SURVEY OF FACTORS AFFECTING THE POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION IN JAPAN

• NCJ Number: 53424
• Journal: Polygraph Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1977) Pages: 218-232
• Author(s): A SUZUKI
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 15 pages
• Corporate Author: American Polygraph Assoc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: ORIGINALLY APPEARED AS 'ACTUAL CONDITIONS OF POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION AND FACTORS AFFECTING EXAMINER'S JUDGMENT' IN REPORTS OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF POLICE SCIENCE (TOKYO, JAPAN), V 27, N 4 (DECEMBER 1974)

Annotation

A QUESTIONNAIRE IN A SURVEY OF LICENSED EXAMINERS IS USED TO DETERMINE THE STATUS OF POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS IN JAPAN. FACTORS AFFECTING EXAMINERS' JUDGMENTS ARE ANALYZED.

Abstract

ALL POLYGRAPH EXAMINERS LICENSED BY THE NATIONAL POLICE AGENCY WERE INSTRUCTED TO COMPLETE QUESTIONNAIRES REGARDING CRIMINAL SUSPECTS EXAMINED BY POLYGRAPH IN JAPANESE POLICE DEPARTMENTS FROM APRIL 1 TO JULY 31, 1973. THERE WERE 58 QUESTIONNAIRE ITEMS CONCERNING EXAMINERS' EXPERIENCE, PERSONAL HISTORY, PREEXAMINATION PREPARATION, INVESTIGATION, SUBSTANCE-ENVIRONMENT, JUDGMENT, AND FINAL CONFIRMATION OF JUDGMENT. THERE WERE 1,429 EXAMINEES DURING THE PERIOD OF THE SURVEY, CONSTITUTING 31.6 PERCENT OF THE ENTIRE NUMBER OF EXAMINATIONS (4,529) CONDUCTED IN 1973. ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THE EXAMINATIONS WERE CONDUCTED IN ABOUT ONE-FIFTH OF THE PREFECTURES. ABOUT 60 PERCENT OF THE EXAMINATIONS WERE CONDUCTED BY EXAMINERS WITH OVER 10 YEARS EXPERIENCE. EXAMINERS WITH LESS THAN 20 CASES OF EXPERIENCE SHOWED A HIGHER RATE OF DIAGNOSTIC DIFFICULTY THAN THOSE WITH MORE EXPERIENCE. BASED ON THIS RESULT, AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM IS RECOMMENDED. EXAMINEES WITH HIGHER EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENTS TENDED TO PROVIDE EASIER DIAGNOSIS, WHILE EXAMINEES WITH POORER HEALTH TENDED TO MAKE DIAGNOSIS MORE DIFFICULT. IN GENERAL, THE LENGTH OF THE PERIOD FROM THE OCCURRENCE OF THE CRIME TO THE EXAMINATION DOES NOT AFFECT DIAGNOSIS; THE TYPE OF CRIME INVOLVED, HOWEVER, DOES HAVE A BEARING ON THIS FACTOR. AN EXAMINEE'S JOB SECURITY, LIVING CONDITION, FAMILY SITUATION, AND MARRIAGE WERE FOUND TO HAVE NO EFFECT ON DIAGNOSTIC DIFFICULTY. A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AN EXAMINEES' MEDICAL HISTORY AND RESPONSES ON VARIOUS INDICES WAS NOT DETECTED. EXAMINEES WHO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO THE POLYGRAPH PREVIOUSLY TEND TO USE OBSTRUCTIVE ACTS, BUT THIS DOES NOT NECESSARILY INCREASE THE RATE OF DIAGNOSTIC DIFFICULTY. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT COORDINATION OF THE EXAMINATION WITH THE CRIME INVESTIGATION AND THE READING OF INVESTIGATION RECORDS ARE INDISPENSABLE IN CONDUCTING EFFECTIVE EXAMINATIONS AND FACILITATING EASIER DIAGNOSIS. TABULAR DATA FROM THE STUDY ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)