NCJ Number
62047
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
RESULTS ARE REPORTED FROM A SCIENTIFIC TEST OF THE USE OF THE POLYGRAPH IN INDIA.
Abstract
POLYGRAPH MODELS 6338 (KEELER) AND 76058 (LAFAYETTE) WERE USED BY EXPERIENCED EXAMINERS WITH POSTGRADUATE DEGREES IN PSYCHOLOGY AND SEVERAL YEARS EXPERIENCE IN APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY TO TEST RESULTS OF POLYGRAPH USE WITH 115 CASES INVOLVING 263 SUSPECTS DURING THE PERIOD JANUARY, 1974, TO DECEMBER, 1976. IN CONDUCTING THE TESTS, THE TECHNIQUE ADOPTED WAS BASED ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE. WHERE A SINGLE EXAMINATION FAILED TO YIELD CONCLUSIVE RESULTS, REPEATED EXAMINATIONS WERE USED, WITH THE SAME OR DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES. IN ANALYZING, EVALUATING, AND INTERPRETING THE POLYGRAMS, DECEPTION CRITERIA WERE BASED ON DEVIATION OF RECORDED PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES IN RESPIRATION, BLOOD PRESSURE, PULSE RATE, AND ELECTRODERMAL REACTION FROM THE NORM OF THE SUBJECT EXAMINED. RESULTS INDICATE THAT THE POLYGRAPH DOES RENDER VALUABLE HELP TO INVESTIGATING OFFICERS IN DETECTING THE GUILT OF A SUSPECT AND INDUCING HIM TO ADMIT GUILT. IT CAN ALSO REVEAL THE INNOCENCE OF A SUSPECT AND CHECK THE VERACITY OF THE STATEMENT OF A COMPLAINANT. USE OF INDIAN LANGUAGES AND OTHER SOCIOECONOMIC CONDITIONS, INCLUDING THE FORMAL EDUCATIONAL LEVEL OF THE SUBJECT HAS NOT HAMPERED THE USE OF THE POLYGRAPH. AN APPOINTMENT FOR A POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION SHOULD NOT BE REQUESTED UNTIL A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UNDERTAKEN. WITHOUT THE RESULTS OF SUCH INVESTIGATION, IT IS DIFFICULT FOR THE EXAMINER TO FORMULATE PROPER QUESTIONS. THE VALUE OF THE EXAMINATION IS INCREASED IF THE MATERIAL REQUESTED IS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE LABORATORY WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE DATE OF THE EXAMINATION. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)