Police polygraph employment questions?

[R22R134A]

If the test ask if you've ever taken anything from any of your employers( which I did once back in 99' when I was a dumb teenager) Should I tell the truth or try to lie about?

[George W. Maschke]

If the test ask if you've ever taken anything from any of your employers( which I did once back in 99' when I was a dumb teenager) Should I tell the truth or try to lie about?

Any question about petty theft from a past employer is a "probable-lie control question." Despite the polygarpher's insistence that all questions must be answered truthfully, and that the examinee should divulge all because the slightest doubt will show up on the charts, it is secretly expected that everyone will answer the probable-lie control questions deceptively, or at least have considerable doubt regarding whether one has been completely truthful. Thus, if asked whether you've ever taken anything from an employer, the appropriate (and expected) answer is "no."

See Chapter 3 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector for more on polygraph procedure.

[Sergeant1107]

I would have to (respectfully) disagree.  

If you stole something from an employer, first of all, that information should be offered during your background investigation.  It should also come up during the pretest interview for the polygraph.  You should not lie about it.  Explain what happened and when it happened.  Depending on what was stolen, I cannot imagine that a single theft from eight years ago would cause much of a problem, especially if you were a minor at the time.

During the polygraph you will be asked a variation of the original question, such as, "Other than what you have already described, have you ever stolen from an employer?"  Your answer to that question should be, "no."

[George W. Maschke]

It should be noted that my reply to R22R134A is based on the assumption that the question about taking anything from past employers concerns petty theft. There is nothing unethical about withholding information relevant to this probable-lie "control" question (in fulfillment of examiner expectations). Making unnecessary admissions to such a "control" question may make a false positive outcome more likely to the extent that it results in the examinee feeling less anxiety when answering.

On the other hand, a question about major theft from an employer (for example, did you ever take anything worth more than $400 from a previous employer) is not a probable-lie control question, but rather a relevant question, and I believe that applicants for positions of public trust have an ethical obligation to answer such questions truthfully.

[Wonder_Woman]

George, maybe you should ask Drew your poly expert on this one.  Although I have given enough grief to Sarge, he is right on with this one.  Admit the theft otherwise you will have probs on the poly.  Teenagers do 'dumb' things and most can be overlooked.  Honesty and integrity are what Chiefs are looking for in applicants.   One Chief I work with recently told me if someone intentionally screws with the Poly it is the same as screwing with the psych.  They won't waste more time on a dishonest applicant.  So, R22R134A, tell the BI and poly examiner about the theft.  

BTW I am so impressed with Sarges post!

[Sergeant1107]

BTW I am so impressed with Sarges post!

With all due respect, it seems rather insincere when you are only civil to people if you agree with them.

[R22R134A]

Thank You everyone for your response, I will be telling the truth on the poly instead of trying to beat it with dishonesty.