As always , The Breeze brings some interesting discussion points to the conversation. Some that I agree with, some that I do not.

On "Good Morning America" TV Show today, they transmitted from the FBI Training Ground in
Virginia.  During the show, an FBI official stated that they had over 80,000 applicants for 500 final positions this year.  Certainly the fear of polygraph false positives is not stopping the application process.  

The Breeze has offered that the FBI is using the polygraph procedure inappropriately to thin the applicant pool.  After working for the government for many years and going through the applicant process in the FBI (including three polygraphs), I tend to lean in his direction on this point.  Like it or not, it can allow the agencies to sway the applicant pool according to priorities only known to the hiring agency.  Right or wrong this is the perogative of the hiring agency.

I only disagree with the fact that a permanent black mark would be placed on a person's security background strictly based on polygraph alone. This has and still is happening at the FBI during this process.

I know that videotaping every polygraph session is logistically difficult but the absolute right to take away someone's integrity through polygraph usage must have some kind of check and balance.  Most appeals occur well withing one year of the actual test.  With digitalized recording on DVDs, the actual expense and storage of such exams is feasible.

The actual amount of FBI applicant hires polygraphed is probably 1500 for 500 hired.  For an organization as large and sophisticated as the FBI, recording such exams should not be such a big deal.

My application process is complete but I can not publicly detail my experience.  I did appeal and get a third polygraph in which I passed.  I was also asked if I wanted to proceed with the application process.

I know that government makes mistakes everyday.  In my case, the FBI saw this mistake and corrected it to the best of their ability withing the confines of their guidelines.   I am more impressed with an agency's ability to correct mistakes than I am about the mistakes themselves.  I do not wish to drag the agency through the mud: I would like to see it improve its public image by recording applicant polygraphs since their outcomes have such major impact on an accused person's integrity.  If polygraphs cannot or willnot be eliminated, this is surely a reasonable first step to improvement.

It does not change the feelings I have about the inappropriate use of polygraph pre-screening, especially without videotape or digital recording.  I still believe that recording these exams would vindicate ethical exam givers and takers.  It certainly would increase the perception that the agencies involved were trying to protect applicant rights as well as national security concerns.

Regards