I have previously takin polygraphs for one local and one federal law enforcement agencies and passed.  Recently I took one for a local police department that was conducted by a privately contracted examiner who owned his/her own business.  Before each set of questions the examiner kept trying to intimidate me by restating how important honesty is and that I wouldn't be hired if I was a liar, all this of course was for the control questions.  Well the first time I took it I was supposedly controlling my breathing, well when you keep talking about it is hard to not think about it.  He/she said I was showing deception on the drug questions, they always say that.  I guess they can not believe someone has not done drugs.  The next day I was told how to breath (now I am controlling my breathing), told to not verbally answer the questions, the next time to say something then the answer.  When it was all done I felt good and figured I passed another one since I was being honest.  After a while I was told I was lying about sex crimes.  He/she kept pushing for a bs admision of guilt.  Any way I was later contacted by the pd and told that I should know I was not being hired because I failed the polygraph.

After thinking about it I remembered the examiner talking about all the people that failed, as if it was a competition.  I find it funny that a private examiner who gets paid per test would actually pass people when he/she can fail them and get more applicants for the LE position sent their way.  To me this is a conflict of interest.  

Another point I have is if you are being honest on the control questions (I have not lied to my significant other) how they use that as a "baseline” Either way this has soared me and I will no longer apply for positions requiring a polygraph.

Serenity now, serenity now.