PBM

Harming yourself is not an option.  If you are still in that mind frame then please call a hotline and talk to some one- or email me back with your telephone number so that we can talk.   

PBM,

You are not alone in being victimized by this  faulty polygraph test.  However your education has certainly not been for nothing.  Now that you  know the personal cost of bad forensic  science, or complete lack thereof,  you can help educate yourself and others to the dangers of  invalid foresic testing or procedures.

The first thing I would suggest is to educate yourself about the polygraph.  This site contains information from the National Academy of Sciences that conclusively says that pre-employment polygraph testing is invalid and infact a threat to national security.

Thoses conclusions were also backed up by Dr. Drew Richarson of the FBI crime laboratory.  He testified before the Senate that the polygraph was a sham.

There are also statements from others who have been falsely accused.

I think that after a couple of days pouring over the materials availible  on the subject you will see just what a scam polygraphers have going.  You as a graduate student in forensics are in a great position to do something about this problem.

I believe that eventually you have to write a paper on a particular subject to get your degree?  I suggest that you make it your personal mission to uncover the BS that is polygraphy.   

If I were you I would first write down every question  they asked you and what happened during the test.  This will give you reference later.

If you trust and like your professor, I would speak to him about the situation.  Maybe you can get an internship somewhere else or do an independant study of some sort. Maybe you can focus it on polygraphy. 

Dont let some dipshit with a couple of hours of "lie detector skoolin" knock you off your horse.  Believe me, with what your learning in your graduate school you are going to go far in life.  None of these jokers have advanced degrees- if fact one of their past leaders may have faked his PHD (see the bottom on the antipolygraph.org page)

The citizens of this country need law enforement foresic scientists that have not sold out to private business. Use this inccident to become a leader in your field.  The National Acadmey of Sciences says its bullshit- polygraphers don't agree- who do you believe?

I didn't believe big tobacco and I am not about to trust any one in the electronic  voodoo box industry. Its not science- its not even good sci-fi- a box that reads your mind- yeah right!!

All that autonomus nervous system bullshit is like a used car salesman telling you that you need quadra steering, self inflating tires on your golf cart.  Read the "lie behind the lie detector" and become familiar with its techniques.   

Keep on trucking with grad school!! Don't ever give up and please write back!  I have several friends who have 'failed' lie detectors with one agency only to be hired by another.  Keep that in mind!!

I'm a lot less upset now.  My professor offered me a research position analyzing DEA samples of MDMA and possibly helping an undergrad out with a gasoline project so that I'll have arson analysis experience.  This will probably be more hands on than anything I could have done with State Police.

I may be wrong but all my forensic training has been based on empirical evidence and documentation, not extracting something out of someone's head.  If you cannot find it in the physical world then you cannot validate its existance.

One of the examiners as much as admitted to me that his background consisted of a degree in computer science which he intended to use to be an engineer.  Basically he liked polygraphing as it allowed him to travel.  However, he was not the examiner who polygraphed me.  The examiner who gave me the test boasted that he was one of the best in the country and yet there was little evidence from our discussion that he had any scientific or psychological background.  In fact, his demeanor when he was interrogating me was sufficient for me to presume he was just a cop assigned to that area.

The examiner was unwilling to conceed that the questions could illicit shock value or a certain amount of insult or disgust leading to a false positive.  In a lab setting, when investigating an undesired result one must consider all possibilities.

I will not be reapplying to the agency that I polygraphed at, but I intend to reapply elsewhere.  I downloaded "The Lie Behind the Lie Detector" and looked through it.  My question is how can one use countermeasures when applying for a forensic science position?  Wouldn't it be nearly impossible?

no_sugar_coating is in the electronic voodoo business-  so you know where he stands. 

Polygraphers will never admit that there 'test' is garbage.  Like I wrote before, who do you believe?- The National Academy of Science (America's best scientific minds), Dr. Drew Richarson of the FBI Crime Lab or a graduate of 'billy bobs graph'n skool!'

His statement that you have to tell the complete truth to pass,  is factually not true- a lie!!  React to the control questions and not to the relevant and you pass (whether your lying or not).

I went down your road -told the truth and expounded and expounded on definitions, terms and meanings, all to no end but grief.  My friends who have used countermeasures skipped right through the process and all have gotten their LE positions. 

Your appeal of innocents to any polygrapher on this site will be in vain.  They have a money making systems thats easy to perform and new suckers come into the big top every day, all day.   

Your picking the numbers test was just a stim test to gauge your reation for a control question.  Nothing more.
 
Remember they want you to lie, so they know you are not a liar! Our bests LE minds hard at work!

PapaBlueMarlin wrote on May 7^th, 2003 at 2:57am:

Dear PapaBlueMarlin,

I was in your shoes.  I appealed my second "not within acceptable parameters" polygraph in writing via certified return receipt mail.   

To make a long story short, after almost one year of an intense background investigation and months of physical tests, the FBI cannot find anything but confirmation of my integrity and ability to do the job.   

The pre-screening polygraph is an interrogation prop which has absolutely no scientific integrity or basis.  As you are a student of empirical results, you must know this by now.

Please write and contest your results immediately.  Go on record and get this entered into your file for the future.

Regards.

As Orolan suggested, you should send your letter challenging the polygraph results and requesting a re-test to your state police. If you do not receive a satisfactory response, then you can take up the issue with your state attorney general.

Now I feel really stupid for disclosing that information.  I thought I was just being honest and trying to help myself out.