Posted: 8/11/2009 9:22:45 PM EDT
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Anyone have experience with one of these gypsy machines? Im currently looking for a job as a LEO. I am a veteran but I have no college credits, so Im looking at places that hire without the need for college credits. It seems as if most of these places require a polygraph.
I have nothing to hide, but Im concerened about subjective Yes or No questions and trying to trick you from your psych part of the exam. If you have experience with it, what was it like/what questions did they ask you? |
| i took one last week. You make yourself more nervous that you actually are. They ask questions like, "have you ever done drugs" "have you ever sold drugs" "have you ever committed a crime that you were never caught for"....stuff like that. The biggest thing is just to be honest and upfront about anything. A department will be more likely to hire you with a little scuff marks on your record over if you lied. If they caught you in a lie, then thats pretty much their first impression of you. They usually ask the same questions about 3-4 times to get a solid reading/truth/lie. Their not that bad, just be honest. Thats the biggest thing. |
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I have taken one. Apparently it came out great, I had the cleanest background and poly either the investigator or examiner had ever seen. I was worried about mine because of all the horror stories I have read, and I still have absolutely zero confidence in them. I was talking with the senior sergeant here where I work now and he has apparently passed 4, and failed one miserably. Said it was the same questions and he gave the same answers as on the other ones. I believe they are just a way to make people nervous and confess to things.
Bottom line, make sure you get everything out front with your BI before you start, and then no matter what, make sure your story doesnt change. You dont want to say anything to make it look like you didnt tell the truth at first. |
| The polygraph is a tool used by investigators in various situations. For hiring purposes, the polygraph is mainly used to verify what you listed on your application. Certain issues will be automatic disqualifiers.......like taking cetain drugs in the past........or selling drugs....etc.. If you have not done anything that bad in the past you should do well. PAT. |
| I've taken 2 tests on the CVSA (computer voice stress analysis). Passed both. I'll admit I was nervous as hell. Questions were typical application type and were discussed in length prior to the test. For example: Theft, drugs, sex on duty, etc. Like stated above, be honest and all should go well. |
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Just remember, the're is a very good reason they are not admissible in any court as evidence. What does that have to do with anything? He is not going to be in court. Yes there are ways to trick a poly, but if he does get caught, well thats the end of THAT. Unless he has absolute disqualifiers, there is no incentive to lie at all. When I took my polys, the operator went over the (very long) personal history packet that I had filled out, asked a few questions about it, then we went over the questions before the actual test. Yes, you will probably feel dirty when it is all over because you will have to answer 'Yes' to questions like 'Have you ever stolen anything' but unless you have a very questionable past, it shouldn't be a big deal. I actually felt very relaxed once we started. |
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They are complete horse shit. The real deal is its up to your tester weather you pass or not, and from what ive seen two testers can have two different opinions.
The reason they incorperate them in the hiring process is to have a way to can someone's ass. For instance, if you apply and for whatever reason someone up high don't like you, ect, ect.. then can use the poly to stop the process and send you home. Ive talked to too many IA guys that do backgrounds over the years. Its kinda like having a good reason to disqualify you, when they didn't really have a good legit reason. The science behind them are far from proven, and they are not that big of deal anymore. TV is what made them popular, but trust me, they are not used as much as one may think during anything other then hiring process. |
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They are complete horse shit. The real deal is its up to your tester weather you pass or not, and from what ive seen two testers can have two different opinions. The reason they incorperate them in the hiring process is to have a way to can someone's ass. For instance, if you apply and for whatever reason someone up high don't like you, ect, ect.. then can use the poly to stop the process and send you home. Ive talked to too many IA guys that do backgrounds over the years. Its kinda like having a good reason to disqualify you, when they didn't really have a good legit reason. The science behind them are far from proven, and they are not that big of deal anymore. TV is what made them popular, but trust me, they are not used as much as one may think during anything other then hiring process. I have been told this as well. I am currently in the CT State Police process. I passed the written exam and am just waiting for the next step. At some point I will have to take the poly. Not looking forward to it. |
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I have taken and passed several as part of my military service and for private sector / police jobs.
The polygraph is an investigative tool. It is voodoo science and nothing more than a glorified blood pressure machine. Tell the truth. Don't be afraid to admit mistakes or minor infractions. Nobody is perfect. If you have done serious crimes or sold state secrets you should avoid it. 
The jackass running the machine may torture puppies in his spare time. It's a head game. Nothing more. If they call you on something explain it. If you smoked grass in 1975 in high school, tell them if they ask. Don't sweat it. |
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Just remember, the're is a very good reason they are not admissible in any court as evidence. What does that have to do with anything? He is not going to be in court. Yes there are ways to trick a poly, but if he does get caught, well thats the end of THAT. Unless he has absolute disqualifiers, there is no incentive to lie at all. When I took my polys, the operator went over the (very long) personal history packet that I had filled out, asked a few questions about it, then we went over the questions before the actual test. Yes, you will probably feel dirty when it is all over because you will have to answer 'Yes' to questions like 'Have you ever stolen anything' but unless you have a very questionable past, it shouldn't be a big deal. I actually felt very relaxed once we started. The reason the polygraph is not a lie detector is that what it measures, changes in heartbeat, blood pressure, and respiration can be caused by all kinds of factors. Nervousness, anger, sadness, embarrassment, and fear can all be factors in altering one's heart rate, blood pressure, or respiration rate. Having to go to the bathroom can also be cause those conditions as well. What about medical conditions such as colds, headaches, constipation? Remember Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen? One of the main reasons so many government, law enforcement and private sector employers want to use polygraphs is that they think the test will frighten away liars and cheats who are seeking jobs. The users of the machine don't really believe it can detect lies they use it to cut corners in what should otherwise be a very thorough and complete background investigation performed by a human being doing actual foot work, not some "technician" sitting in a room eating a donut and having a cup of coffee. |
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I've taken them several times...and past 'em all.
I think they are bull shit. They love to have you answer the questions then come back several minutes and say something like "look, this question about your drug use is telling me that your not telling me everything...look, tell me the deal...it's no big deal just tell me how much (whatever) you used. They pretty much become buddy buddy with you and try to talk you into a confession...all crap. I always stuck to my guns and never had a problem. Not like I ever did anything illegal 
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| Interesting thread. There are several polygraph threads on the couple LE forums I visit and the cops seem to swear by them. It seems that there are a lot of people that have failed the polygraph and have not been hired as an LEO because of it although they were truthful (so they said) during it and there were no surprises. I don't understand why they are still used if they really don't work. Especially since LE agencies will do an in depth background investigation anyhow. |
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Interesting thread. There are several polygraph threads on the couple LE forums I visit and the cops seem to swear by them. It seems that there are a lot of people that have failed the polygraph and have not been hired as an LEO because of it although they were truthful (so they said) during it and there were no surprises. I don't understand why they are still used if they really don't work. Especially since LE agencies will do an in depth background investigation anyhow. well, as you know, they are not admissable in court as evidence because they are junk science. they merely measure blood pressure, breathing, heart rate ect as questions are asked and answered. they are primarily used as a tool to interrogate, to get you to confess something. there could be any number of reasons why the test shows variations when questions are asked, and only one of them is willful deception. for example, if they ask you "have you ever committed a serious crime against a person or property" you may think to your self "I haven't...have I? shit think, anything that would qualify...." or, you picture in your head gruesome murder images when they ask, and that causes you to have a reaction. If you are thinking "man pass or fail I'm not gonna get the job over some other super candidate" and the worry could cause a measured response they claim is a lie. as to why they are used, they are a handy out to have, if say you don't wanna hire hispanics, you just poly them and claim they failed, that way it isn't discrimination ect |