John Smith wrote on Apr 18
th, 2009 at 6:36am:
If they ask "Have you ever read or studied anything about the polygraph machine or the testing involving a polygraph machine?"
Should I answer yes because I have read up on the polygraph machine and its testing? Will that effect the testing process at all? If I say no will they see the readings?
You'd be smart not to acknowledge having researched polygraphy. Polygraph operators want subjects to be uninformed about polygraph procedure, which depends on examinee ignorance of the deceptions involved. Those who acknowledge having researched polygraphy risk being arbitrarily accused of using countermeasures and/or deception.
Tellingly, the polygraph community has refused to articulate how polygraphers are to handle those who acknowledge knowing about polygraph procedure and countermeasures. See my 2000 e-mail exchange with then American Polygraph Association president Skip Webb in this regard:
https://antipolygraph.org/read.shtml#informed-subjects Quote:If a person is labeled deceptive in a pre-employment testing for a law enforcement agency, are they going to be labeled deceptive as long as they live?
It depends on the agency. Some local agencies, for example the LAPD, allow applicants to request a "re-test," or to re-apply a year later after a failed polygraph (provided no disqualifying admission has been made).
Quote:Do they make you sign a release of liability form before taking a polygraph test? Do you have to sign it in order to be considered in the recruiting process for a law enforcement agency?
Yes and yes.
Quote:If they accuse you of lying and you don't admit that you are lying, will they still label you as deceptive?
Yes.
Quote:What are some examples of examiner misconduct in a pre-employment polygraph test for local law enforcement agencies?
Examples of polygrapher misconduct include, but are not limited to: sensitizing the examinee to the relevant questions (or to the control questions, if the examiner wants to help the examinee pass) by interrogating him about them during the pre-test phase, using voice inflection during the in-test phase to make reactions to particular questions likely, mischaracterizing or fabricating admissions, and arbitrarily accusing the examinee of countermeasure use.
The forgoing examples are in addition to the lying to and deceiving of the examinee that are part and parcel of even "properly" conducted polygraph "tests."
Quote:Can I ask for a lawyer to be present or can a lawyer be present when I go in and take my test?
Sure you can ask. But you'd be a fool to do so. It would only suggest that you have something to hide, and you'd be flagging yourself for "failure."
Quote:Can my lawyer be there to read the paperwork and be a witness to my testing?
That's highly unlikely, and again, it would be counterproductive to even ask such a thing.
Quote:Is there any way I can test myself and my biofeedback before the actual polygraph test? Are there any places where I can go practice or to see my reactions to certain questions?
You can purchase biofeedback equipment to monitor your reactions as you answer a series of typical polygraph questions that could be asked by a friend, or that you've audio recorded yourself and play back.