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 What is a PolygraphEach of us, at least one time in our life, has asked ourself: 'Am I being lied to?' or 'How do I tell a lie and get away with it?' Answering the first question is far more complicated. A Polygraph machine, or "lie detector", as journalists aptly dubbed it in the 1920's, was designed to detect and record deception. The theory is that when a person lies, it causes a certain amount of stress which in turn produces measurable involuntary physiological reactions. When taking a polygraph, the test subject will have a number of different sensors attached to their body. The polygraph measures changes in breathing, blood pressure, pulse and perspiration. It then records the data as the subject answers questions posed during the examination. In the case of the older Analog Polygraph instrument, the results are penned on graph paper. With the new modern Digital Polygraph instruments, the data is recorded and displayed on the computer screen and can be printed later. During the testing process, the operator asks a series of questions that establishes a pattern of how an individual responds when giving true and false answers. At the federal level alone, the polygraph is used extensively in counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, and counter-narcotics programs. Additional federal law enforcement uses include: criminal investigations, intelligence operations, presidential protection and nuclear materials containment. There are at least 68 countries world wide where the polygraph is used for similar applications. In the private sector, polygraph is used extensively by individuals, families, therapists, attorneys, courts and businesses where knowing the truth is of the utmost importance.
Who uses polygraph examinations?The three segments of society that use the polygraph include law enforcement agencies, the legal community, and the private sector. Their uses are further described as follows:
How accurate are polygraph examinations?All polygraph examinations must be conducted utilizing validated testing formats. Two of the most popular, which enjoy worldwide use, are the Zone Comparison Examination and the Modified General Question Test. Both formats are utilized by the Federal government. Virtually all academic studies since 1980 have shown the polygraph to be 98%-99% accurate utilizing these formats. The polygraph examiners from Whitestar Group use these defendable testing formats exclusively.
About William Lawrence (Chief Polygraph Examiner)William is the primary polygraph examiner for the Whitestar Group and oversees any other examination conducted on our behalf outside the Bay Area. Bill has an impressive military and law enforcement background from which he has drawn an immeasurable amount of experience applicable to this field. Aside from serving as a military police unit commander, he has served 15 years as a California Peace Officer. In 2006, Bill attended the Backster School of Lie Detection in San Diego, CA and received 320 hours of training as a Polygraph examiner. An additional 40 hours of specialized training was obtained certifying him to administer Polygraph examinations on Post Convicted Sex Offenders (PCSO). While holding the rank of Detective, Bill gained additional experience administering criminal polygraph examinations for his own police agency as well as other jurisdictions within the county. Bill has conducted numerous pre-employment polygraph examinations for local law enforcement as well as civil polygraph examinations for the private sector.
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Law Enforcement Agencies - Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies use the Polygraph for both pre-employment purposes and as an investigative tool to either preclude or focus on an individual and their involvement with a crime.
Legal Community - From the U.S. Attorney's Office and the local District Attorney down to any lawyer representing a plaintiff or defending an accused, the polygraph has become a tool which allows them to formulate a plan on how to proceed with a case. It can be used as a tool to rule out a suspected offender just as easy as it can cause an investigation to narrow its focus. Many personal injury attorneys are now using the polygraph as a screening tool on cases where they are likely to incur a significant out of pocket expense.
Private Sector - The business sector is limited in its use of the polygraph due to the restrictions and limitations established by the Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988 (EPPA). Private Citizens, however employ the polygraph in matters ranging from suspicions of infidelity to family law cases involving child custody matters.
If you would like to schedule an exam, please call the Whitestar Group at 866-566-0108 during business hours or complete our 
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