shocked applicant,

I don't mean to unduly alarm you, but you should be aware that you've posted enough detail about your background that the FBI polygraph unit will almost certainly have identified you. It is to be hoped that this will not result in retaliation, but I wouldn't count on it.

After re-reading and thinking about my last post, I think I might need to clarify a few things.

When I said, "If they do, they do.  Not much I can do about that", my thought is that if I am going to appeal, they might find offense and "retaliate" anyways since I am questioning a result.  Some people are like that and other might see it as being that I am here to get information about a subject.  Who knows how people are going to react.  But I do appreciate your concern George.

My main reason for coming here to this message board was to find answers to questions about the appeals process and if anyone had any information, which people did and I appreciate them sharing.  I saw that someone else had a very similar experience and posted to see if there was any further information since my applicant coordinator was not returning phone calls and I didn't know who else to turn to.  In the mean time, I was able to get me more information from elsewhere that helped out as well.

I truly have nothing to hide from anyone.  If people perceive me as being a whiner, so be it.  But I know I have a clear conscience and have been upfront with everyone involved with the process, including here.

Again, thanks alot all for your information.  It has given me some insight into how the appeal process works.

Undesirable Candidate,

Did you tell the FBI examiner about your "one time marijuana use" and your "being in the presence" of other's using marijuana before the test...during the question review?  Your posts read as if you told the examiner about this as an "explanation" after "failing" the test.

Undesirable Candidate,

I'm sorry to hear that you fell victim to a false positive polygraph result. 

Telling the truth during a polygraph examination is no guarantee of receiving a passing result. False positive results are not uncommon, they do exist, and often occur more than publicly reported or posted on this message board.

Knowledge is power. Read TLBTLD available for free on this website. 


Triple x

Dear undesirable,

You situation sounds very similar to mine. During my first exam I explained that I had never used drugs in my life, but was deemed deceptive by the polygrapher regardless of what I had to say. I protested the results and was called in about a month later for a PSI, where I explained the same things – no drug use, ever. I had the second exam a month or so later, and again “had issues” on the drug question.

My impression from reading posts is that second exams are granted just to ward off accusations of not getting a second chance and to add ‘credibility’ to their initial ‘findings’ – a sort of insurance policy in the event that they are ever confronted. So long as you make no disqualifying admissions, you are almost always granted a retest; however, unless you have some on-of-I wouldn’t hold my breath about passing, at least not with the FBI.

Has anyone out there ever passed a second FBI poly? Better yet, has anyone had a third and passed? 

Fletch

Dear Fair Chance,

I agree with you entirely. There needs to be a better system in place to avoid tarnishing the reputations of innocent individuals and steamrolling their LE/Intel careers. According to the FBI’s own polygraph guidelines (viewable on this website), a polygraph is not to be used as a substitute for a background investigation. Presumably, this means that an unfavorable exam is not an automatic DQ and that some, albeit minor, background investigation takes place to verify the veracity of the applicant’s innocence. The reality, however, is that conditional offers of employment are immediately rescinded with little opportunity for recourse and no investigation or measure of good faith is made by the accuser to verify their claim.

Obviously, the costs of administering a full background investigation into every ‘failure’ would be prohibitively expensive (precisely why the poly still exists); the Bureau’s total disregard for due process is frightening and disheartening for such a respected organization that prides itself on “Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity.” I don’t think too many people would be so concerned if the poly were used by the bureau for what it is – a bluff dependant on examinee ignorance. 

If LE/Intel organizations feel that there is great utility in continuing the polygraph because people admit to things they normally wouldn’t, then fine – so long as the truly innocent are found to be ‘polygraph innocent’ as well. Unfortunately, with the polygraph’s vast shortcomings what they are and with the Bureau’s resistance to scrapping (or at least reforming) the program, there is little room for the polygraph if due process it to be served.

In regards to your 3rd exam, was this with the Bureau or another agency?

Fletch.

Guest,

To the contrary, your posts and those of your apparent friends would lead us to believe that we have become a nation of illiterates possessing no analytical skills whatsoever...