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James
R. Wygant
Polygraph Examiner
Polygraph Examiner
General information
A privately arranged polygraph examination in a criminal case begins with an appointment, usually made through an attorney. The examiner will probably ask the attorney to furnish whatever reports are available, and he will review those before the client arrives for his or her examination. The client's time at the examiner's office is usually about 1-1/2 hours, although additional time can be needed, and re-tests from inconclusive results are occasionally necessary.
All questions are discussed with the client before the examination is begun. Most examiners, police and private, follow essentially the same test procedures. Favorable results with a private examiner often do not require a retest with a police examiners. Instead, a review of the charts and questions may be sufficient.
Most examiners now use computerized instruments that provide software analysis of the charts in addition to the examiner's personal evaluation. The charts themselves are similar to those produced on paper by older instruments. In that sense, either kind of instrument functions primarily as a recording device, creating a record of physiological changes occurring in someone while he or she is answering test questions.
Besides tests on specific criminal allegations, tests on law enforcement applicants and on convicted sex offenders are common. They differ in several ways from tests on criminal issues. First, they are not usually arranged through an attorney, but rather through the hiring agency or, in the case of sex offenders, through a corrections officer or therapist. Second, the test itself probably will follow a slightly different format than what is customary for a specific criminal allegation, although questions are still discussed before the exam begins. Third, there is no confidentiality in a sex offender examination. Everything is "on the record." There is probably only limited confidentiality in an applicant examination, depending on the agency. In some cases, divulged information may be shared with other agencies and may be subject to prosecution. If that's a concern, ask about it or stay home.
A privately arranged polygraph examination in a criminal case begins with an appointment, usually made through an attorney. The examiner will probably ask the attorney to furnish whatever reports are available, and he will review those before the client arrives for his or her examination. The client's time at the examiner's office is usually about 1-1/2 hours, although additional time can be needed, and re-tests from inconclusive results are occasionally necessary.
All questions are discussed with the client before the examination is begun. Most examiners, police and private, follow essentially the same test procedures. Favorable results with a private examiner often do not require a retest with a police examiners. Instead, a review of the charts and questions may be sufficient.
Most examiners now use computerized instruments that provide software analysis of the charts in addition to the examiner's personal evaluation. The charts themselves are similar to those produced on paper by older instruments. In that sense, either kind of instrument functions primarily as a recording device, creating a record of physiological changes occurring in someone while he or she is answering test questions.
Besides tests on specific criminal allegations, tests on law enforcement applicants and on convicted sex offenders are common. They differ in several ways from tests on criminal issues. First, they are not usually arranged through an attorney, but rather through the hiring agency or, in the case of sex offenders, through a corrections officer or therapist. Second, the test itself probably will follow a slightly different format than what is customary for a specific criminal allegation, although questions are still discussed before the exam begins. Third, there is no confidentiality in a sex offender examination. Everything is "on the record." There is probably only limited confidentiality in an applicant examination, depending on the agency. In some cases, divulged information may be shared with other agencies and may be subject to prosecution. If that's a concern, ask about it or stay home.