About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

48 J. Crim. L. Criminology & Police Sci. 570 (1957-1958)
Police Science Technical Abstracts and Notes

handle is hein.journals/jclc48 and id is 580 raw text is: STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES REGARDING POLYGRAPH (LIE-DETECTOR) EXAMINATIONS (Adopted by the American Academy of Polygraph Examiners at its Fourth Annual Meeting in Wash- ington, D. C. on September 5-6, 1957.) We, the members of the American Academy of Polygraph Examiners, in recognition of the fact that the instruments and techniques utilized by polygraph examiners are capable of tremendous contributions in any area where the determination of the veracity of a human being is important, and In recognition of the increasing esteem in which the iesults of polygraph tests are held, and In recognition of the increasing reliance which is placed upon the results of polygraph examina- tions by law enforcement officials, businessmen, and government agencies, and In recognition of the potential source of incal- culable harm which exists when the instrument is used by untrained or unscrupulous persons, present this STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES, not only for the guidance of our membership, but for all persons who use the polygraph or who depend on its results. I. THE INSTRUMENT We believe that adequate results can be obtained only with an adequate instrument. We believe that minimum standards require an instrument which records permanently the subject's cardio-vascular and respiratory patterns. We recognize the desir- ability of utilizing instruments which record addi- tional physiological changes pertinent to the detection of deception. We recognize the desir- abilitv and the likelihood of research in the field and retain an open mind toward developments which may increase the reliability and validity of our results. II. THE EXAMINER A. Qualifications: We recognize that the poly- graph examiner must be a skilled interrogator and formally trained in the use of the instrument and the techniques. B. Unprofessional Conduct: The following are considered to be examples of unprofessional con- duct on the part of the examiner: 1. Any verbal or advertised claim of perfection. No reputable examiner would make such a claim, knowing in the first place that all persons cannot be successfully tested with the polygraph, and knowing that perfection has never been achieved in any process where human beings are involved. 2. Any verbal or advertised claim of professional qualifications which the person has not attained. 3. Any verbal or advertised claim of secret instruments or methods. Ethical examiners are eager to advance the status of their profession by the widest possible dissemination of their tech- niques. 4. Any use of the polygraph for the sole purpose of inducing confessions and thus disregarding the equally important function of the polygraph in exonerating the innocent. 5. Any conduct, attitude, dress, trick, or device in the administration of a polygraph examination which would tend to induce a false confession. 6. Any report of an examination which is con- trary to the professional opinion of the examiner. 7. Any public demonstrations which include mock tests. We see no harm in useful demonstra- tions of the mechanical operation of the instrument where no question of deception is involved. III. THE EXAMINATION A. Test Questions: We believe that the questions asked during a polygraph examination should be pertinent to the matter under investigation and that a polygraph examination should not be per- mitted to degenerate into an attempt to find some- thing wrong with the subject. The areas covered by the questions are determined by the matter under investigation, but the actual wording of the questions must be left to the discretion of the examiner. B. Persons Tested: We believe there should be an evidential link between the matter under investigation and the persons examined. Such a requirement does not apply to cases where routine pre-employment or screening examinations are conducted. In cases where the parties to an issue

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most