Orolan,

If your interpretation of this particular APA by-law is correct then there are a hell of a lot of polygrapers out there, to include those associated with federal, state, and local government, who are in direct viloation of same, however I believe your interpreation is incorrect.

George,

You stated,

"Whether surgeries, medical check-ups, or car sales should be routinely audio- or videotaped is largely irrelevant to the question of whether such should be the case with regard to polygraph examinations."

Sorry, but I disagree.  I can only assume your insistance that polygraph examinations be recorded is to protect the rights of the examinee.  Well what about the rights of patients, etc...?  Shouldn't we be equally, if not even more concerned about this?  The abuses within the medical profession are far more damaging than those within the polygraph profession.  I have been a polygraph examiner since 1984 and I have yet to hear of anyone losing their life as a direct result of a polygraph examination.  However, in that same time there have been countless cases of malpractise on the part of the medical profession.  These incidents have resulted in the loss of life, maiming, and serious, permanent physical and psychological damage.  How could this be irrelevant to the argument of recording a procedure for the protection of the examinee?  Is your concern really for the protection of the examinee's rights or is it just to try and put the screws to polygraph?

If it is the latter than why don't you hop down off your high horse and simply say so.  If your concerns are of a higher motive then I think you need to press forward and insist that any procedure that could harm anyone in any way be recorded in some fashion.  Damn, we should be recording just about every aspect of everyday life for that matter.  There's always something out there that brings pain and discomfort to someone.

As for rational as to why a polygraph examination should not be recorded, I have none.  I also have no objection to recording polygraph examinations that I administer, and have done so.  As for providing these recordings to the examinee, now your getting into legal issues, because these recordings are treated as evidence.  I believe the examinee would eventually get a copy (through his attorney) under discovery, however that determination is made within the legal channels.  I would not have the authority to release them.  As for pre-employment screening, sorry, I don't administer such exams so I can not speak as to whether or not recordings of same could or could not be released to the examinee.  I will say this though, I would be more willing to provide an examinee with a full recording of any polygraph examination that I adminster, than a doctor is willing to give that same person a copy of his or her own medical records.  Now why is that?  

Oh, I almost forgot, on another thread, an obvious non-hire within the realm of law enforcement would be someone who has engaged in serious felony type activity, known or unknown to the agency to which he/she is applying.  Nice try on playing the race/sex card, kind of low, but expected.

Batman