NCJ Number
144685
Journal
Polygraph Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Dated: (1993) Pages: 1-16
Date Published
1993
Length
16 pages
Annotation
A review of three unpublished national surveys on the use of pre-employment polygraph screening shows that the number of U.S. law enforcement agencies using the technique increased from 19 percent in 1964 to 62 percent in 1991.
Abstract
The first survey focused on the extent of polygraph use by 167 police agencies in 1964. Only 23 of the 167 agencies (19 percent) reported using polygraph screening, although 13 more agencies said they were considering its use. The second survey, conducted in 1982, assessed changes in the use of polygraph screening during the 18 years following the 1964 study. Of 340 agencies in the total sample, 105 agencies (44 percent) reported using polygraph screening. The third survey, conducted in 1991, sampled the largest U.S. law enforcement agencies. Of 699 agencies in the total sample, 626 responded; 386 agencies (62 percent) said they currently used polygraph screening. The primary reason for increased polygraph use between 1964 and 1991 was that polygraphs revealed information about police applicants not available through other screening methods. Other reasons for increased polygraph use were that it deterred undesirable applicants and that it was faster than other methods. Agencies who did not use polygraph screening said they were satisfied with other screening methods in current use. Additional research is recommended to evaluate the utility of polygraph screening in police personnel selection. 6 references and 7 tables