Just took my first Poly Yesterday

[Dee5330]

I applied for a Law Enforcement Agency and took my first poly.

I felt that I did fairly well after reading the posts and reading the book.  The only CM I used were the breathing techniques and the mental calculations.

I lied on these questions.

For instance have you ever shop lifted after you were 16.
Have you ever hidden or made serious lies to your family.
Have you stolen from an employer?
Have you ever done drugs?

I recognized the irrelevant, relevant, and control questions.  I also did what the book said to give appropriate responses for control and relevant.

After the test the interrogator told me that I had reactions to doing drugs.  I did not admit to any guilt.  And gave him a reason that I was surrounded by it during college and that's all I could think in the back of my head.  He told me that it's something else.  He than later said he'll send it to HQ and they'll look at it further to gather the results.

The question I have is if I lied on at least 4 of the questions on the poly.. Why would he only say that the reaction was only on the drug part?  I was more concerned about me stealing things than doing drugs.  He didn't say I failed nor passed.  But from your personal experiences.. do u think i failed?

Thanks
Dee  

[anxietyguy]

I hope so, I wouldnt want to work with you.

[Dee5330]

hahaha... these were in the past.. back in the college days.... but i've reformed...  but seriously.. what do u guys think of the outcome.

[Dee5330]

thanks for the responses.  even though they weren't the answers that i was looking for.  these things happened almost 9 yrs ago.  and i've attoned for them.  i'm trying to move on and serve my country.  :-/

[George W. Maschke]

The question I have is if I lied on at least 4 of the questions on the poly.. Why would he only say that the reaction was only on the drug part?  I was more concerned about me stealing things than doing drugs.  He didn't say I failed nor passed.  But from your personal experiences.. do u think i failed?

While I do not condone law enforcement applicants lying to relevant questions in their pre-employment polygraph interrogations, as your polygraph is behind you and the answers to your questions may be of interest to all, I see no harm in answering them.

Your polygrapher would not have accused you of deception regarding the 2nd and 3rd questions you listed because these were probable-lie "control" questions that are intended to evoke a reaction even in subjects who are answering the relevant questions truthfully. If you did not augment reactions to these "control" questions, then you did not employ countermeasures as effectively as you could have.

Polygraphers seem to believe that the relevant question law enforcement applicants are most likely to answer deceptively is the one about illegal drug use. It is without doubt the single issue regarding which the greatest number of applicants are accused of deception. Even if your charts were ultimately scored as inconclusive or even passing, your polygrapher might have accused you of deception regarding illegal drug use just to see if he could get an admission.

When polygraph charts are scored as "deception indicated," it is general polygraph practice to confront the examinee with the result and conduct a post-test interrogation with a view to getting an admission/confession. If the polygrapher did not directly accuse you of deception, but merely asked why you might showed a reaction, it is an indication (but by no means confirmation) that you may have passed.

[Dee5330]

thanks George.  I feel a bit better but I won't get my hopes up high yet.  I'll keep you informed on what happened.