Okay...before I open my mouth and stick my foot in it, I must admit that I spent alot of time reviewing the website postings (stoppolygraph.com, antipolygraph.org, salon.com, etc...) so that I could ensure that no clear answers were already posted regarding my questions. I recently read Lykken's: "A Tremor in the Blood", "The Lie Behind the Lie Detector", and Williams': "How to Sting the Polygraph", and some questions still exist. Since I personally was unable to get further clarification in that manner, I am posting my questions here in hopes to get some insight from personal experience. I apologize in advance if any/all of these questions have already been addressed, but I am at the end of the road and would like additional info.
It is clear (to me) that the polygraph can only function
"appropriately" if someone in the polygrapher-examinee relationship is deceitful, so I intend to do my part and employ the countermeasures I have learned so as to hopefully offset the deceit exhibited by the examiner. However, I am still unclear on the following points...
1) Lykken suggests that city/state police examiners generally utilize the R/I (Relevant-Irrelevant "test") for the polygraph exams; however, others have cited that the CQT or the MQT is more likely- any thoughts? They are somewhat similar, and I suppose recognizing a "control" question would be reasonably indifferent.
2) Different sources have indicated that you should augment your response to only one control question in the group that are asked. Why would you only choose one rather than responding to as many as you can "certainly" identify so that all of your control questions are of relative similarity?
3) I have read a great deal about my upcoming exam and some of what I have read has actually made me more nervous than I was before I was "educated" on aspects of the "test". As with many law enforcement exams, I was required to complete a Personal History Questionnaire where I provided what could be considered damning information (all of this prior to educating myself about the polygraph of course). I indicated that I had smoked marijuana three times almost five years ago (I am 31yrs old now), a juvenile shoplifting occurrence, and that I had once used a brother's prescription for a pain pill for some knee problems I was having. Although these are not incredibly damaging admissions, I have already had almost 2 months to remember even more that I failed to mention on these pages. My biggest question is whether I should admit to them in the pre-test interview or simply stay the course of "No" to all questions and employ the countermeasures? To give an idea, the things I have remembered are another juvenile charge of receiving stolen property (misdemeanor) and the fact that the MJ use was probably closer to 4 years ago rather than the originally stated 5yrs.
4) Finally, I have been having difficulty remaining relaxed when practicing answers to "relevant" questions. However, is it likely that if I strongly respond to control questions, my reactions to relevant questions may still be ignored b/c the control question indicated a much greater response?
I apologize in advance for the breadth of this posting, but since I have little time to get on the site, I wanted to ask as much as possible while I can b/c my test is scheduled for 5weeks from now and I want to be prepared. I appreciate any/all comments that originate with sincerity and constructive criticism. Thanks to all.
articularly ones that. Is it still possible that my greatly increased responsed
You are probably wasting your time getting "informed". They have probably already disqualified you because you have admitted to a felony crime by using a fake perscription to obtain narcotics.
Quote from: wuzafuzz on Feb 17, 2003, 10:02 PM
You are probably wasting your time getting "informed". They have probably already disqualified you because you have admitted to a felony crime by using a fake perscription to obtain narcotics.
YES! Faster than you can say 'false accusation', mr. wuzzafuzz has misrepresented what the originator of the thread actually wrote and spun his admission that he used his brother's pain medicine into faking a 'perscription' for narcotics.
Nicely done sir! Your former law enforcement employer is certainly the worse for your absence!
Thank you Beech Tree...I guess my original post was not as clear as I had intended it to be. I only used ONE of the pills from his prescription (that he had on hand)...I did not utilize a written prescription illegally in order to obtain the pills myself.
Hope that clears things up.
Any advice?
wuzafuzz,
Although I will not argue your point with respect to "Anxious_One" possibly already being disqualified because of his/her admission to somewhat recent drug use, I will however, question whether or not a felony crime was committed simply because of self-medicating with prescription medication intended for another person under a doctors care.
The use of prescription medication alone does not necessarily suggest a felony offense has been committed. However, if caught dispensing [distributing] prescription medication without a prescription, is indeed a felony offense.
Anxious One,
You requested "any/all comments that originate with sincerity and constructive criticism."
<You ask>
"My biggest question is whether I should admit to them in the pre-test interview or simply stay the course of "No" to all questions and employ the countermeasures?"
"Strictly in my opinion", [you asked] you have already volunteered enough information that probably will not play to your favor. That being said, I would personally "stay the course", and stick to what you have already told the agency of which you seek employment. Prior to completing an FD-140 application for employment with the FBI, you will be required to complete a form called "Drug Usage Disclosure Form".
On the very top/front of this form, you are clearly told:
"If you are not presently within the FBI Guidelines concerning the use of illegal drugs, DO NOT APPLY".
To complete the application process, an applicant must be able to state with absolute certainty that the applicant:
1) Has not used marijuana within the last three years.
2) Has not used marijuana more than 15 times.
3) Has not used any drug, other than marijuana, in the last ten years.
4) Has not used any illegal drug, other than marijuana, more than 5 times.
5) To the best of your ability, list each and every use of an illegal drug.
If you admit to having used drugs other than marijuana within the past 4/5 years, you will definitely be disqualified if applying with the FBI or DEA. If you keep confessing additional petty crimes either prior to or since your 18th birthday, you are only digging your hole deeper. It's not going to help you any.
If I were you; I would simply stick to what I have already said, nothing more.
One other thing I strongly suggest you do is download and read/re-read "TLBTLD" available for free on this website.
Knowledge is power. Remember, false positive polygraph results are not uncommon.
Disclaimer, the above statement(s) are strictly my personal opinion, not legal advice, based on the questions asked.
Good luck,
Triple_x
Thank you very much for the insight xXx...
I guess I should have mentioned that the law enforcement agency is with a local PD rather than with the FBI and you are not given any indication of what is "acceptable" behavior. At this point, I must assume (as much as I hate to) that my previous admissions wer not grounds for dismissal b/c my last appointment was an oral interview in front of "the board" approx a month and a half ago and I just rcv'd a letter indicating my final score prior to moving on to the pass/fail portions of the interview (poly, background, assessment). But, they may not have completely reveiwed my Personal History Statements yet either...?? I would have assumed (again) that investigators would do this prior to/while preparing me for the polygraph so if there was negative info they could discard me prior to incurring the expense of the test....again, I do not know??