Survey Results: How many visitors research "How to Pass Polygraph" Materials

In our most recent survey on the Polygraph Place, we asked visitors the following question:

Have you ever personally researched material on how to 'beat' or 'help yourself pass' a polygraph test?

Just over 27% answered yes. That means 1 out of every 4 examinees who end up in your chair have likely researched the various materials available on the web. Be prepared. Know the misinformation our detractors spew out on a regular basis.

Total Survey Participants: 1,791

Those answering 'Yes': 488 - 27.25%
Those answering 'No': 1,303 - 72.75%

Do you have a survey question you would like to see asked? Shoot me an email.

Ralph Hilliard
detector@polygraphplace.com

"Polygraph Examiner" Tshirt Clearance Special

Limited Number & Sizes. These will not be re-ordered. First come, first serve.

We have a limited number of the blue/yellow and black/white "Polygraph Examiner" T-shirts on clearance.

Regular Price is $17.

Clearance Price is $10.

Order Links:

Blue Tshirt with Yellow Lettering and Distressed badge on front.

Black Tshirt with White Lettering and Blank on front.

For other Polygraph Related Merchandise and Resources, visit:

http://store.polygraphplace.com

Ralph Hilliard
The Polygraph Place
770.794.1325

Polygraph in the News

The following are articles in which Polygraph is playing an important role in the World. (Article descriptions are mine)

** Please note that many news sources archive/move their articles after a certain period of time. If a story link no longer works, this may be what happened.

---

• Virginia Governor Tim Kaine Vetoed two bills that were designed to allow voice stress analyzers to be used by Law Enforcement. The General Assembly upheld the Veto in recent session. Had these bills passed, VSA would have been able to be used with no oversight or regulation. The following notes are from the Governor's Website:

Lie Detectors

HB 1613, SB1374

"Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 1613 and Senate Bill 1374, which would allow unlicensed law enforcement officers to operate new, unregulated lie detection devices.

"I proposed an amendment to HB 1613 that would have allowed additional devices, but regulate them in a way similar to the existing rules for polygraph machines. Unfortunately, that amendment was defeated by the House.

"Untested, unregulated devices should not be used in police investigations. Law enforcement conceded as much when they added an amendment prohibiting the use of these machines in internal investigations."

• Polygraph helps crack case of missing model Eva Rhodes. "He had always denied being responsible for her death until the polygraph test showed he was lying about her last day at the refuge."
  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/hungary/5207494/Body-of-former-model-Eva-Rhodes-found-buried-in-Hungary.html
  

• Polygraph helps falsely accused couple prove innocence in kidnapping charges.
  http://wbztv.com/mainewire/22.0.html?type=local&state=ME&category=n&filename=ME--KidnappingCharges.xml
  

• School Principal admits to theft which shows a polygraph taken previously by falsely accused Assistant Principal was accurate.
  http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/651853.html
  

Polygraph in the News

The following are articles in which Polygraph is playing an important role in the World. (Article descriptions are mine)

** Please note that many news sources archive/move their articles after a certain period of time. If a story link no longer works, this may be what happened.

---

Editor's Note: I have spoken with two friends in Mexico regarding their take on President Calderon and they both stated he seems like a sincere, committed man with an uphill battle. Mexico is working hard to curb violence and corruption. Two articles follow. The first describes the overall Federal Intervention, including polygraph implementation and the second shows that slowly, but surely, this plan is working. (Over 90 officers were terminated after failing polygraph tests regarding corruption)

• Polygraph a part of Mexico's fight against corruption - 2 articles
  http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/article.aspx?id=3524
  http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_12179942?
  

• Polygraph helps clarify guilt/innocence in the details of complex case
  http://www.tecumsehherald.com/node/1751
  

• Polygraph helps in case against a deputy charged with sexual assault of two brothers, ages 13 and 9.
  http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090402/ARTICLE/904021072/2055/
  

• A Pre-Employment Polygraph in 2003 helps current case against a lab tech who falsified reports on criminal cases.
  http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=10190328&nav=9ptCcKCH
  

Ralph's St. Baldricks Fundraising Results

I had intended to put this information in the last Relevant Issue, but it fell through the cracks in my focus on transitioning to this blog.

Thank you to all who supported me in the St. Baldrick's Day Fundraiser. Together, we raised over $1,000 for children's cancer research. I took my children and I was wondering if they really understood what this was about.

Well, I got my answer to that a couple weeks ago. Without my fully knowing what they were going to do, my children got several neighborhood children together. All of them then walked the neighborhood asking for donations to help with the hospital bills for a neighbor they all knew had just had a major surgery. They raised about $18 in change. Although we did have a talk about when/how it is appropriate to ask for money, I was so very proud that they got the main message. People get sick and often there is nothing they can do about that and they need some help to get through it.

So your donations are also passing on lessons of generosity to the next generation.

For those interested, here is a link to a movie presentation I put together to show the highlights of my experience at the St. Baldrick's day event.

http://www.polygraphplace.com/st_baldricks/

Thanks again,

Ralph Hilliard

In Double Blind Study, Layered Voice Analysis (LVA) Flops

From: The Journal of Forensic Science

Stress and Deception in Speech: Evaluating Layered Voice Analysis

Abstract:

This study was designed to evaluate commonly used voice stress analyzers—in this case the layered voice analysis (LVA) system. The research protocol involved the use of a speech database containing materials recorded while highly controlled deception and stress levels were systematically varied.

Subjects were 24 each males/females (age range 18–63 years) drawn from a diverse population. All held strong views about some issue; they were required to make intense contradictory statements while believing that they would be heard/seen by peers.

The LVA system was then evaluated by means of a double blind study using two types of examiners: a pair of scientists trained and certified by the manufacturer in the proper use of the system and two highly experienced LVA instructors provided by this same firm.

The results showed that the "true positive" (or hit) rates for all examiners averaged near chance (42–56%) for all conditions, types of materials (e.g., stress vs. unstressed, truth vs. deception), and examiners (scientists vs. manufacturers).

Most importantly, the false positive rate was very high, ranging from 40% to 65%. Sensitivity statistics confirmed that the LVA system operated at about chance levels in the detection of truth, deception, and the presence of high and low vocal stress states.

** Editor's Note - You must have a subscription to the Journal to read the entire study. More Info

Wanted: Used LX4000

New graduate from an APA approved school is looking for a used LX4000 system.

No laptop needed.

If you have an LX4000 you'll consider selling, please email me a list of what is included, selling price and contact info. Thanks.

detector@polygraphplace.com

To All Relevant Issue Subscribers

Our profession has several fine publications distributed monthly, quarterly, yearly etc. What we have been missing are the daily snippets of pertinent information as well as a venue that reaches beyond our small community borders to the general public.

I hope this blog will begin to fill that gap. Please help me fill this blog with Polygraph Articles, News Items, Meetings, Elections, Job Openings, Studies, Research, Definitions, Media Appearances, Legal Issues and anything else beating at the heart of polygraph. Send me anything and everything, just please remember to write using as little polygraph jargon as possible so we can be understood by the widest audience. Thanks in advance for your participation. Send any info for submission to detector@polygraphplace.com.

This will be a work in progress. Feedback is desired and change is expected.

Ralph Hilliard - PolygraphPlace.com