The outcome of a polygraph examination could have life-altering effects.
To help choose a qualified examiner, always ask the 18 questions below.
Our answers --and explanations-- are included.
#1: "Do you use a computerized polygraph instrument?" YES!
ONLY have testing done with a computerized polygraph;
don't even consider allowing the testing to be done with an old 'analog'
(also known as 'conventional') obsolete-technology polygraph.
Some part-time polygraphers don't have enough business to allow for having a
$7,000 computerized polygraph to use, and instead they use 30-or-40-year-old
antique analog/mechanical polygraphs that you could buy on E-Bay
yourself for $300 because most professionals have dumped them!
Those old instruments are really just a roll of paper with 4 moving pens,
leaving it 100% up to the examiner to decide Pass or Fail,
very often with inaccurate results.
This is so important that some polygraphers LIE in their advertising!
Watch them say that they use a computerized polygraph,
yet you find they instead use an antique analog.
If it is not on a computer screen, it is not a computer polygraph.
Computerized polygraphs use sophisticated software
to precisely score each test, pinpointing all signs of
deception and issuing an exact Pass/Fail score.
We own four $7000 state-of-the-art
2006/2007-model computerized polygraph instruments,
one from each of the four polygraph manufacturers
(and if for a criminal matter involving a law-enforcement
agency polygraph, it is important that you have the option
of having your private examination be done using the same
instrument and software used by that law-enforcement agency;
NO other polygraph examiner can offer this critical option!)
#2: "Can you send me some literature and your CV?" YES!
Can they instantly (that is right now, not tomorrow!)
send you complete literature about themselves and their
polygraph services-- by fax, e-mail, and US Mail?
Part-time examiners will often not have all of these.
If not, look for a more-experienced professional.
Here are the items to INSIST that they send now:
-- a brochure
(giving a full view of their services and abilities) --
-- a CV
(a list of their professional qualifications;
for court matters & credibility) --
-- material to explain the examination process
and how to improve the accuracy --
-- an example of their final report --
We will send out all of these above --and more-- within minutes!
#3: "Are you fully insured for lie-detection work?" YES!
Do they have at least $1,000,000 in
Liability and Errors & Omissions insurance?
Insist on proof of CURRENT insurance--
even ask for the agent's name and phone.
Some have business insurance--
but NOT naming lie-detection work.
The American Polygraph Association recommends at
least $50,000 insurance coverage, and the federal law Employee Polygraph Protection Act REQUIRES it.
Any employer can be fined $10,000 per occurrence for
using a polygraph examiner who is not insured.
We have one million dollars in Liability
and Errors & Omissions insurance coverage.
#4: "Do you test the examinee three complete times?" YES!
Do they test the examinee THREE times on the same set of questions?
There is far more chance that a person can wrongly
pass or fail if only one test is administered.
Many persons can wrongly pass or fail on the first test, due to
'initial questioning shock'. Some examiners only collect two charts
(that is, do two tests). Three testings takes longer but is best.
We test 3 times, with a 5-minute break in between each.
Scoring of each chart is done during the breaks.
#5: "Can I help prepare the questions for the testing?" YES!
A standard polygraph chart/examination chart
(government. police, or private) is 10 questions.
Three of these examination charts are collected.
There are 25 seconds of time in between each
question, to allow the body to calm down
before it has to deal with the next question.
Of the 10 questions, 3 or 4 are from you or are about the matter in question;
the other questions are pre-arranged and needed for computing purposes.
Virtually any list of your many questions can be developed into
three or four direct questions for the examination.
Any variation of this (including 20 consecutive questions without
a break in the middle) is not scientifically-proven to be accurate;
RUN if a standard pattern is not used!
If for Voice Testing, you can have up to 20 questions.
For traditional wired polygraph testing, We ask 10 questions, 4 from you,
repeated in 3 sets; 5 minutes in between each set.
#6: "Do you have a professional website?" YES!
Many part-time polygraphers either don't have a website
OR the website they have proves that lie-detection is just a 'hobby'
part of their real job or business (investigation, counseling, etc).
We have GroganPolygraph.com and other lie-detection websites.
#7: "Do you include a written report of the results?" YES!
Surprise! Many polygraph examiners finish collecting the charts
and then verbally tell the client of the pass/fail results. But when the
client asks for this to be put in writing, these examiners say 'A written
report is an extra $100'. Now that 'good price' is no longer so good.
We include a written report and a Certificate Of Polygraph Examination
at no extra charge.
#8: "Can you accommodate my schedule & location?" YES!
Some part-time polygraph examiners can only conduct the
examinations around their 'real job'. Often this doesn't fit with your
situation, and their stricter hours can wrongly affect the test results.
Some examiners even charge more for after-hours or weekend appointments.
We make day, night, and weekend appointments-
and we can either come to you at no extra charge
or you can come to our private offices.
#9: "Can you explain the cost differences I have seen?" YES!
Many part-time polygraphers have to use their occasional polygraph
assignments to support their lagging 'real job' or other business, and
they need to 'premium-charge' every chance they can. All legitimate polygraph
examiners use the same type of testing formats. Since we are all to use the
same formats, why pay more for the same service?!
All we do is Lie-Detection Examinations.
#10: "Can you explain the examination process?" YES!
Call us for a detailed discussion of the entire process;
related literature is also available to you.
10 questions, 25 seconds apart, each 3 times;
monitoring changes in breathing, sweat, and blood pressure.
#11: "Do you only do lie-detection work?" YES!
Most polygraphers are just 'part-timers';
their main business is something else, often as
investigators or as therapists or as security guards;
one polygraph advertiser is actually a WalMart clerk!
All we do is lie-detection.
Don't trust your situation to a 'part-timer'!
#12: "Are you a member of Polygraph Examiners Of America?" YES!
There are many organizations & networks associated with
lie-detection. PEOA is by far the most modern and dynamic.
Many approvable by other groups do not meet PEOA standards.
We monitor many lie-detection-related enties;
PEOA surpasses the value of all others.
Visit www.peoa.us for more information;
we are founding members and active participants.
#13: "Can I watch the entire examination of my spouse?" YES!
Examiners are sometimes offered 'bribes' or 'stories' by examinees
once alone with the examiner, perhaps "I made a mistake and you have
to help me pass, please-- here's an extra $200"; also, sometimes a few
months later an examinee's spouse can wonder if the questions
were really asked and answered exactly as they should have been.
We are set-up to have you observe;
in most cases, we recommend it.
RUN if you are told that you can not
observe 100% of the examination!
#14: "Do you have an office I can come to for privacy?" YES!
Most polygraph examiners do NOT have an office.
As 'part-timers', they can only do it at a location that
you provide, or they can sometimes 'borrow' a friend's office.
Our offices are ready to serve you.
#15: "Do you have at least 10 years of polygraph experience?" YES!
Many polygraph examiners were only
in polygraph school in the last year or two.
They are still 'students', and they are 'learning' on you!
We have 20 years of experience.
And we do more examinations in a typical month
than most so-called 'examiners' do in a year.
DEMAND proof of experience:
diploma, tax returns, city/county licensing history.
#16: "Do you have a polygraph business license?" YES!
Even in states that do not have a state-wide polygraph license,
cities and counties require them to register as a business.
Unlike the 'part-timers', we are 100% in compliance!
#17: "Have you completed at least 4000 polygraph examinations?" YES!
#18: "For Voice Testing, do you use law-enforcement software & training
that cost $6000 and weeks of academy training?" YES!
Some VSA website are really just persons using $100 'Truster'-type
software, unreliable garbage. They will lie, so insist on proof-of-training and ownership of law-enforcement quality software.
If the polygraph examiner can not answer YES to all 18 questions above,
immediately look for a more experienced professional.