NYSP Polygragh!

[SP20]

I took my NYSP polygragh today. I am very concerned about how it went though. Let me outline. First we went over a whole packet and I told this guy everything, I did not leave out anything! Then he hooks me up and shows me three cards (yellow, red and yellow with a red dot). He tellw me to answer yes to all three being all yellow.
Ok, here's the test. He starts asking me questions and I hear him writing and stuff. Then he stops the first session and then asks me if I'm sure about the # of times I did MJ. Then he asks me If I'm sure about never doing cocaine. Why is he asking me these questions. Is it because the machine said I lied or is it because he is trained to do this to maybe get me to chang emy answer or something.
If anyone has any insight on this please let me know because I am sitting here knowing I told the truth but thinking I failed the polygraph.

p.s. he did the test over once more but left out some questions. Then he let me go without any information.

[jkh206@hotmail.com]

well...the reason they usually ask you the same question 5,10,20 times is that they want to see if you are gonna answer them differently cuz naturally they are gonna ask in different ways also they are going to gauge how you answered each one...I personally hate polygraphs...I would take them but for people who are naturally a lil on the nervous side it is not good...plus they are not as foolproof and 100% accurate as they say...

[MJ-1]

I don't know what to tell, but I'll give you one of my accounts with a polygraph.

I took a poly for the Dallas PD a couple of years ago and the tester also asked me a couple times about past drug use. I had allready told them everything but when my results came back that same day the machine said that I was dishonest about drug use. The BI asked me if there was anything I was leaving out and I told her no and that I had told them everything. What gets me is that I was telling the truth, but since a machine said I was dishonest it cost me that job for the time being.

Anyways, I applied other places and got hired with no problems. That example is why I hate to take poly's. If the machine sais your wrong then your wrong even if your telling the truth. ( I feel much better after letting all that out. Ha Ha!)

Hang in there and I'm sure you did fine, but if not then don't give up.

Be safe.

[SP20]

I understand that they have to ask the question a million times but why do they ask again in between testing sessions. Are they supposed to ask questions between sessions or is it a sure tell that they think I am lying?

[dano]

Polygraphists are interrogators. They are trained as much in the conventional side of the art as they are in polygraph.

They know the machine intimidates people and use that to their advantage. They also know it can be manipulated. Therefore, they use conventional interrogation techniques to get you to make admissions they otherwise couldn't necessarily get. It will also increase your reaction when the question is asked when you are wired - particularly if you are lying (Why did ask me that? I guess he knows! Oh, Sh$$)

It's a game. People are scared of the poly and the whole hiring process for that matter. In reality, the great and powerful Oz is nothing but a fumbling old man behind the curtain.

Play the game, be honest and hopefully you don't get screwed by incompetence and voodoo science like our friend MJ-1 did. If that does happen, and I pray it doesn't in your case, there is nothing you can do about it.

So quit worrying! You did fine!!!

[MJ-1]

AMEN Brother Dano!

[SP20]

Hey dano,
Thanks for the input, I needed it.