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Polygraph screening tests play a critical role in public safety employment, helping agencies identify potential risks by uncovering hidden information, behavioral tendencies, and past indiscretions of candidates and current employees. The American Polygraph Association (APA) provides comprehensive standards to ensure these screenings are effective, ethical, and legally compliant.
Understanding Polygraph Screening Tests
Polygraph tests for screening purposes differ significantly from investigative polygraphs. Screening tests occur without specific allegations or known incidents, aiming instead to proactively discover undisclosed behavioral issues.
Main Objectives of Screening Tests
- Identifying undesirable behaviors that exceed agency tolerance
- Predicting potential future negative behaviors
- Detecting attempts by candidates to withhold critical information relevant to risk adjudicators and personnel administrators
Key Differences: Screening vs. Investigative Polygraphs
While investigative polygraphs focus on a known allegation or event, screening tests involve assessing multiple behavioral areas without a direct suspicion or accusation.
Common Screening Targets Include:
- Criminal history and involvement with criminal organizations
- Drug abuse or illegal substance involvement
- Sexual misconduct, especially involving minors
- Undisclosed acts of violence or discriminatory behaviors
Best Practices in Screening Polygraph Testing
Optimal Test Formats
To maintain accuracy, examiners typically use validated test formats focusing on single issues where truth and deception cannot overlap. However, screening tests may also employ multi-issue formats for efficiency, understanding the potential trade-off in accuracy.
Compliance and Legal Considerations
Agencies must strictly adhere to applicable laws, such as:
- Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA)
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) guidelines
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Legal counsel should be sought to ensure compliance.
Equipment and Quality Assurance
Examiners must use APA-approved instrumentation. Regular participation in quality assurance reviews, as recommended by the APA Model Policy, ensures test integrity and examiner competence.
Test Question Construction
Effective screening tests utilize carefully structured questions adhering to APA standards:
- Behavior-based: Questions focus on actual past behaviors, not thoughts or intentions.
- Recent events: Target behaviors recent enough to ensure accurate recall.
- Clarity: Questions must avoid ambiguity, being precisely defined.
- Exclusivity: Questions should target issues not better addressed by alternative investigative methods.
Pre-Test Procedures
Pre-Test Interview
The pre-test interview is a structured dialogue to:
- Verify examinee identity
- Obtain informed consent
- Ensure understanding of test questions using clear definitions and visual aids, such as Mind Maps
Questionnaire Review
A comprehensive questionnaire covering relevant past behaviors should precede the polygraph. Examiners review the completed form with the examinee to clarify admissions and update information.
Testing Phase
Test administration must adhere to APA standards, utilizing validated test formats and including an acquaintance test to establish physiological baselines.
Evaluating Test Results
Examiners use numerical scoring methods and, optionally, computer algorithms for decision support. Test outcomes are categorized as:
- No Significant Reactions (NSR): The examinee appears truthful.
- Significant Reactions (SR): Indicators suggest deception.
- No Opinion (NO) or Inconclusive (INC): Insufficient data for conclusive assessment.
Single-issue and multi-issue formats are assessed differently, with additional single-issue tests used as needed to clarify specific areas of concern.
Post-Test Review
Following the test, examinees are informed of results, especially if significant reactions occur, allowing them an opportunity to explain or provide additional context. Any critical admissions must be documented and reported appropriately.
Records Retention
All test data, recordings, and related documentation must be maintained for at least three years or as legally mandated. In cases involving criminal admissions, longer retention periods according to law enforcement guidelines apply.
Conclusion
Adhering to the APA Model Policy ensures polygraph screenings in public safety employment are conducted ethically, legally, and effectively. This structured approach protects both agencies and candidates, maintaining high standards and fostering public trust.
Source: American Polygraph Association (2025). MODEL POLICY FOR SCREENING POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS IN PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYMENT. Retrieved from polygraph.org.
