Polygraphic procedure

Galianos Polygraph

Polygraph Service

The meeting

Once the services of our firm have been retained, the polygraphist will have a meeting or telephone conversation with the person requesting the polygraph examination, also referred to as "the client". During this meeting, all the facts of the case under investigation will be disclosed and discussed. The client will be required to provide the polygraphist with good information, which will serve as the foundation for the polygraph examination. The client must have previously established all the facts of the case through a thorough and rigorous investigation.

The date and time of the polygraph examination will be scheduled.

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Polygraph Service

The polygraphic test

A polygraph test consists of three distinct phases:

Pre-polygraphic test
interview

Information gathering

Polygraphic test

Data collection

Post-Polygraph test
Interview

Data analysis

1. Pre-test polygraph interview (Information gathering)

In the first phase, the polygrapher :

  • Will inform the subject that the polygraph procedure will be audio and video taped.
  • Complete the required documents.
  • Ensures that the subject understands why they are being asked to undergo a polygraph examination in the relevant file.
  • Will answer any questions the subject may have.
  • Will notify the subject of his/her constitutional rights, right to counsel, and the voluntary action of the polygraph examination.
  • Will provide a detailed explanation of the polygraph procedure, as well as the polygraph instrument and its components.
  • Take a physical, psychological and physiological history to determine if the subject is suitable for a polygraph examination.
  • Obtain the subject's version of the facts of the event under investigation.
  • Will formulate and review all questions to be asked on the polygraph examination.

2. Polygraph Examination (Data Collection)

The polygraph examination takes place during this second phase. Just prior to beginning the examination, the blood pressure cuff will be inflated to a pressure of 60 mmHg. The polygraphist will then ask the series of questions that were formulated and reviewed during the pre-test interview. This series of questions will be asked at least three times. As the subject answers the questions, his or her physiological responses are collected, measured, and recorded by the polygraph instrument.

The subject will have a relaxation period of approximately two minutes between each set of questions.

3. Post-Polygraph Interview (Data Analysis)

In this final phase, the polygrapher will analyze the physiological data using a digital quantification system and one of the following results will be returned :

  • No untruthful reaction: The person is telling the truth.
  • Untruthful reactions: The person is not telling the truth.
  • Inconclusive: The evaluation of physiological data was inconclusive.

The polygraphist will then inform and discuss the result with the subject. If the physiological data show reactions from the subject to one or more of the questions, the subject will have the opportunity to explain these reactions.

Polygraph examination report

Following the polygraph examination, the polygraphist will provide a verbal report to the client. A written report, detailing the information received during the polygraph procedure and the outcome of the examination, will follow in due course.

Systems and methodology

All of our polygraph examinations are administered in accordance with the Code of Ethics and Standards and Principles of Practice required by the American Polygraph Association and the Canadian Police Polygraph Association.

Our firm uses state-of-the-art instruments developed by Limestone Technologies, Inc. and Lafayette Instrument Company.

Polygraph Service

The polygraph instrument

The polygraph instrument collects, measures and records physiological data obtained from three major systems in the human body.

  • Cardiovascular system: Heart rate, blood pressure, blood volume.
  • Respiratory system: Respiratory activity.
  • Electrodermal system: Sweat gland activity.

Following the pre-polygraph interview, the polygraphist will place various painless components on the subject's body to connect the subject to the polygraph instrument. These components are equipped with sensors to collect physiological data controlled by the autonomic nervous system when the subject answers a series of questions asked during the polygraph examination.

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Components:
  • A blood pressure cuff, applied to the upper left arm to obtain a continuous trace of cardiovascular activity.
  • Two convoluted rubber tubes (pneumographs), placed on the thorax and abdomen to obtain a continuous trace of respiratory activity.
  • Two electrodes (galvanometers), placed on two fingers of the right hand to obtain a continuous trace of the activity of the sweat glands.
  • A pulse oximeter that is placed on a finger to regulate blood volume.
  • A countermeasure pad that is placed on the polygraph chair to alert the polygraphist to any physical movement attempts by the subject to cheat the test.
Calibration test

Before beginning the polygraph examination, the polygraphist will perform a calibration test. The purpose of this test is:

  • To induce or reinforce in the person the expectation that the polygrapher can accurately determine the truthfulness of his or her answers.
  • To obtain adequate tracings of the individual's physiology to ensure that he or she is suitable for a polygraph examination.
  • Confirm that the polygraph instrument is functioning properly at the time of the examination.
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