Nonombre,

Actually I am quite in favor of having both audio and video taping of exams with every polygraph examination, but if I had to have only one of the two it would definitely be the audiotape.  I want to hear how questions are reviewed in the pre-test of a CQT, I want to hear voice inflection as questions are being asked in the in-test phase, and I want to listen for the presence of any extraneous noises.  I recently testified against a polygraph exam and accompanying NDI result introduced by a trial adversary.  Amongst many problems that existed with this examination was the scoring of a control question response to a question that was asked as a loud bang occurred.  As obviously incorrect (even by industry standards) as it was to score such a response, neither I nor anyone else involved in the trial process would have known about such absent the listening to the audiotape of the exam in question.

Dear Random Poster,

In regards to the FBI pre-screening polygraph "exam", you are 100% incorrect on your assumption that the exam is a supplement to the background check.  In almost all cases, the FBI will not even start the background check until the applicant "passes" the polygraph exam.

Very much a "Catch-22" situation.

Not all posters on this site are "whiners".  Most have been falsely accused by a government entity that they trust to give them "due process" not only under the law but in the spirit of the law.  They are shocked and appalled by the treatment that they receive at the hands of "justice".

Regards.

Well, I suppose people with a 'devil may care' attitude about their prospective employment might have a high polygraph pass rate though they may not turn out to be very conscientious employees.

Has anyone ever conducted a study of the pass rate for humans who are independently wealthy who apply for responsible but low paying government positions?   

Perhaps we could get Paris Hilton and her friends to apply for positions as FBI investigators.  If we don't learn anything, perhaps we could sell the movie rights...

Lloyd

Quote:

You're an idiot.  Why are you even on this website?  You must be a polygrapher trying to justify his existence.  I don't know how you guys sleep at night.  Your profession is a disgrace to America and our government.

SanchoPanza wrote on Dec 27^th, 2007 at 6:52pm:


Yes, I'm quick.  It took me that long to calm down enough to respond.   

I didn't even bother to read the date.  I can't believe people have been on this site for 5 years, especially someone like you, who obviously wasn't screwed over by the polygraph.  I can kind of see why it would be hard for people who've been shafted by the polygraph to let it go, but what's your deal.  Why do you care?

    I am willing to consider the other point of view on most issues and acknowledge that you make some valid points.  I agree that this website may increase the number of innocents failing the polygraph.  Talking to other employees who have failed the polygraph also seems to increase the liklihood that a person will fail.  Don't you think that if the test is that vulnerable to suggestion or information means that there is a problem?  If it was an accurate and valid method, just obtaining information shouldn't change the result for anyone.  Are you willing to consider the other point of view?  
     I don't feel that I have been nothing but screwed over by my employer.  I have been proud to serve my country for 22 years and want nothing more than to continue to do so.  I love my work and many of the people who I work with.  To suggest that I should leave my profession because of a gross injustice that I was perpetrated against me, doesn't make a lot of sense.  I could just walk away and keep my complaints to myself, but that would be the coward's way out.  I'm sure the abusers (polygraphers) would prefer that I just shut up and let them go on abusing decent law abiding government workers.       
    I want to keep others from being subjected to this sort of injustice.  Nothing in the world would ever change for the better if everyone just put their tail between their legs and skulked away.  I didn't do anything wrong.  I have served faithfully and put my life in jeapordy on several occasions for my job and I (and others) should not have to be subjected to verbal abuse.  
    The U.S. is wasting millions of dollars on a program that just doesn't protect our security.  In addition to causing a lot of good people a lot of pain, the polygraph isn't even effective for employment screaning.  Congress just wants to throw money at this program so they can say that something is being done.  
    Unfortunately many of the people who gravitate to the field of polygraphy are sadists who enjoy hurting others.  The things that occured during my second polygraph were inexcusable.  Murder suspects aren't interrogated as viciously as I was.  They actually have rights, federal workers have no rights.  No American should ever be subjected to that type of interrogation without probably cause.  I suppose you think the Bill of Rights is just a bunch of whining? 
    Maybe ploygraphers are under too much pressure to come up with something.  I don't know why anyone in the government would be willing to treat people the way they do.  I truly wouldn't be able to live with myself if I engaged in that kind of behavior.  
    Would you at least admit that you are a polygrapher?

The original point of this post was that the FBI failure rate is nearly 50%.  How do we know if that is high - or perhaps even too low?

According to the FBI, we are a nation of perverts, child abusers, pedophiles, pot smokers, and terrorists.
To the letter...

FBI AGENT ARRESTED FOR ATTEMPTING TO INFLUENCE CRIMINAL CASE OF MAN MARRIED TO HIS MISTRESS

A 10-year veteran of the Federal Bureau of Investigation was arrested in Phoenix this morning after being named yesterday in an 18-count indictment that accuses him of having an improper sexual relationship with the wife of a man he investigated in two separate matters.

Joe L. Gordwin, 39, of Phoenix, was taken into custody without incident at the FBI Office in Phoenix. Gordwin is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Phoenix.

Gordwin has been placed on administrative leave pending resolution of this matter.

According to the indictment, Gordwin engaged in an “improper intimate relationship” with the wife of a man he was investigating, in violation of federal law and FBI rules. The indictment alleges that he concealed the improper relationship from the FBI to preserve his position at the FBI, and that he also concealed the relationship from the Scottsdale Police Department and the Maricopa County District Attorney’s Office, which were investigating and prosecuting the woman’s husband. Gordwin allegedly sought a favorable plea agreement for his mistress’ husband in connection with a 2005 robbery that Gordwin helped investigate for the purpose of convincing the husband not to disclose Gordwin’s improper relationship with the woman.

The indictment specifically charges Gordwin with six counts of “honest services” wire fraud, five counts of making false statements to the FBI and seven counts of witness tampering. These charges carry a maximum statutory penalty of 285 years in federal prison.

The indictment outlines a scheme to defraud the FBI and the citizens of the United States that began in 2002 after Gordwin arrested a man identified in the indictment as B.M. as part of a gang investigation. After the arrest, Gordwin met B.M.’s wife and allegedly began having an affair with her. In early 2003, after discussing B.M.’s case with B.M.’s wife, Gordwin contacted Maricopa County prosecutors and suggested that an appropriate sentence in B.M.’s case was one year to 18 months in custody. B.M. was subsequently sentenced to 18 months.

Approximately two years later, in early 2005, Gordwin began providing Scottsdale Police with information about B.M., and Gordwin joined an investigation that led to B.M.’s arrest after an armed robbery of a Radio Shack. B.M.’s stepson was also arrested at this time.

In January 2005, Gordwin contacted an FBI confidential information (CI) and asked if he could identify the CI as the source of information given to authorities who were investigating B.M. The indictment alleges that Gordwin did so in an effort to conceal his ongoing relationship with B.M.’s wife, who was the true source of the information about B.M. and his criminal activities.

In the summer of 2005, Gordwin attempted to help his mistress’ son, who also had been arrested in relation to the Radio Shack robbery and was in custody, by using the CI to help find a fugitive, whose arrest the son could take credit for, according to the indictment. At this time, Gordwin allegedly disclosed information about the CI to his mistress and facilitated a meeting between the CI and his mistress. The fugitive was arrested that summer, and Gordwin contacted a Maricopa County prosecutor to discuss a plea deal for the son. In the fall of 2005, the son pleaded guilty and was sentenced to probation.

In October 2005, after being rebuffed by prosecutors who did not want to give a favorable plea deal to B.M., Gordwin allegedly became worried that B.M. would disclose Gordwin’s ongoing relationship with B.M.’s former wife. At this point, Gordwin made partial admissions about the relationship to his supervisor. When speaking to his supervisor, Gordwin minimized the extent of the relationship, according to the indictment. Even after being ordered to stop seeing the woman, Gordwin allegedly met with her twice, on both occasions asking her to lie to investigators.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

The case against Gordwin was investigated by the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles, which was assigned the matter after the United States Attorney’s Office in Phoenix was recused.