First, let me give just a bit of background info. During college, I took a job at a gas station in order to make extra money. The job was o.k., but I eventually left b/c a part-time position in my chosen career was available. I was only at the gas station for two months, and during that time I was under the impression that the security cameras worked (otherwise I probably wouldn't have mopped quite as much as I did ). I worked with an older woman, a middle aged woman (also the manager), and one younger than me. The manager and younger employee were friends. On one instance, the young employee came in with a male friend and made some small purchases, and I think they also stole some sleeping pills. I was a bit naive at the time and thought I must be mistaken as who would be foolish enough to steal right in front of a security camera...and an employee at that.  Little did I know. 

About a week after I quit, I was contacted by local police. The gas station had been robbed, and whoever did it apparently had a key because the lock was undamaged. They were looking at all employees who had access. I had since returned my key but had it at the time of the robbery. I had meant to return it sooner, but had been told I could turn it in the following weekend. All the money and all the cigarettes had been stolen. I don't smoke and I don't have any means of turning merchandise into cash (unless you can pawn cigarettes). It's not like there's a manual for these sort of things if you've never done anything illegal. I told the officers as much but did go down to the station to answer some questions and take a polygraph.

When I got there, I was asked if I had any type of mental illness. My mother has been diagnosed with anxiety and I have been on medication for a mood disorder in the past, but I still volunteered to take the poly. It was during this time that I also found out that the young employee had refused on this basis. 

My impression of polygraphs previous to this was that they were a good indicator of truths. I'd seen on several shows that they were inadmissible, but thought that was based on the fact that you could train yourself to pass. It never occured to me that it could give a false positive. 

During questioning, I was fine anytime the polygraph operator asked me questions such as "Did I know who took the cigarettes." But when he asked me a question that seemed accusatory, such as "Did you take the cigarettes," my body responded in the extreme. I did not rob that store, have never been involved in any criminal activity, and I answered honestly; however, I can't explain why my heart started racing and my spine started tingling everytime I got a "Did you..." question. The man could have asked "did you kill Mickey Mouse" and still gotten the crazy respiration and heartrate readings as he was for the robbery questions. In fact, my response was so extreme that he actually tried to calm me down, something that I don't think polygraph operators are supposed to do, given the nature of the test.

I know there are probably still some who might think "she did it, and she's lying." Let me assure you this isn't the case. The younger employee was guilty of this crime. She and the manager were friends, and she was made privy to the fact that the security cameras did not work b/c the manager never put tape in them, a fact that was never divulged to the other employees. Immediately after the questioning, she took all of her belongings and left without any notification, moving two states away. I don't know if the police ever charged her or not as that was the last contact I had with them. I was out with friends on the night of the burglary, and maybe that was enough for them to drop me as a suspect. They never even told me if I had failed the exam. I don't know if that was b/c my extreme response was so obvious they felt they didn't have to, or if my readings were so outrageously off scale that it invalidated the test. I don't think I was going to pass out or anything like that, but in addition to the accelerated breathing and heart-rate, I would also break out in cold shivers...to the point where neck clenched and my teeth chattered in response.

Still...it's a scary thought, that polygraph. Though completely innocent, I had absolutely no control over my reactions. If admissible, and without the happenstance of being out with friends, I wonder if I would have been charged? 

I would like to point out that I've since read some other poly stories, but the operator who worked with me was not in anyway leading or obnoxious. He was friendly and his questions delivered in a montone voice. While I do not now believe in the validity of his craft, I do respect him for behaving in a professional manner, especially after reading the horrible accounts of others.