NCJ Number
154785
Journal
American Journal of Police Volume: 12 Issue: 4 Dated: (1993) Pages: 67-86
Date Published
1993
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Because polygraph testing has been used extensively during the past three decades to screen job applicants for both private and public sector jobs in the United States and such testing has become increasingly controversial, this survey was conducted to ascertain the use of polygraphs by large police agencies.
Abstract
The survey questionnaire contained 41 separate areas of interest and was sent to 699 of the largest police agencies in the United States. The initial mailing in 1989 and two followup mailings resulted in usable returns from 626 police agencies, for a response rate of 90 percent. Of the 626 agencies, 196 (31 percent) had never used polygraph screening, 44 (7 percent) had discontinued their polygraph screening program, and 386 (62 percent) had an active polygraph screening program. Most agencies automatically rejected applicants who refused to undergo polygraph testing. Further, most agencies did not allow re-examination of those who failed, except in specifically authorized circumstances. The majority of agencies felt polygraph testing provided information that could not be obtained by other personnel selection methods. An overwhelming majority of agencies (93 percent) expressed moderate or high confidence in their polygraph screening program. 18 references, 1 note, and 8 tables