The state of Oregon and Montana do not use the polygraph.
The California dept. of Corrections the largest law enforcement agency in the world does not use it either.
The LAPD started using it about 5 years ago.
Anything other than that I do not know about.  The California Highway Patrol uses the voice stress analyzer.
I took a polygraph to become a Reserve Officer in Washington state, I failed it the first time and then took it again a year later with the same examiner for a different agency and passed it.
I even admitted more in the second test.
What a joke.

Darkclaw,

Mr._ Olympia fails to understand that the information he disclosed in the referenced polygraph was obviously within acceptable parameters IAW the LE agency policies in which he applied. Even the FBI accepts a small degree of drug use as long as it does not exceed the acceptable parameters as set forth.

triple x

Did you guys know that it's really scientifically possible to detect if a person has ever used (non-polar molecule, e.g. marijuana) drugs in their entire lives?  Simply obtain through liposuction a 50 gm sample of human fat, extract and concentrate it.  Then use readily available instrumentation to quantify and characterize.  Um, the missing fat cells may be rapidly replaced by consuming vast quantities of Dankin Donets.

So, it is not necessary for law enforcement to use unreliable polygraph testing to discern drug usage history.  Real science may be utilized.

California Dept. of Corrections does not Polly.  The DOD Police do not Poly.  I would think that most University Police do not Polly as well.  I think that the SDSherrif Dept. does polly but their limitations on drugs is not so bad.  Not sure about SD city police though.

Michigan is free of polygraphs, no department conducts them.

I am an undergraduate accounting student who would like to get a job with the federal or state government. My freshman year of college was a mess.  I used drugs for a while mostly pot and even sold mushrooms a few times.(bad decision)

I no longer use drugs of any kind.  I am not a dishonest person I have never stolen or cheated.  I understand the CIA would never take me but would I have a shot with the IRS?  Do they polygraph test?  How about the government of CA?

Knightshaiid wrote on Nov 20^th, 2009 at 5:54pm:


I have a question because I am confused about all of this.  The TSA is a federal law enforcement agency ... I thought all federal law enforcement agencies were required to utilize the polygraph to determine truthfulness, honesty and integrity.  But if that is not the case, then why is there disparity and lack on continuity within the federal government for using this tool?  It would seem to me that there are valid concerns/reasoning that justify NOT using the polygraph.  So my question to the legislators is why are other government agencies still using it if it doesn't provide a true indicator of a person's honesty and trustworthiness??  (Just asking because I am confused by all of this)...or is it just all a political decision that is used within each individual agency?

they aren't all that selective in their hiring practices