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Dont sweat it about the shit you did years ago.  Depending on how old you are they wont matter at all.  Tell them about it in detail.  The more stuff you tell them about that happened ten years ago will make them believe you are making full disclosure.  Like George said, the marijuana question could be bad but I'd recommend trying to find out what their limit is and then admitting to using.  You have to convince the examiner that you are telling the truth not only by your charts but by the way you interact and answer the questions in the pre poly interview.  I'd recommend making full disclosure on everything as well as employing appropriate counter measures, even if it's only during the stim test (which is what I did.)  It is very important to recognize the type of test they are going to do during the pre test interview so you can prepare your counter measures.  Pay close attention when they review the questions they are going to ask you when you are hooked up to the machines as they will inform you that they willl read these questions word for word during the actual poly test.  More and more LE agencies are using the Rellevant/Irrelevant test.  This is easy to recognize and really the only way to ensure you pass is to increase your heart rate, BP, and breathing during the stim test and then keep a steady breathing pattern for the rest of the test.   

Good luck,

and remember that LE's are no longer hiring just perfect angels anymore.


PS.  Relax.  Know you are informed and in control and it will greatly increase your chances of success.

canuck out.

The areas of concern you mention (marijuana use as a teenager, taking money from your parents when you were 12, and drinking while underage) are not likely to disqualify you from the kind of job you seek, though marijuana use might be a problem if it exceeded a certain limit set by the sheriff's department.

To learn about the kinds of questions you can expect in a pre-employment polygraph "test" (as well as the trickery behind the procedure) and to learn techniques for reducing your risk of becoming a false positive, see Chapters 3 & 4 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector.

I am set to take a polygraph in about a week and I am scared to death about it!!  I have had friends that have taken them and have failed.  I can't refuse to take it b/c it is for a job that would pay me very very well and that I would love to have.  It would be for an operator for the sheriffs department.  I am NOT a criminal or anything of the sort.  However, back when I was a teenager......did I try weed??  yes........Did I ever take money from my parents......yep, when I 12..........Did I ever drink underage??  Definitely.......

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!      This upcoming test is making me physically ill and I have no idea of what to do about it.  I really need this job and would love to have it.  There is NO WAY out of taking this test if I want the job.  Is there anything that I can do??  What type of questions do you think that they'll ask me??  What answers should I give them??  Someone please help me answer these.  I thank you in advance for your time.   

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