NCJ Number
46990
Date Published
1977
Length
447 pages
Annotation
THE POLYGRAPH ('LIE DETECTOR') TECHNIQUE AND ISSUES RELATIVE TO LEGAL ADMISSABILITY ARE EXPLORED IN THIS BASIC TEST BY JOINT AUTHORS WHO TOGETHER HAVE 44 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD.
Abstract
THE COMPLETE TEST PROCEDURE AND DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUE ARE EXPLAINED IN DETAIL, INCLUDING THE USE OF CONTROL QUESTIONS. ONE OF THE AUTHORS (REID) IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VERSION OF THE POLYGRAPH INSTRUMENT WHICH RECORDS MUSCULAR ACTIVITY ALONG WITH CHANGES IN BLOOD PRESSURE, PULSE, RESPIRATION, AND GALVANIC SKIN REFLEX, AND FOR THE UTILIZATION OF CONTROL QUESTION TECHNIQUE. THE FULL REID TECHNIQUE INCLUDES TELLING THE SUBJECT THE QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED DURING THE TEST, VERBAL STIMULATION OF UNRESPONSIVE SUBJECTS, STABILIZATION OF OVERRESPONSIVE SUBJECTS, A TEST OF IRRELEVANT QUESTIONS TO IDENTIFY THE NERVOUS AND APPREHENSIVE RESPONDENT, SPECIAL TEST FOR SO-CALLED 'SPOT RESPONDERS', THE CARD TEST COMBINED WITH THE CONFIRMATORY 'YES' TEST TO DETERMINE COOPERATION WITH THE PROCEDURE, AND THE RECENT 'SILENT ANSWER' TEST, WHICH ELIMINATES SOME OCCASIONAL INADEQUACIES OF VERBAL TESTS. THE BOOK HAS NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS OF ACTUAL TRACINGS OF BLOOD PRESSURE/PULSE AND RESPIRATION FOR BOTH LYING AND TRUTHFUL SUBJECTS. COMMON ATTEMPTS ARE MENDACITY BY TESTEES, AND SEVERAL TECHNIQUES THAT CAN BE USED BY THE POLYGRAPH OPERATOR TO WEED OUT MENDACITY ARE EXPLORED. IN ADDITION TO SYMPTOMS OF LYING, SYMPTOMS OF TRUTHFULNESS AND BEHAVIOR COMMON TO BOTH LIARS AND TRUTHTELLERS ARE DESCRIBED. THE LEGAL STATUS OF THE POLYGRAPH IS EXPLORED IN THE LIGHT OF APPELLATE COURT DECISIONS, ON LEGAL ADMISSABILITY, CONDITIONAL ADMISSABILITY, THE EFFECT OF REFERRING TO AN ACTUAL TEST OR REFUSAL TO TEST BY THE DEFENDANT, AND THE USE OF THE POLYGRAPH IN POSTTRIAL PROCEEDINGS. ONE CHAPTER IS DEVOTED TO THE POLYGRAPH IN PERSONNEL INVESTIGATIONS. PRESENT POLYGRAPH IN PERSONNEL INVESTIGATIONS. PRESENT POLYGRAPH RESEARCH AND FUTURE RESEARCH ARE BRIEFLY TREATED. TWO BIBLIOGRPHIES ARE GIVEN: ONE ON INSTRUMENTATION AND PHYSIOLOGY, AND THE OTHER ON DETECTION OF DECEPTION. AMONG THE APPENDIXES ARE MATERIALS ON THE USE OF AN INTERPRETER IN THE POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION OF A PERSON WHO SPEAKS A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN THAT OF THE EXAMINER; A POLYGRAPH EXAMINER LICENSING STATUTE AND REGULATIONS IMPLEMENTING THESE STATUTES; SUGGESTIONS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND AGENCIES REGARDING THE USE OF THE POLYGRAPH TECHNIQUE IN CRIMINAL CASES; AND CONSENT FORMS. (DJM)