Let me start out by saying that I am so relieved to have found this site.  My dismal experience with the FBI polygraph was a mere 7 hours ago.  I am so shocked and upset that I haven't had a bite to eat all day and feel physically and emotionally drained.

I am a law student at a top 100 law school.  On a career services day, they said the FBI had an "honors" internship program.  I was thrilled, and thought it sounded great.  My first summer after law school would be the FBI!  I submitted my application, and out of about 80 applicants, I was one of 15 to be called back for an interview.  Eventually, I was selected as the candidate from the field office to attend the program.  Again, I was very happy, and had complete faith and respect for the FBI.

Well, today I had my scheduled polygraph test.  My friends had joked with me earlier saying, "Every answer is going to be a lie because you are so nervous."  This is the truth, I get nervous very easily, but I had faith that I would get through the polygraph with no problem as I've never done anything.  I don't smoke, don't drink, and have never even seen drugs.   

Special Agent A, as I will call him, introduced himself to me in a kind of unfriendly way.  I don't know how to pinpoint it, but I was even more nervous at that point. He led me to the polygraph room which had a two-way mirror, the polygraph chair, a regular chair, and his desk with the equipment.  He told me what the polygraph was for - to make sure liars, cheaters, and theives are not admitted into the FBI.  I shook my head in understanding - I, of course, was none of those things.

He hooked me up and I was feeling my heart beat accelerate.  He then did a "practice exam" which consisted of me writing the number 4 on a piece of paper, he then wrote the numbers 1,2,3,5,6.  He then told me to lie about me writing the number four.  The equipment was started, and the blood pressure sleeve tightened around my arm - making me yet more uncomfortable.  I answered all the questions and he told me that he could conclude I was lying about writing down the number 4.  I smiled and said, "ok," as I thought that was pretty nifty that the machine was so sensitive.   

I went through the first part of the exam ok (dealing with terrorist organizations), and I proceeded to the second phase - this is where things took a turn for the worse.  He asked me several times, "Have you violated the FBI's guidelines regarding illegal substances?"  I said No each time, as it is the complete God's honest truth.  I am 22 and have never seen, smelled, or done drugs.  I was raised Catholic, and it is very deeply ingrained in me never to do anything like that.  Not only that, but severe asthma runs in my family, and I would never risk putting my health in jeopardy.   

After the second phase, he told me he would be back, and left the room for a while.  It had to have been 10 mins or so.  He then came back in and unhooked me.  He made me sit directly across from him, and he told me, "you failed the polygraph."  According to the polygraph, I had used drugs.  I was crushed, and immediately started to get emotional.  I said, "I've never done anything, that is the truth."  He then started saying, "you're lying, just admit it and then we can move on, you're only applying for an internship position, we make allowances for young college students, just admit it."  I had tears in my eyes and said, "I'm not going to admit to doing something that I have not done."  He said, "I can tell by the way you're acting that you're lying to me."

He asked me if I ever "smelled" marijuana.  I said, no, never (which again is the truth - I have lived a kind of sheltered life, and none of my friends ever did anything either).  He raised his eyebrows and made a face, "Now I know you're lying," he said with his voice rising, "no college student goes through life without smelling marijuana."  I said that I didn't know what else to tell him, I never smelled, smoked, drank, or did anything.   

I was a straight A student in high school and college, having graduated near the top of my class from a mid-atlantic university, and am now in law school on a scholarship.  I am, if anything, deathly afraid of drugs as I know they are such a bad thing.  One of my employers committed suicide a few years ago after an addiction to pain killers.  I never knew what possessed people to even try drugs in the first place.

Anyway, he kept on pressing me for an explanation - one which I could not give.  He said, "What about taking things to make you stay awake for studying?"  Again, I was shocked.  I never pull all-nighters in school, and I have never ever taken anything to keep me awake.  I always try to have my work done ahead of time.

The interrogation lasted for a while, how long exactly I am not sure - probably an hour.  I told him, "I'll take a drug test right now and prove that I don't do drugs."  He replied, "No, you're not taking the drug test, the test is over.  You're going to throw away your internship because you can't be honest."  He then led me out of the building.  I called my mother, hysterical crying about what had just happened.

I have very strong principles and values and have always prided myself in the fact that I uphold those values.  I had never been accused like I was today, and he really made me feel as if I was a criminal.  I am told my letter from HQ will come in 2-4 weeks.  I will appeal, but I will never take this internship.  I can't believe that the FBI relies on this machine.  After working my whole life to avoid drugs, smoking, drinking, it was all for nothing.  I know now that the FBI is certainly not for me, I will just get a regular summer internship at a law firm.  But for anyone about to take the FBI polygraph, be careful, it has been one of the worst experiences of my life.  I know the truth though, and so does my family, and I suppose in the end, that's all that matters.

Valerie -- very sorry to hear of your unfavorable experience with the FBI -- it is one that I and others on this board share with you. You obviously already realize that you are talented and smart and that you can just as easily apply your skills and intelligence more productively elsewhere.

I think you did the right thing by immediately putting to paper your thoughts on your encounter with the FBI and sharing them here. Not only is it cathartic, but helps to illustrate the treatment the FBI gives to qualified, patriotic applicants willing to sacrifice to serve their country.

What is significant to me about what you wrote is that your treatment at the hands of the FBI is so similar to what I experienced. It took me a year to reconcile myself with the reality that our goverment could be so dysfunctional, uncaring, destructive -- and so unreal.

We just don't encounter such "twilight zone" situations like being told we have failed a polygraph in our normal, everyday lives at school or in the private sector. This makes it even harder to convey to people who haven't been polygraphed that you really aren't a liar.

But I think what you've written here will help dispel some of that destructive mystique that these evil -- yes, EVIL -- polygraphers have come to rely on as they drive away throngs of able young Americans from dedicated service to their country. Good for you -- and lasting shame upon them.

Thank you everyone for all of your kind words.  After some more crying, and eating a slice or two of pizza, I feel a little better.  While I am still in a state of shock about what has happened today, I am willing to move on (but not after a fight with the FBI first of course).  I never knew this problem was so widely spread.  As a law student, I have always been a little skeptical of the accuracy of lie detector tests, but now I am thoroughly convinced.   

I have confided in my close friends about the events that occurred today and they are surprised to say the least.  I don't think they will ever want to intern or work for the federal government after listening to what I told them today.  I haven't worked hard all my life to be falsely accused by an old bitter FBI agent.  Like what other people have said, I will attempt to appeal and clear my name, but whether I pass or not, I will not take this internship.  It simply isn't worth it.   

Thank you again.

Valerie,

I read your post and couldn't help but reply. Your polygraph examiner sounds a lot like my first one. There are several similarities in his routine as well as some of the things he said to you. I know it must be especially difficult on you because your experience is so recent. At least you know the truth about polygraphs which I'm sure will come  in handy for your future clients in terms of the advice that you give them. The FBI is passing up a lot of great talent because of the polygraph. Whatever you do, don't let your examiner get the best of you--he's not worthy of it. Once a little time has passed and everything is put into proper perspective, you'll be very glad you didn't end up in an agency foolish enough to depend on the polygraph to help it select "the best and the brightest."    

I strongly encourage you to appeal your results. Even though, there is virtually zero chance of you passing a retest if one is granted, don't make it easy on the agency to get rid of you. What the agency is doing to people is not right and it should have to answer for it. Humans are not expendable. Imagine the impact if every applicant found "not within acceptable parameters" appealed their results.

Again, thank you for your responses.  I have been feeling a little better today.  After speaking with the agent that interviewed me, she said that this polygraph information is strictly confidential and can only be released if the individual is charged with a crime and the FBI is subpoenaed for the information.  I have now moved past the "upset" crying stage into more of an anger stage. 

After reading so many posts, I am upset not only because the FBI and other agencies are turning down well-qualified people, but also because of these horrible experiences that they are putting innocent people through.  Whether a person passes a polygraph or not is one thing, but to be subjected to abuse on the part of the polygrapher is simply unacceptable.  I know that I am decent human being as are so many other people on this site.  I am not a criminal and in no way deserved the treatment I received yesterday.  The more I read regarding this matter, the more disgusted I am.

Dear Valerie,

I know the awful feeling of being falsely accused of lying and having your reputation attacked.

Please appeal in writing.  It might not change the outcome but at least your appeal and letter of disagreement with polygraph findings will let the FBI know that they lost another qualified candidate due to this insanity of trust in this machine.

The FBI has too many people in high places who blindly believe in the polygraph.   Every appeal letter adds to a stack of public opinion of ex-applicants who will not think highly of the FBI or its mission for the rest of their lives.

I do everything I can to educate people on the grave shortcomings of polygraph examination under the current FBI guidelines.  I would not have any friends or family apply to any law enforcement agency who believes in the validity of the polygraph for pre-screening applicants.   

Try and get some sleep, pick yourself up, and get on with a few certified letters to the person who wrote your "not within acceptable parameters."

The FBI application process is not within acceptable pararmeters.

Regards.

Dear rickeygs, 
 
I think it depends on what kind of law you go into.  I can tell you that in my law class alone there are people from so many different backgrounds with so many different stories to tell.  We have white, black, asian, heterosexual, homosexual, young, middle-aged, and old (a 65 year old woman just starting law school).   
 
There are certainly firms that foster the "good 'ol boy" beliefs and practices.  But there are many more firms that do not.   
 
I guess what I'm trying to say is that an employer will not hire or fire you for your beliefs, or for things you have done in the past (to a certain extent of course).  It is all about whether you are good at your job or not, and that's what counts.

by the way, the FBI agent is lying to you (gasp)
the Polygraph information is not Strictly confidential or Top Secret or any of that horseshit. You can get it by filing a FOIA request. No subpeona or federal charges required. I did it as have many other on this site and got my poly charts, interviews and everything else mailed to me in about 8 weeks. The FBI lady knows this but feels the need to feed you yet another line of bullshit for some unknown reason.

Sorry, not my most professional post, but sometimes I get to thinking about it again and its just raw anger

GD, SOB--its been almost a year since my last failure and I'm just as pissed now as I was then.