Paper on polygraphs....

[RASCAL]

Hi!  I am a CJA student with a paper to write.  I have to choose a topic that involves police, is contraversial, something I can present two sides for argument and is something I am interested in.  Well, the Polygraph came to mind.  I personally have not yet had any experience with one, but am TERRIFIED to apply for fear of the polygraph.  I am not a dishonest person, but I have had a shall we say recreational drug history. Anyways, I would like to be honest on the exam, but I know if I was I would be disqualified for employment based on just that.  Anyways, I could go on about this for days.  I was just wondering if there were any other links with information on the topic, specifically ones regarding LE employment, and that may have measured statistics to include in my report.  Thanks ahead of time for any help.  

[Poster-Boy]

Hey Rascal....

I encourage you to do your report on the fraud called the polygraph...

A great source of information exists on this very site.

On the main page of Antipolygraph.org,  there is a blue box containing links (Message board, etc).  You will also notice a link titled "Reading Room."  

Go to this section of antipolygraph.org for info to use in your paper.

I also strongly encourage you to let your classmates--particularly fellow crim-just students--know about the issue you are taking up for your paper.

A good outline would be to discuss the following:
    
       1.History of polygraph (developed by same man
         who invented the wonder-woman comic....her
         lasso wrapped around people and forced them
         to tell the truth!)
       2.The use of the polygraph today in law enforcement
         hiring procedures.
       3.Discuss the fact that the poly is--in reality--used
          only to obtain confessions (scare them out of you)
          that they would never otherwise get out of you.
       4.Discuss how the polygraph works,  and how it
          depends on the examiner Deceiving YOU,
        5.Discuss how it is easy to beat the polygraph.
           End on this subject so that it sticks in their heads.

Another obvious source of info on the poly is available in the
downloadable book "The lie behind the lie detector" which is
free to download on this site.

Studies proving the polygraph can be beat are easily available (have some that I read myself) if you can do a professional journals search (they appear in psych journals and the like).

Good luck,  and I BEG OF YOU to take part in the campus poster initiative.

Sincerely,

Poster-Boy