Hello,

I have a question that I hope someone can answer. Before I ask, though, I'll give you a little background.

First, I was very happy to find this site and read about what you are doing to combat polygraph abuse. I didn't need to be told that the tests are unscientific and inaccurate - I already knew that from personal experience.

Six years ago I tried to become a police officer. Several police agencies considered me to be a top candidate after my oral, written, and physical tests. One gave me a conditional offer of employment for a non-officer position, pending successful completion of a background investigation and a polygraph exam.
I passed the background but did not pass the polygraph. They gave me a second chance. Again I did not pass.

Like many of the people who have written testimonies on this site, I was shocked. I did not lie, disclosed all my minor blemishes in the pre-questioning stage, and went in to the test full of confidence because I had nothing to hide. Why would anyone who had something to hide voluntarily apply for such a job and submit to that test?

Nonetheless, I was told that my results indicated that I was untruthful about something. They did not tell me what I supposedly lied about. I signed all my rights away before testing and now will probably never know.

Several of your testimonials describe how failed testers couldn't sleep and were generally shocked by the results. That happened to me too. I have never had such a severe emotion, good or bad, in my entire life while I drove home. I hope that was the low point for my life. RET suggests that Johnn should find a different line of work because of this apparent weakness. Take that as a compliment, Johnn. Those feelings make you human.

The bottom line is this. I was considered by the police to be a criminal. I have never been arrested. I have never been convicted. I have never committed a crime (sure, there have been small things like occasional marijuana smoking in my youth, but I disclosed all of that before the test). Still, they think I'm a criminal.

All I did was apply for a job! If they had just rejected me for a job that would be no problem. In fact, I'm glad I didn't get the job because I moved on to much better things in my career. But to be branded a criminal? Ridiculous. I confirmed this a couple of weeks ago. I called the police agency to ask if my records were still on file because I had heard that they may be destroyed after a few years. The police officer I spoke to was friendly until he asked for my name. I gave it, he punched it into the computer, he realized immediately who I was (even though I already told him), and then suddenly he barked at me like I was a convicted felon. He said, despite assurances I received six years ago, that he would disclose the results of my test to anyone who asked (if they are legally entitled to it) and that for all intents and purposes I am considered a criminal. HE ACTUALLY SAID THOSE WORDS. Remember, I only applied for a job.

Here is my question. Am I screwed for life? I have worked as an educator in private business for many years, have great credentials, a graduate degree, and am now considering working at a public university or getting a teaching license. Public universities and K-12 schools always do background investigations. Will they find out about this? Will they consider me unemployable or a criminal? I guess they will find out because every background questionairre asks if an applicant has failed a previous background investigation (and I will continue to tell truth).

Will my failed attempt to work for a police agency prevent me from every working at a school, for the government, for an airline (they require FAA background tests), for private businesses that do government contracts?

Am I branded as a criminal for life? Do you have any experience with this? I want to apply for a job with a university or school but am really afraid that they will come back and say that I'm a criminal because my name and record is in a government database.

A final comment for RET: obviously, we disagree on the validity of the polygraph. However, I am hoping that you, more than any other person, can shed some light on my question. You probably know best.