Hi all,
I wish I had visited this site before taking my first poly about 5 months ago.

Anyway, I didn't pass that poly and I would like to summarize my experience and then ask some questions about the test.

I took my poly at a place called Polytech Associates, located in Akron, Ohio.  Anyone ever hear of it?  During the pre-test interview I went over all the expected/routine questions.  The examiner also gave me his shpeel and blah, blah, blah,  I'll know when you're lying to me, etc.

However, from everything that I have read about what happens during the exam, this is where my experience takes another path.  The examiner never performed a "base-line test" or whatever it's called, where he has you pick a card or a number, etc.   

After the pre-test interview, he left the room for about ten minutes.  During that time I just sat in my chair and thought about the current situation, while struggling to remain awake (I assumed that I was being watched, so I just sat quietly).  He came back in, hooked me up to the machine and asked his questions.  When he was finished, he said, 

"Okay, that was just a test/practice round.  Now, we're going to perform the actual test.  Before we start, is there anything that you have a question about or anything you want to get off your chest?"

I told him no, and he proceeded to give the "actual" test.  Once he finished asking his questions, he unhooked me from the machine, told me it would be about two weeks before I would know the results.  That was it.  The whole process from start to finish was about 45 minutes.   

At no point did the examiner ask me if I was having problems with any of the questions and there was no post-test interview.

To my best recolection, all or nearly all of the questions took the following form:

"Are you concealing information about.....(fill in the blank).

- Illegal drug use.
- Having told an important lie.
- Having stolen anything.
- Having commited a sex crime.
- Having commited a murder.
- Having used a gun in a crime.
- Having committed insurance/credit card fraud.
- Your driving record.
- Being arrested.

There were more questions, but I can't remember them.  There may have also been one or two "Other than what we discussed...." questions.  Anyway, I think every question was answered with a "No."  It seemed like only a few of the questions were "control" and most were "relevant".  Am I wrong about this?   

I found it strange that quite a few of the questions from the questionarie were never asked during the actual poly.  Also, why didn't he know the results of the poly after administering it?  Is it usual to wait  two weeks for the results?  Why was the "test" giving twice in a row?  Has anyone else had an experience similar to mine, or perhaps have been "tested" by this company?

About two weeks later, I received a simple form letter from the police dept. that I had failed to pass the polygraph and was no longer under consideration.  When I called to ask for a specific reason why I failed, I was told that "the poly examiner stated that I displayed controlled and irregular breathing during the exam and that a "clean" poly wasn't obtained and retesting would be necessary."  They don't retest at this particular dept.   

It's funny that breathing wasn't even on my mind during the test.  I was nervous about taking the poly, but I also fully expected to pass it, as well.  Needless to say, I was doumbfounded by the results.

Well, I'm expecting to be tested again in about three weeks for another dept., and I'm almost positive that I'll be going to the same place for testing (nearly all the depts. in the Cleveland/Akron area use this company).  That has me a bit nervous and here's why.  Not only is there the chance that this place will remember me, but they probably still have my first test on record.  If they do, then won't they know if I answer differently during the pre-test interview?  Also, I haven't turned in my BI paperwork.  One question on it is "Have you ever applied with any other LE agencies.  If so, were you accepted and if not, why?"  I feel very apprehensive about admitted on parer that I failed a poly with another local police dept.  Im seriously considering not even mentioning it.

I want to go to this poly well prepared and armed with the right tools to pass.  I'm an honest, good guy and I won't allow some BS ploygraph to destroy my goals and aspirations a second time.   

Any comments or insight on this would be really appreciated.

Thanks,
OfficerWannabe   

 

OfficerWannabe,
Just wondering if you did employ countermeasures to the control questions.Also George I was wondering would it still be possible to pass without changing your breathing pattern on the control questions, and just use a physical countermeasure in lieu of.After reading TLBTLD I am still not clear on the breathing techniques and how to correctly employ them.I feel that I may screw them up and be detected.Any help on the easiest breathing technique?????

Hi George,

Thanks for the reply.  I don't believe Mr. Evans was the one who administered the poly.  I don't remember the man's name, but this guy was in his mid 40's and I'm under the impression that Mr. Evans is an older gentleman.

I too, thought that 45 minutes was pretty short.  All of my reaearch seems to indicate that a poly should last a couple hours, correct?

So, if most of the questions appear to be relevant questions, how does one approach this?  Will countermeasures need to be used nearly the entire time?  Any suggestions?  George, do you think that being "chart-rolled"  had anything to do with my failing?  Also, why do you think the ploygrapher went through the questions twice?

To answer anxietyguy's question, no I didn't use countermeasures.  At the time, I was aware that there were ways to decieve the machine, but I didn't know what they were.  And quite honestly, I was too scared to try and use any.  I was afraid of being caught, so I didn't even bother to learn what the techniques were.  Well, I'm not going to be that naive again.

Thanks,
OfficerWannabe

anxietyguy wrote on May 16^th, 2004 at 8:57pm:


I recently took a test and passed.  Here's what I did, in a nutshell:
1. Breathing techniques 
     a. Baseline breathing - Based on what I read, I breathed normally at one breath (in and out) every two seconds.  So one second to breath in, one to breath out.
     b. Starting directly after a question that I needed to emphasize my respone to, I raised my breathing rate to one breath in and out every 1.5 seconds or so.  Continue for 10 seconds or so, in conjunction with 2. b. below.
2. Mental status
     a. When a question comes up that I needed a low (normal response) on mentally (which helps your sweat rate, heart rate, etc.) I thought about how a tree moves in the wind.  Sometimes I also thought about how tall grasses moves in the wind.  I just picked something that calmed me.
     b. If I came across a question that I needed to emphasize my response to, I thought of a car crashing through a gard rail and plunging off a cliff.

Very simple stuff.  Very simple.  Just make sure you understand exactly when to do what.

I had just about three hours of preparation time, in total, before I was able to pass my first polygraph.  And I had to lie on every relevant question there was.

anxietyguy wrote on May 18^th, 2004 at 7:06pm:


I used both the physical and mental, and found that if I just used the mental the physical kicked in automatically.  You may want to practice a bit to make sure it works the same for you, though.  I began both directly after the appropriate question, and continued for 10 seconds.  Like the article says, make sure you end before the next question is answered.

Most important: Make sure you know WHEN to use the process, i.e. after what type of question.