Polygraph

[SOG240]

Hello Everyone,
I'll be taking the next step in the hiring process, a polygraph examination. I have never taken one before. What kind of questions do they ask? Like most people, I do have some "skeletons in my closet". Nothing major, just things that I did when I was a lot younger and more stupid. I don't plan to lie on the test or anything, but I would like to know the general questions that they do ask so I don't get too nervous before taking it. I was told that they ask questions like, "Do you speed or do you drive the speed limit?"
I would rather hear answers from people who have actually taken the test instead of my friends who are not even in the Law Enforcement Field. Thank you very much!!

SOG240

[Kieth M.]

I don't plan to lie on the test or anything, but I would like to know the general questions that they do ask so I don't get too nervous before taking it. I was told that they ask questions like, "Do you speed or do you drive the speed limit?"

The poly is a set of questions asked in a yes/no format. Each question will, likely, be discussed with you in advance. They can't do open-ended questions which require a long-winded answer, or throw a surprise question at you.

If, in the pre-discussion, you tell them you stole candy/gum as a kid and maybe a electronic item when you were 15, then the question will go along the lines of, "Other than the candy and gum as a child, and the electronic game when you were 15, have you committed any other thefts?"

Relax...tell the truth...there's no voodoo going on with the poly.

[PPDMO373]

there's no voodoo going on with the poly.

Yeah there is....it's junk science.......

I would much rather have someone use a magic 8 Ball on me.......

[SpecialBlend]

I took mine on November 16th and haven't gotten any results back yet, they are supposedly still reviewing the results even though the person who conducted the polygraph said it would take no more than 30 days to hear back from them.

Just relax, don't be nervous about it.

[hbliam]

Yeah there is....it's junk science.......

I would much rather have someone use a magic 8 Ball on me.......

We have tougher standards on the West Coast...luckily. The poly is just a tool to guide a BI in the direction he should go.

[RutgersCBN]

The poly is just a tool to guide a BI in the direction he should go.

What criteria does a BI use to determine if someone should retake the poly then? For instance, if a someone fails a poly question, the BI will obvioulsy investigate it to determine its legitmacy. But if nothing is found in the BI, where do they draw the line between accepting a false-positive on the poly or having the individual retake it (or take a specific poly)?

[hbliam]

What criteria does a BI use to determine if someone should retake the poly then? For instance, if a someone fails a poly question, the BI will obvioulsy investigate it to determine its legitmacy. But if nothing is found in the BI, where do they draw the line between accepting a false-positive on the poly or having the individual retake it (or take a specific poly)?

Who are you?

[a7x]

I had never taken one before up until about two weeks ago. I was stressed about it because of all of these stories posted on here, but it wasn't a big deal at all. I was asked about 6 or 7 very broad questions, answered them truthfully, and it was over. The whole thing took maybe 15 minutes.

[PPDMO373]

We have tougher standards on the West Coast...luckily.

Mmmmkay.....

The poly is just a tool to guide a BI in the direction he should go.

Yes it is. But you will get a few follks that swear by it.......

[SOG240]

Thank you everyone for your response and information. I appreciate it. Take care!

[Baxter]

I just had this test last month, so I can share my experience on the matter..

The test I had was a Computer Voice Stress Analyzer (CVSA) or something like that.. I had a microphone in front of me, and it was hooked up to a computer. All you have to do is say "yes" or "no".

First, they went over the questions with me, and made sure I understood the wording. There was also some questions in there that they made you lie about, for example, the room I was in was white. They asked me if the room was black, and I had to say "yes"

Then they turn the computer on, and ask you the questions for real.. if theres any hits then they go back over it with you, and see if your lying, or just not explaining in detail.

As long as you tell the entire truth, you will have no problem. DO NOT LIE with your BI. That will get you kicked out fast.

The test is not 100% correct.. for example, on my test, the computer said I was a drug dealer!
Have you ever done drugs? No *pass
Have you ever carried drugs? No *pass
Have you ever transported drugs? No *pass
Have you ever been in the presence of someone who was using drugs? No *pass
Have you ever sold drugs? No *fail

Obviously the machine was wrong. I have never sold drugs, and I got the job. No BI (at least no good BI) will rely 100% on the test.

Hope that helped

[SOG240]

Thank you Baxter! Your response does help alot. I'm not as nervous as I used to be!

[xdrcx]

The one question I remember was, "Did you talk to anyone about polygraph tests, research them on the internet or read any books about them to aid you with this test?"

[Plaso]

Mmmmkay.....



Yes it is. But you will get a few follks that swear by it.......



And the latter is exactly why the Poly and CVSA's are not admissible in court, :rolleyes: and are only a tool to further your investigation.

[hbliam]

And the latter is exactly why the Poly and CVSA's are not admissible in court, :rolleyes: and are only a tool to further your investigation.

It's funny that someone always brings this up when the poly topic arises. Who cares? We ain't going to court. If they don't want to hire you they don't have to tell you why...you are done.

[Plaso]

It's funny that someone always brings this up when the poly topic arises. Who cares? We ain't going to court. If they don't want to hire you they don't have to tell you why...you are done.

Merely an observation. Also trying to make the point that they are not reliable, thus that is why they are not admissable. :eek:

[NSAPoland]

I took a polygraph for a corrections position Monday. Cried on the ride home.....i spent my whole life knowing i was going to be in that damn room with him and he told me i lied. Told me that i am lying about stealing something from my employer. I didnt, i sure thought about it alot and had a crap load of opportunities, knew i wasnt gonne get caught, but being a police officer is so much more important to me. I didnt do it. Anyway, he told me i was liying. and there is nothing more frustrating than having someone call you a liar and you not lie. Totally hate polygraphs, havent heard from the agency yet. Still feel like throwing up, knowing that for every application i ever fill out im going to have to put "failed a polygraph at another agency" on. Man.....polygraphs suck. Never lied on it once, still failed. Good luck with yours.

[hbliam]

I took a polygraph for a corrections position Monday. Cried on the ride home.....i spent my whole life knowing i was going to be in that damn room with him and he told me i lied. Told me that i am lying about stealing something from my employer. I didnt, i sure thought about it alot and had a crap load of opportunities, knew i wasnt gonne get caught, but being a police officer is so much more important to me. I didnt do it. Anyway, he told me i was liying. and there is nothing more frustrating than having someone call you a liar and you not lie. Totally hate polygraphs, havent heard from the agency yet. Still feel like throwing up, knowing that for every application i ever fill out im going to have to put "failed a polygraph at another agency" on. Man.....polygraphs suck. Never lied on it once, still failed. Good luck with yours.

That's normally part of the game. Did he tell you that you failed? Pretty much every poly will include them "seeing" something on the results that says you are a liar. Then they see if you volunteer something.

I have two friends at my department that failed the poly with my department. Reapplied and passed it.

It's not the end of the world.

And why are you testing for a corrections position if you want to be a police officer?

[NSAPoland]

Im testing for corrections cause im still young and i want exp. to put me above other applicants.

He told me i failed cause of the theft and told me too call him if i think of something. I told him "dont hold your breath, i told you the truth on every question, im sorry that your agency gave up their chance to hire someone like me"

I know that it might be just a game, but i dont like it. Im already thinking thoughts like, What if i cant pass a poly....i can never be a cop. Not pleasant.

[George Maschke]

Hello Everyone,
I'll be taking the next step in the hiring process, a polygraph examination. I have never taken one before. What kind of questions do they ask? Like most people, I do have some "skeletons in my closet". Nothing major, just things that I did when I was a lot younger and more stupid. I don't plan to lie on the test or anything, but I would like to know the general questions that they do ask so I don't get too nervous before taking it. I was told that they ask questions like, "Do you speed or do you drive the speed limit?"
I would rather hear answers from people who have actually taken the test instead of my friends who are not even in the Law Enforcement Field. Thank you very much!!

SOG240

For examples of the kinds of questions that might be asked, see:

LAPD Pre-Employment Polygraph Question List (https://antipolygraph.org/cgi-bin/forums/YaBB.pl?board=Proc;action=display;num=1129089368)
Department of Defense Polygraph Institute Law Enforcement Pre-Employment Test Examiner's Guide (http://antipolygraph.org/documents/dodpi-lepet.pdf)
Chapter 3 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector (http://antipolygraph.org/lie-behind-the-lie-detector.pdf)

[SpecialBlend]

I just got off the phone with the people at the Public Safety Bureau and was told that my polygraph results were still under review that they were requesting the tapes of it. The person I spoke with, which was a background investigator, said it will take a while, at least a month.

So that means it will be about 3 months just to do the polygraph and review the results. That doesn't sound normal at all. Anyone else had to wait this long to know whether you passed the poly or not? Keep in mind I can't move foreward in the application process until they are done reviewing it.

[a7x]

I just got off the phone with the people at the Public Safety Bureau and was told that my polygraph results were still under review that they were requesting the tapes of it. The person I spoke with, which was a background investigator, said it will take a while, at least a month.

So that means it will be about 3 months just to do the polygraph and review the results. That doesn't sound normal at all. Anyone else had to wait this long to know whether you passed the poly or not? Keep in mind I can't move foreward in the application process until they are done reviewing it.

I am in backgrounds with a smaller dept. (city of about 120k) for a non-sworn position. However, the hiring process is the same as a sworn position minus the physical agility test. My polygraph results were told to me right after I completed the exam.

Have you applied anywhere else? I don't know if you are set on LAPD or not but with a smaller department you will not have to deal with having your application process frozen within a giant bureaucracy.

[SpecialBlend]

Ya, I have applied elsewhere. Ironically I met this police officer from Pomona PD who was encouraging and gave me his name and number and offered to take me along with a ride along and also to have me apply to their department and perhaps speed up the process.

[SOG240]

For examples of the kinds of questions that might be asked, see:

LAPD Pre-Employment Polygraph Question List (https://antipolygraph.org/cgi-bin/forums/YaBB.pl?board=Proc;action=display;num=1129089368)
Department of Defense Polygraph Institute Law Enforcement Pre-Employment Test Examiner's Guide (http://antipolygraph.org/documents/dodpi-lepet.pdf)
Chapter 3 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector (http://antipolygraph.org/lie-behind-the-lie-detector.pdf)


Thank you for the links Sir, very helpful and informative!!

[Berlioz]

I just got off the phone with the people at the Public Safety Bureau and was told that my polygraph results were still under review that they were requesting the tapes of it. The person I spoke with, which was a background investigator, said it will take a while, at least a month.

So that means it will be about 3 months just to do the polygraph and review the results. That doesn't sound normal at all. Anyone else had to wait this long to know whether you passed the poly or not? Keep in mind I can't move foreward in the application process until they are done reviewing it.

Seems odd...the lady who poly'd me said I was inconclusive and would most likely have to retest. Well, a month later I was scheduled for the interview and everything else....what exactly did they tell you after your test?

[Baxter]

I just got off the phone with the people at the Public Safety Bureau and was told that my polygraph results were still under review that they were requesting the tapes of it. The person I spoke with, which was a background investigator, said it will take a while, at least a month.

So that means it will be about 3 months just to do the polygraph and review the results. That doesn't sound normal at all. Anyone else had to wait this long to know whether you passed the poly or not? Keep in mind I can't move foreward in the application process until they are done reviewing it.

somethings not right...I was told I passed as soon as I finished the poly, before I even left the room. Waiting 1 month? why? doesn't take that long to review a few questions

[SpecialBlend]

Berlioz, same thing as yours. The lady told me that some of my results were inconclusive and that the results would be reviewed and I should hear back within 30 days whether I would have to retest or continue on with the background investigation. Did the person who administered the polygraph accuse you of using countermeasures or at least use that as a reason for the inconclusive resutls?

Baxter, according to the person I spoke with yesterday I will have to wait an extra month, which means it will be a grand total of 3 months to just review the results. There is absolutely nothing I can do.

[Berlioz]

Yes. Sounds identical.

[Baxter]

Baxter, according to the person I spoke with yesterday I will have to wait an extra month, which means it will be a grand total of 3 months to just review the results. There is absolutely nothing I can do.

Wow...well your right, theres nothing you can do. I honestly cannot think of a reason WHY it would take 3 months. Like I said, my results were instant. Good luck though...they could have been a problem with the machine or something that is out of their hands.