The Theory of Polygraph

Examination
The conscious mental effort of mentally normal person on to
lie causes physiological changes within his body that could
be recorded by the polygraph instrument and diagnosed or
evaluated by the polygraph examiner. (Geronimo 2007).
BARRIERS TO POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION

 PATHOLOGICAL LIAR (a person who cannot determine right and wrong).

 Mental cases.
 Persons under the influence of intoxicating liquor
 Narcotic related cases.
 Various heart and other organic troubles.
 Preliminary Preparation for the Polygraph Test

 Prior to the polygraph examination, the examiner should become

thoroughly familiar with all the facts and circumstances of the
case which are known up to that time. To ignore or disregard such
previously obtained information is to lose one thing information
which might permit the detection of the subject's deception more
readily than would otherwise be the case, and such an omission
would also tend to lead interrogator into a maze of non-essential
and irrelevant matter which might otherwise be avoided.
 In addition to familiarity with the case itself, it is advisable for the
interrogator to obtain as much information as possible concerning
the past life and history of the subject. In order to conduct the
satisfactory polygraph examination, it is necessary for the examiner
to obtain accurate information regarding all the available facts and
circumstances that form the basis for suspicion or accusation
directed against the person to be examined. Where all other victim
or other witness, eye -witness to an occurrence is available he
should be interviewed.
 A Crime scene sketch, prepared by an informed Investigator, is
usually better for purposes, polygraph examination description or
even photographs, the latter e less revealing for this purpose, than
rough sketches supplemented by the investigator verbal details
(Instruction module on polygraph PCCr,1996).
 Four Phases in Conducting Polygraph Examination

 A. Initial Interview with the investigator handling the case; during the
interview conducted by the examiner to the investigator the following must be
included:

 a. obtaining and evaluation facts

 b. determining the areas of the subject need to be asked
 c. the investigator must furnish the examiner the following documents:

 1. Sworn statement of the witnesses and victims complainants

 2. Incident or spot report
 3. Background Investigation (B.I ) of suspect, witnesses and victims
 4. Rough sketch or pictures of the crime scene and other facts such:

 i. Specific articles or amount of money stolen

 ii. The exact time, date and place of the offense was committed
 iii. Exact weapons, tools or fire arms used
 iv. Unpublished facts of the offense known only by the victim, suspects and the
investigator on case
 v.The facts indicate any connections between the suspect, witness and the
victims (Geronimo 2007 )
 B. Conduct of Pre -Test Interview

 The Examiner interview with the subjects prior to the test is considerable
importance both for the purpose of conditioning the subject for examination and
also to observe indications of guilt or innocence which are often forthcoming.
The time interval for the pre test interview will usually range from 20 to 30
minutes. The examiner should not withhold any information from the subject
about. The instrument, its attachment or recordings. The subject who is about to
be tested should be informed about the nature and general purpose of the test;
the instrument should be pointed out to him as one which is capable of
determining whether or not a person is telling the truth about any given matter.
Subject should be informed that it records certain physiological changes occur
within the body and that the instrument will not cause any physical pain except
for a slight temporary discomfort occasioned by the blood pressure cuff.
 Conduct of Instrumental Test with the Subject

 Upon the completion of the necessary preliminary preparation instrument is

attached to the subject; the Blood pressure cuff is wrapped snugly around the
subject upper arm, the Pneumograph tube adjusted to his chest (Thoracic) and
abdomen and the Finger Electrodes attached to the thumb and index finger of
the subject.

 The examiner will review all the questions being prepared with the subject and
determine his answer for every question asked. The answer of the subject to all
questions is limited by Yes or No in order to avoid distortion tracing on the
chart.
 Post Test Interview/ Interrogation

 This phase includes or consideration just after the

instrument turns off. If the polygraph test indicates
deception the examiner will then proceed to conduct short
interrogation; the purpose of which is to obtain confession;
however if the polygraph indicates that the subject is
innocent, the examiner just release him cordially and not to
forget to say thank you to the subject after the said test.
 Specific Objectives of the Polygraph Examination

1. Ascertain if the subject telling the truth

2. Obtain leads to the facts of the offense location of the stolen
goods and whereabouts of wanted person
3. To verify and compare conflicting statements
4. To identify other person involved and
5. Obtain facts after the test indicates that a person lied or tried to
cover what he knew.
 What is the general rule as to the admissibility of polygraph instrument?
 - it is not admissible as court evidence.
 What is the rationale why the result of polygraph examination is not
admissible in court as court evidence?
 A. No standard instrumentation
 B. No standard testing procedure
 C. No standard qualification of examiner.
 Is there exception to the rule regarding the admissibility of polygraph
related evidence?
 Yes
 What is the exception to the rule?
 Result of Polygraph examination may be admitted as Circumstantial,
cumulative or corroborative evidence but not directly prove the guilty of the
accused.
 Polygraph Evidence may be admitted in court if it is

Relevant, material and competent.

What is the primary objective of polygraph examination?
- to ascertain if a subject is truthful while answering certain question.
To determine the specific purpose of polygraph examination, who must be interviewed by the
examiner?
-Investigator on case
What stage of the polygraph examination is conducted purposely to psychologically condition
the subject to undergo the actual test?
Pre-test interview
Take note: The actual test done by the polygraph examiner should be done in private.
What is the general rules as to the privacy of polygraph examination?
No other people aside from the examiner and the subject should stay inside the room
during the actual test.
 What is the purpose of taking video footage of actual proceeding taking
place inside the polygraph room?
 -to protect all parties involve.
 Before the actual polygraph test, mental exhaustion of the subject must
not be taken for granted because it is one
 Cause of unresponsiveness of the subject
 Rules in Phrasing Question
 1. Terms used must be unambigous, unequivocal, and complete understood
by the subject.
 2 Question must have one unambiguous meaning
 3. Avoid double injuries.
 Avoid double injuries, does this question follow the rule? Did you hate
him and steal his money?
 NO
 Words used in formulating question must be unambiguous, unequivocal, and
complete understood by the subject. If there is only one interpretation of a
word used, such word is
 Unequivocal
 Pre-test interview involves casual asking of questions from the subject
purposely to gain information that will used in formulating polygraph
question test.
 False
 During the actual test, what material is produced by the polygraph
instrument that consists of the paper and the tracings contained therein?
 What should be the finding of the polygraph examiner if the subject
appeared to be deceptive during the actual test?
 Positive