There still is no excuse for getting so personal with sex question. Ok drugs etc questions are understandable, but this is out of hand. 

dimas wrote on Jul 1^st, 2002 at 10:03am:

Dimas, you are right.  The only truly relevant question is whether or not someone has forcibly had sex with another.  You brought to my attention that the details of my sex life (even those that are not shared with my fiance) are now permanently on file at a police department.  That is simply wrong.  Unfortunately, things are unlikely to change for the better anytime soon.

I couldn't agree with you more.  I would venture to say that 9 of the 10 sexual habits questions I was asked were irrelevant.  I was even asked at what age I lost my virginity.  I ofcourse asked him what that had to do with anything, and he even appeared to be bothered by me questioning him.  Whether or not they have a standard list of questions is something that is most likely true. However, I believe that they add their own questions to most interrogations depending on what tickles their fancy.  In all the Poly's I have taken the only question that I found relevant was "have you ever forced someone to have sex/ have you ever had sex with someone with out their consent.  All the other questions are either quite disturbing such as sex with dead people and animals, or are flat out questions that are none of their damn business as they involve consentual acts between two adults.  What business is it of his how many people I have had sex with, or what age I lost my virginity at.  It is wise for any applicant to a department that asks questions like these to find another department to apply to.  Trust me being a cop isn't glamorous enough a job to have your personal sex life on file for anyone in the departments review board to go over whenever they want to.

dimas wrote on Jul 1^st, 2002 at 10:03am:


I agree with the above.  However, if the purpose is to weed out sexual offenders, perhaps they'd do better to stick to questions that actually have to do with abnormal behavior.  As it is, that question list makes polygraphy look like a sexual voyeur's dream job.  And since I have a strong suspicion that the question list was developed by the polygraphers themselves -- with basically no oversight, of course -- that analysis might not be too far off the mark.

(Or, for that matter, if the point is to catch sexual deviants, let's let actual professionals qualified in such matters -- psychologists -- do the evaluation, and get polygraphers out of it entirely).

Perhaps when the public is done being outraged at the infiltration of the Catholic Priesthood by sexual deviants, polygraphers will be next.  Sad and amazing that these folks are the gatekeepers to positions requiring the utmost in trustworthiness, character and stability.

Skeptic

 I truly believe that many of these questions are intended to help them "weed out" any sexual offenders, or more importantly sexual predators who may use their newly acquired position of authority to take advantage of someone.  I can see the importance in trying to keep these people out of law enforcement, especially every night when I kiss my wife good bye and go off to work.  It is ufortunate, but in the particular county I work in, a few years back some deputies were arrested for pulling women over and raping them.  We unfortunately must now pay for the mistakes of sick people like these, in the form of ridiculously intrusive and personal questions given to us by equally sick polygraphers who seem to get off on laying their holier than thou morality upon us because they apparently never masturbate or share some drinks with their significant other  and then have sex with them.  

Dallas, TX Police Application:

"Have you ever paid for sex in any form or fashion, with money, gifts, favors?"

Also included in the sex acts you have paid for "touching your genitals."

To the first one.  Yes I have paid for sex every time I've been laid. As a matter of fact I've never been laid for free. There has always been a dinner or some kind of payment before or after the sex act.  Even now as I am married I pay my wife for  sex, I am just on a lay-away plan i.e. "pay as you go".

To the second part, I payed my doctor last month for touching my genitals during a physical exam.

Hook me up to Poly-Machine and you'll see spikes like you've never seen before on the "Have you ever paid for sex?" question.

And no I've never had sex with animals, my dog did try to hump my leg a couple of times though. Maybe that can be a yes to the "have you ever been raped?" question.   Come on....Anything can cause a reaction.

Frisco, TX had the exact same line of questioning..... along with even more.... about sex, guns, drugs, etc.


Very invaisive line of questioning in MHO.

I withdrew my application from them just because of their attitude.  The lady was going on and on about how they would find out about anything you did, etc, and if you lied, they had a VERY good polygraphor who would know immediately.....gag....ad nauseum.....

Welcome to the wonderful world of polygraph interrogation. No topic is off-limits to the bastards it seems.

Your questions are typical screening questions posed by sex offender treatment providers and/or psychologists interviewing to determine whether or not someone has a dangerous and/or illegal sexual addiction, or deep seated perversion. Yay.

When I took my poly I was told that they couldn't ask any questions about my sexual experiences. I can see that some of the questions ask you if you have committed a criminal act ie sex with a dead person, but I think they have gone too far with the questions you shared. If you don't get the job you may want to contact a lawyer in your state and see if there has been some violation of law. If you do get the job, let it go.

I figured I'd be asked more about stealing or drug usage, but a pre-poly that I took was about 50% dedicated to personal sex habits.  These questions were a standard form given to all candidates.  Among the questions, were:

• Have you ever had sex in a public place?  Give details.
• Have you ever had sex with someone under 17?  Give details.
• Have you ever had sex with an animal?  Give details.
• Have you ever had sex with a dead person?  Give details.
• Have you ever viewed child pornography? Give details.
• Have you ever had sex in exchange for money, a good, or a service?  Give details.
• Have you ever had sex while intoxicated?  Give details.
• Have you ever had sex with an invalid or mentally retarded person?  Give details.
• Have you ever had sex with someone under the influence of alcohol or drugs?  Give details.
• Have you ever forced someone to have sex with you?  Give details.
• Have you ever cross-dressed as a member of the opposite sex?  Give details.
• What do you do if you're aroused and don't have your spouse/partner?
• How often do you masterbate?

I understand that some of these questions are relevant, but having to explain when you might have had sex in a car with a girlfriend or wife is really digging into very private matters.  I'll wager that most married individuals have had sex in a car or a park at some point; or for that matter, shared a bottle of wine and  gotten drunk on an anniversary and had sex.  Having to give details of these encounters seems a bit much for me.

I spoke to a police friend (in another department) who told his Chief about these questions.  The Chief said that the people asking such questions need to have their heads checked.  My question to you all is have any of you run into these kinds of questions in this quantity while applying for an agency?  I'm starting to wonder if this emphasis on sex habits is restricted to this particular agency, or if it is more ubiquitous.  Thanks in advance for any serious feedback.