I just recently took the poly and am waiting for the results.  It took about 3 hours with the majority being the pre-interview.  Prior to the poly session, I admitted prior experimentation with marijuana during college (about 8 yrs ago) but also pointed out that I met the agency's drug usage requirements.  Anyways, during the poly, I was given three series of questions with each series having about 8 questions repeated 4 times.  After the first series (security series), the examiner said that I was having reactions but he said we'll discuss it later.  THen came the second series (drug usage questions).  I answered honestly to all questions. This was the end of the second series.  The examiner did not say anything then either so I assumed there was no problem with my answers.  For the third series of questions, I was asked the same general drug usage questions but it was reworded a litlle differently.  After completing that series, the examiner comes over and suddenly begins to remove the sensors and says its done.  He says that he didnn't want to ask me anymore questions because he was getting frustrated with my reactions to the drug usage questions.  Is this the post-interrogation?  Whats interesting is that he never accused me directly of lying and that he never questioned me about other drug usage.  He just said that he was frustrated with the reactions and he didn't know what to make of it, and that there was no point in going on with the test since I'll probably give the same reaction.

The examiner said that he has to re-evaluate the results and HQ gives the final word.  I was being completely honest on the exam and I cannot believe that I reacted to the drug questions.  I wish I had seen the charts.  Should I kiss my conditional appointment and my dreams of becoming a G-man goodbye??  or was the tactic the examiner used just a last minute ploy to see if I was hiding anything??  Or is it the fact that I admitted to experimenting with marijuana that messed up my chances with the poly before it ever began?


Do any of you know of people who have admitted to prior experimentation with drugs (and kept within agency guidelines) and have still been procesed?

frustrated and very depressed

Thanks for your quick reply.  FYI, I was well within the agency guidelines and use of any other type of drugs.  And absolutely no sale or even purchase of any type.   I guess I'll just have to wait for the results.

Again, thanks.

Anonymous, 

You did not mention if you disclosed drug usage prior to the polygraph. If on the background forms you did not admit to any drug usage and then during the polygraph you admit to even one time using drugs, you will be bounced out. They consider it an "intregrity issue."   NEVER change your statement. The examiners specifically try to "con" applicants to change their written statements so they can bounce them out. Once you put it in writting, NEVER change your statement and defend what you wrote to the end! 

Of course, if you maintained during the polygraph what you wrote on the background forms you should be okay. Okay is defined as 50/50 shot. Let us know what happens.

anonymous,

In your first post you said, "I was given three series of questions with each series having about 8 questions repeated 4 times."  Are you saying the examiner asked you 32 questions on the first chart of the first examination series or that there four separate charts which repeated the same eight questions?

If there were 32 questions asked on one chart, This method would be one that I have never seen nor read about.

Hi,

I took my poly on Monday the 13th, it's now the 21st.  

It was a different poly than the ones I’ve read about.  We went through 14 questions, basically the ones the BI went over with me the day prior.  Answered, then he strapped me in and asked me 14 "no" questions, like “were you untruthful about your police experience..." etc...covering all we talked about.  He did that twice.  Then unhooked me and said he'll let my BI know I was there and my BI will "let me know if i need to do anything else".  

Didn't tell me if i passed or failed.  Waiting on bated breath to see if i passed, I emailed my BI but no word.

I got really nervous as soon as he strapped me in!  I didn’t lie, however, I just got done telling him things about myself that only me know, so as soon as I was strapped in, I was a wreck!  I didn't get the feeling I passed...

Do you think I passed since there was no follow-up questioning?  Or since I haven’t heard anything…maybe not?

Awesome, makes me feel better...I'll let you know... but man, I got SO nervous, I kept trying to zone out but it didnt work.  I was nervous about getting back to work, what to tell the person whome I just told this guy about... etc... nothing that SHOULD keep me from getting the job, but it was a secret for that person... but during a BI, would probably get found out.  

Anyways, thanks again.

Did you pass?