You are here:

Careers: Police/Polygraph examination results

Advertisement

Expert: - 5/31/2006


Question
Hi William,
This is Chris again and I had some more questions. Is it possible to be as truthful as possible and still fail questions?  Are these test proven to be 100% correct and will missing 3 questions hurt my chances of being hired?

Thanks again,
Chris

Answer
Chris,

Again, Thanks for the questions.

I may be mistaken, but I don't know of any jurisdiction that allows polygraphs to be used in criminal court cases. It is a scientific instrument that is operated by a human being so they are fallible. This probably occurs very rarely.

My question to you is: What is truthful as possible? Did you or did you not tell the truth? The polygraph does not measure the AMOUNT of truth, it detects deception.

The questions are more than likely set up so your answers are usually a "yes" or "no" response. If you have a question that needs to be clarified you do that prior to the polygraph instrument being attached to you.

Chris, Find a polygraph examiner and ask him to go over the instrument with you. Show you how it operates, what type of questions are asked, and etc.

Again, good luck and best wishes.

Careers: Police

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

William Payne

Expertise

South Carolina general law enforcement career information. South Carolina Criminal & Traffic Laws. Field Training Manager, Court Systems, Police Recruiting & Hiring, Personnel/Employee Evaluations, Non-Lethal Weapons & Use of Force.

Experience

Retired after 24-1/2 years experience as a Municipal Police Officer. 19 years as a Sergeant. I guest instructed at the State of South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. I am a Community Policing Instructor, Field Training Officer, Instructor-Trainer in the Monadnock Expandable/PR-24 Batons, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Law Enforcement Driving Instructor, O.C. Spray Instructor, Taser Instructor, and liaison for State Accreditation Standards. I also serve as an Adjunct Instructor for Park University, where I teach in the Criminal Justice Administration Degree Program.I am currently Director of Security for a major hospital system in South Carolina.

Organizations
South Carolina Law Enforcement Officer's Association.

Education/Credentials
South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy
Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration, Park University.
Master of Arts Degree in Management, Webster University.
Master of Arts Degree in Human Resources Development, Webster University.

Datamaster Operator, Monadnock PR-24/M.E.B. Instructor-Trainer, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Field Training Manager, Certified Basic Investigator, Certified in Homicide Investigations.


Awards and Honors
Beaufort County, South Carolina, Police Officer of the Year, 1990.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.