It happened last week and I'm just getting over the shock.
First some background. I spent the last 10 years of my life dedicated to public service. I left their employ for what I thought were "greener pastures" in the IT field but after 9/11 found myself walking the pavement like so many others. I decided that I was never really happier than when I was working in Gov't IT (crazy as it may seem, I felt like I was doing SOMETHING to serve my community), so I decided to apply for a position in a local PD. After they looked at my resume and interviewed me, I was offered the position. Found out that the offer was pending passing a lie detector test and background investigation. Since I received Classified clearance with the Air Force after acceptance to OTS, I figured I was in the clear when it came to the background investigation. I didn't worry AT ALL about the polygraph because I've kept myself squeaky clean through my life. My friends have always made fun of me for being "straight as an arrow", or the "All-American Boy", etc.
I was completely honest during my polygraph.
I failed. Not once, but twice. I was told I had "strong reactions" to some questions and brought into an interrogation room where I was told to explain why I had such strong reactions. I felt like I was on an episode of NYPD Blue. The "background investigator" basically told me that if I would 'fess up' maybe they could do something about the polygraph results. I couldn't believe it. I was stunned. As I started to realize I was being interrogated, a cold rage built within me. I got up, wished the interrogator a good day, and was escorted out of the building with a "we wish you best of luck in your future endeavors."
I know that there are probably hundreds of posts on this board that deal with this, but I just don't have the energy or the time to go through them all. Can someone help me?
To begin with, I need to know what this means for employment in the future. Am I now blacklisted from any government position that I may apply for? Legally, do I have to disclose that I've failed a pre-employment polygraph?
Second, what can I do about the polygraph I just took. Do I have any recourse? Can I request the test results, etc.?
I'm so bewildered, dejected, enraged, frustrated, etc. that it's sometimes hard to think straight. My values are shaken to the core and I'm wondering how I've been so naive.
If you've read through this, I'm sorry for rambling. I needed to vent to people who have had similar experiences.
Please, any guidance you can give would be greatly appreciated.
PolyBS,
I think that your failed polygraph "test" with a local police department is not likely to result in your being blacklisted, except, perhaps (and perhaps not), locally.
If you apply for other public employment that does not require a seance with a polygrapher, then I don't think there could be any legal or moral obligation on your part to disclose the polygraph results. However....
Other agencies with which you apply for employment may ask about recent applications with other agencies. If you mention the one that has branded you a liar, it would presumably be prejudicial. Moreover, if you apply for an agency that requires polygraph "testing," you can be fairly confident that your polygrapher is going to ask you about any prior polygraph "tests" to which you may have submitted. Admitting to having failed in the past may be highly prejudicial.
With regard to what recourse you have, it would be prudent to contest the polygrapher's slur in writing and to demand a second "test." You can probably request the results under any public information access law that may have been enacted in your state. For example, in my state, California, such records may be requested under the California Public Records Act (http://www.thefirstamendment.org/capra.html).
For some ideas regarding how to procede in appealing the polygraph results, see Chapter 5 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector (http://antipolygraph.org/pubs.shtml).
You wrote, "My values are shaken to the core and I'm wondering how I've been so naive." Same thing happened to me and many others who participate in the discussions here on AntiPolygraph.org. The problem isn't with your values, it's with the values of those in government who are willing to cynically destroy the reputations and careers of innocent persons on the basis of a pseudoscientific fraud (polygraphy) because they find it expedient to do so. I hope you'll consider working with us to expose (and end) polygraph waste, fraud, and abuse.
If you haven't yet learned how polygraph testing really works (you can be sure that your polygrapher lied to you about it), see Chapter 3 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector.