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.
Hi Palerider,
I think you know how desperately I want to respond to the above post (2534)
But.......I'm in rehab.
Enjoy the weekend.
Serenity now, serenity now. :)