushton reports on the Overland Police Department’s alleged retaliation against employees who complained of sexual harassment. This detailed investigative report includes an account of how the threat of a polygraph interrogation was used as a tool of intimidation against Overland police …
Luke Turf of the Yuma Sun reports on the Arizona Department of Corrections’ use of polygraphy. Excerpt: Three correctional officers at the state prison in Yuma were wrongfully disciplined because the Department of Corrections relies too heavily on polygraphs, an attorney for the employees and state Sen. Herb Guenther say. Martin Bihn is the attorney …
The Beauregard Daily News reports in an article titled,”La. Supreme Court upholds dismissal of policeman.” The officer’s dismissal was based in large part on polygraph “evidence.” This short article, which is no longer available on the Beauregard Daily News website, is cited in full here: The 1997 dismissal of Johnny M. Evans, Sr. from the …
Bob Rosner writes for the Wall Street Journal Center for Entrepreneurs Startup Journal. Excerpt: I recently received a letter from a small-business owner who responded to a rash of small thefts in the workplace with company-wide lie-detector tests. Before you start any fishing expeditions with your employees, I thought you’d benefit from hearing the following …
Madison Taylor of the Jacksonville Daily News comments on Onslow County, North Carolina Commissioner Jack Bright’s proposal to give lie detector “tests” to Onslow County Board of Health employees who are the subject of complaints from the public. (For more regarding Jack Bright’s well-intentioned but ill-conceived proposal, see William Davis’ 8 November Jacksonville Daily News …