Polygraph Examiner Code of Ethics

AS A LICENSED POLYGRAPH EXAMINER:

• I WILL respect the rights and dignity of all persons to whom I administer polygraph examinations.
• I WILL refrain from rendering a conclusive diagnosis when the physiological records lack sufficient quality and clarity. This may include, but is not limited to, excessively distorted recordings possibly due to manipulations by the examinee, recordings with insufficient responsivity, or recordings with tracing amplitudes less than that generally accepted by the profession.
• I WILL refrain from rendering a conclusive diagnosis without using a standardized numerical scoring technique published and recognized by the American Polygraph Association (APA) and/or the National Center for Credibility Assessment (NCCA), using the numerical cutoffs recommended for the administered technique.
• I WILL afford each examinee a reasonable opportunity to explain physiological reactions to relevant questions in the recordings except in cases where:
  • The examinee is represented by an attorney who requests that no post-examination interview be conducted and that the results of the examination be released only to the attorney;
  • The examination is being conducted by a court or agency which stipulates that no post-examination interview is to be conducted;
  • Instances of operational necessity come into play.
• I WILL NOT provide any report or opinion regarding the medical or psychological condition of the examinee, or post conviction treatment or supervision for which I am not professionally qualified to make. This shall not preclude me from describing the appearance or behavior of the examinee. Polygraph outcome decisions shall be restricted to only those based on polygraph data.
• I WILL NOT conduct a polygraph examination when there is reason to believe the examination is intended to circumvent or defy the law.
• I WILL NOT conduct a polygraph examination without using a test format that has been published and recognized by the APA and/or NCCA.
• I WILL NOT solicit or accept fees, gratuities or gifts that are intended to influence my opinion, decision or report.
• I WILL NOT set any fee for polygraph services which is contingent upon the findings or results of such services, nor shall I change my fee as a direct result of my opinion or decision subsequent to a polygraph examination.
• I WILL NOT knowingly submit, or permit employees to submit, a misleading or false polygraph examination report. Each polygraph report shall be a factual, impartial and objective account of information developed during the examination, and my professional conclusion will be based on analysis of the polygraph data.