SPECIFIC INCIDENT POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS

A specific incident polygraph examination is a type of polygraph test conducted to assist in an investigation or inquiry pertaining to a particular incident, event or allegation as part of an investigative process. These examinations serve as powerful forensic tools that can aid companies or investigators during the investigation process by collecting additional information for the investigating team, guiding investigations by determining the probability of a person being truthful in their submitted statements or involved in the matter under investigation, independently verifying information submitted by the persons under investigation, and if needed as part of a bundle of evidence if the investigation proceeds to a disciplinary hearing, arbitration or other labour or legal processes if conducted correctly by qualified professionals who can act as expert witnesses. There are various specific incident polygraph examination techniques, each with their own strengths and as defined by international standards of practice, that can be applied based on the status of the investigation, the context and requirements of the examination, and the particular goals of an investigating team.

Polygraph examinations can play a very useful role in investigating a wide variety of specific incidences. As an investigative tool it is capable in providing information to the company, persons or investigators regarding the incident that in certain cases is simply not possible through any other means. Most agencies have found that the polygraph can be used most effectively to limit the number of suspects. The results can normally indicate which person/s was involved in the investigated matter, and in some instances admissions of guilt are obtained during or after a polygraph examination. However it must be stressed that the polygraph does not replace an investigation. The polygraph is a valuable aid in investigations, and can add valuable information to any investigation. The polygraph helps to focus the investigation, and for this reason saving time, money and manpower. This procedure helps to establish the bona fides of honest persons implicated in a case quickly and efficiently.

All polygraph examiners affiliated with the PISA Integrity Assessment Centre are members in good standing with the Southern African Polygraph Federation. This ensure that all polygraph examiners utilized by the PISA Integrity Assessment Centre qualified from an American Polygraph Association accredited training institution, has to adhere to a strict code of ethics, conducts examinations in accordance with international standards of practice and has to remain up to date with the continuous education requirement. For more information regarding the Southern African Polygraph Federation please visit their website: SAPFED

For more information, please visit the FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS page.

If you would like more information, want a free consultation or to make a booking, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Event-specific evidentiary or investigative polygraph examinations are often referred to as diagnostic polygraph examinations and are conducted to assist in determining the veracity of an examinee regarding his or her knowledge of or involvement in a reported issue or allegation. Diagnostic examinations may address a single aspect or multiple facts of an event and involves the existence of a known problem, in the form of symptoms, evidence, allegations, or incidental circumstances that suggest an individual may have some involvement, for which the examination results are intended to support a positive or negative diagnostic conclusion. The purpose of diagnostic tests is to form a conclusion that may serve as a basis for action. This action will often affect the future of an individual in term of rights, liberties or health. For this reason, it is difficult to imagine an ethical justification for the selection of a testing technique that provides something less than the highest achievable level of diagnostic accuracy. Diagnostic tests achieve high levels of decision accuracy, in part, by restricting to the test to a single issue of concern. Relevant questions of event-specific diagnostic polygraphs are often constructed with the assumption of non-independent criterion variance. The scientific and probabilistic meaning of this is that the relevant questions have a common or shared source of response variance because the external criterion states of different relevant questions may (and do) affect one another. The practical meaning of this is that all relevant questions must address behaviour within a single incident of concern.

Evidentiary Examination:

A polygraph examination in which the written and stated purpose agreed to by the parties involved is to provide a diagnostic opinion as evidence in a pending judicial proceeding. These examination procedures are designed to meet minimum standards for admissibility in court or administrative hearings, and is stipulated in the American Polygraph Association Standards of Practice as those examination techniques for which there exists at least two published empirical studies, original and replicated, demonstrating an unweighted average accuracy rate of 90% or greater excluding inconclusive results, which shall not exceed 20%. Relevant questions of evidentiary diagnostic polygraph examinations are constructed with the assumption of non-independent criterion variance. The scientific and probabilistic meaning of this is that the relevant questions have a common or shared source of response variance because the external criterion states of different relevant questions may (and do) affect one another. The practical meaning of this is that all relevant questions must address behaviour within a single incident of concern. To put it in simpler terms, the relevant questions are considered a single data point and make use of the grand total score to make the most accurate classification possible regarding the test as a whole. These examinations are slightly limited to the scope and extent of the examination, however has the highest general accuracy and confidence rating, making them highly suitable to be submitted as part of a bundle of evidence.

Investigative Examination:

A polygraph examination which is intended to supplement and/or assist an investigation and for which the examiner has not been informed and does not reasonably believe that the results of the examination will be tendered for admission as evidence in a court proceeding. Investigative examinations may be conducted for screening purposes or to investigate known allegations or known incidents as either a single-issue examination or multiple facet test. Investigative examination procedures are used to explore wider issues than evidentiary examinations and are not intended to meet exacting evidentiary standards. It is stipulated in the American Polygraph Association standards of practice that polygraph techniques for investigative testing shall be those for which there exist at least two published empirical studies, original and replicated, demonstrating an unweighted average accuracy rate of 80% or greater, excluding inconclusive results, which shall not exceed 20%. These examinations are best suited for investigative purposes to narrow down the scope of the investigation, obtain additional information or data, and to guide the investigation with the examination results. These examinations can also be combined with evidentiary testing once the investigation is reaching its final stages in preparation for potential legal proceedings.

Paired Testing Examination:

Polygraph examinations conducted in tandem on one or more individuals by different examiners who are mutually blind to the other test results regarding a single central contested fact to which all examinees are expected to know the truth thereof. Paired testing is used by voluntary stipulation between the testifying parties to resolve disputed facts. In accordance with the American Polygraph Association standards of practice, polygraph techniques for paired testing shall be those for which there exists at least two published empirical studies, original and replicated, demonstrating an unweighted average accuracy rate of 86% or greater, excluding inconclusive results, which shall not exceed 20%. These examinations are used to verify statements or settle disputes of facts that may impede disciplinary hearings or legal processes from proceeding further.

Determining the Veracity of an Examinee

Specific incident polygraph examinations can assist the investigating team to determine the probability or likelihood of a person answering truthfully to a set of predetermined questions to guide the investigating in where to focus the investigation. These questions will be developed by the trained examiner based on a discussion of the relevant information and purposes of the examination in collaboration with the investigating team to ensure that the results of the examinations are pertinent, relevant and informative to assist the investigation or legal proceeding.

Uncovering Undisclosed Information and Verification of Statement Accuracy

Pre-examination interviews used during polygraph examinations can assist in collecting additional information from persons pertaining to the investigation, and in certain circumstances revealing undisclosed information eliciting admissions or confessions. The polygraph pre-test interview is intended to orient the examinee to the testing procedures, the purpose of the test, and the investigation target questions. The basic premise of interviewing holds that people will report more useful information when they are prompted to do so by an interested listener who builds rapport through the use of conversation and interview questions. In conducting a professional and thorough pre-examination interview, the examiner will be collecting information from the persons being tested which can reviewed and compared by the investigating team to obtain a more complete picture, or to inform the investigation. The interview process includes a combination of free-narrative and semi-structured interviews are intended to make more effective use of interviewer skill and expertise to access rich information regarding the interview content. The information collected during the pre-examination interview can help to verify the accuracy of information submitted by the examinee on their initial statements to the investigating team regarding the matter under investigation, can be compared with facts and evidence to reveal inconsistencies or discrepancies in statements, or may prompt an examinee to admit to certain facts or involvement in the matter under investigation.

Supports Evidence During Hearings and Legal Procedures

If conducted ethically and fairly by qualified and accredited professionals, polygraph examination results can be submitted as part of a bundle of evidence as expert witness testimony to support the weight of the evidence. As a general rule, polygraph examination reports can not be submitted on its own, and must be submitted as part of the testimony of the examiner who will need to testify as an expert witness to the results. The weight that the examination will carry will be determined by the presiding officer based on the qualifications of the examiner, whether the examination was conducted in accordance with international standards of practice, and whether the examination is informative and relevant to the matter being presided over.

Enhanced Security and Risk Reduction

Knowing that polygraph examinations are applied during investigative processes may deter persons from becoming involved in criminal or unwanted behaviour. Effective deterrence to criminal behaviour involves strategies and policies that prevent individuals from committing crimes by increasing the perceived risks and reducing the perceived benefits of criminal activity. Key components that contribute to effective deterrence include the certainty and swiftness of the punishment. Having polygraph examinations as part of the stipulated company processes when incidents occur and making it public knowledge may deter persons in becoming involved in criminal activities.

THE DIFFERENT EVENT-SPECIFIC POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS