I very recently took a polygraph test for a crime that I was accused of in which I have always claimed my innocence.  The first part of the test was to knowingly lie about what current month it was.  In that test I did use the countermeasures mentioned in the guide and I believe it worked because I saw the polygrapher hit a couple of keys on the keyboard after about 15 seconds or so when I told the lie.
The next part was divided into three tests with the same ten questions being asked.  The first two tests were with my eyes closed and the third was with my eyes open with the instruction to find a point on the wall and stare at it during the entire test.  The questions
were as follows: 4 questions about the accusations, 3 questions about whether or not I believed the polygrapher would not ask any other questions other than what we had previously discussed, and 3 questions about the first 28 years of my life, such as "In the first 28 years of your life did you ever hurt anyone?"  The polygrapher told me beforehand that if I lied on any part of the test, including the "first 28 years" questions, then I would fail the test.  He had me write the answers to the questions before starting the polygraph.  I DID lie on those 3 questions, but only after I realized how generalized and broad they were.  When I questioned the polygrapher about those 3 questions, he told me I COULD NOT change my original answers no matter what.  Up to this point, the guide had been dead on accurate.
During the test, I stuck to my original answers as instructed.  I kept in complete control of my breathing and I never flinched a single muscle.  But, I also never used any countermeasures.  After the testing ended, the polygrapher seemed a little frustrated and asked me if any of the questions bothered me, in particular, the "first 28 years" questions.  When I said no, he determined that the test was inconclusive and that he would not allow me retest at a later date.

Guess I should have used those countermeasures after all!

Here's the story without too many details:  The State Attorney's office dropped the charge against me within two weeks of being arrested.  But, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) got involved.  I was told to attend a class once a week at $30 per session that would take, at the very least, 26 weeks to complete in order to have certain rights and privileges given back to me.  The problem arrises within the class in which, from the very beginning, I HAVE to admit guilt in order to continue and complete the class.  This admission is recorded and sent to DCF who may then go to the court and have me arrested and convicted of the crime.  If I don't admit guilt, then I have two choices: 1) continue attending classes until I die or they get tired of seeing my face, or 2) take a polygraph and attempt to prove my innocence.  I agreed to take the polygraph, but that was before I found this website and discovered the truth.  Since I absolutely need my rights and privileges restored, I felt I had no choice.  I would be interested in hearing what you would have done in this or a similiar situation!

You wouldn't believe the amount of authority that has been given to DCF in Florida, even after all the criticism that they have recieved recently due to so many screwups including putting children in harmful situations.  In my case, my fiance and her children are involved.  DCF took custody away from her and made charges against her based on the charges that were made against me.  They have told her that she can get her kids back but if she wishes to continue a relationship with me then we would both have to bow down to them and complete their case plan before they give her kids back.  DCF has also stated that upon my completing my case plan, then they would CONSIDER letting me have SOME contact with her kids.  So therein lies the dilemma: I can not get married and live with my future wife until I finish the case plan especially if she has custody of the kids, AND I can not complete the class (part of the case plan) because I refuse to admit to something that I didn't do, AND the only alternative offered to completing the class is to take a polygraph which DCF said they would accept if I pass.

By the way, there is a statute of limitation for being re-arrested and re-charged with a crime if the original charge never went to trial, and DCF has the authority to make that charge against me, but I'm not sure what the limitation is.