Taping of Polygraph Exams

[Justice (Guest)]

All -

Is it not highly irregular for a polygraph exam in a criminal investigation not to be audio or video-taped?  

My fiance was forced by his probation officer to take a polygraph.  The examiner was inexperienced, and asked relevant questions that conflicted with eachother.  My guy was deemed DI to two questions, and NDI to one.  When my fiance pointed out that this was impossible, the examiner proceeded w/a littany of accusations and badgering, attempting to get a confession.  The examiner then wrote in his report to the probation officer that my guy had been DI to all three questions.  

Unlike at trial, polygraph evidence is admissable in a probation violation hearing.  Thanks for your response.
 

 

[George W. Maschke]

It's quite common for polygraphers not to record polygraph interrogations. It's a deliberate step taken to avoid accountability: with no tape recording, the subject cannot challenge the polygrapher's word about what transpired.

Agencies that as a matter of policy do not record polygraph interrogations include the FBI and the Department of Defense. The Department of Energy, by contrast, as a matter of policy videotapes all polygraph screening examinations.

The topic of recording polygraph examinations was discussed at some length in the message thread Who's Using Polygraph, which may be of interest.