MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE POLYGRAPH MACHINE

1. PNEUMOGRAPH

- Records the changes of breathing of

the subject.
- This consists of transducers and
pneumograph tube that is fastened
around the subject’s abdominal
(Pneumo 2) and thoracic part
(Pneumo 1) of the body.
2. GALVANOGRAPH

- Records the skin resistance of the subject to a very small amount

of electricity.
- This consists of a finger/palm electrodes which is attached to the
subject’s fingers (the index or ring) or palm to monitor and
detect skin resistance towards a small amount of electricity;
- 7 inch recording pen.
3. CARDIOSPYHMOGRAPH

Records changes of

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blood pressure and pulse
rate.
4. KYMOGRAPH (chart drive
module).
- This is a motor that pulls or
drive the chart paper under the
recording pen simultaneously
at the rate of six (6) inches
to (12) inches per minute. A
chart roll is about 100 ft. long,
6 inches width ½ inch margin
apart
Tripod Of Polygraphy

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1.Psychological
2.Physiological
3.Mechanical
WHAT TAKES PLACE
DURING POLYGRAPH
EXAMINATION
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CNS and Peripheral nervous
System
CNS – Brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System
1. Somatic Nervous System
2. Autonomic Nervous System -
regulating response of the body
ANS

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1. Sympathetic Nervous System (SyNS) Flight or Fight
Mechanism – increase alertness, stimulates tissue, and
prepares the body for quick response for unusual situations
2. Parasympathetic Nervous System (PaNS) Rest and
Response System – conserve energy and controls sedentary
activities
SyNS and PaNS act opposite each other. Once there’s a

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shift there will be changes in:
1. Pulse
2. Blood Pressure
3. Breathing
4. Response-Time
5. Voice
6. Other Physiological reaction
THE EXAMINATION

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ROOM
OBJECTIVES OF
POLYGRAPH
EXAMINATION
Determine if the subject is telling the truth
Acquire additional investigative leads to the facts of an
offense.
Locate fruits or tools of crime or whereabouts of wanted
persons.
Identify other persons involved.
Gain valuable information from unwilling subjects.
To eliminate innocent suspects
Principal Use of Polygraph
Examination

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1. Aid in the investigation of criminal and civil cases
2. Speeds up investigation process
3. Eliminate innocent suspects
4. Pre-employment screening
5. Personnel test for honesty
LIMITATIONS

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OF POLYGRAPH
EXAMINATION
It is an invaluable aid, but not a substitute for an
investigation.
It is not a lie detector, but it is a scientific diagnostic
instrument.
It does not determine facts, it records responses to that
the subject knows to be true.
It is accurate as the examiner is competent.
The test should not be given until enough facts of the
case have been established to permit an examiner to
prepare a complete set of suitable question.
A test should not be administered until the voluntary
consent of the subject.
No indication will be given to any person or written in
any report that a person is guilty because he refuses to
take the test.
A test should not be administered until the accusations
have been explained to the subject.
No attempt to use polygraph for mental or physical
evaluation of any person.
Examination should not be conducted to an unfit subject.
LIMITATIONS OF
THE SUBJECT
WHO WILL
UNDERGO
POLYGRAPH
EXAMINATION
 The subject must have a good night sleep of at least
five hours prior to the test.
 He must refrain from smoking for at least 2 hours.

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 He should not undergo prolonged interrogation prior to
the test.
 The subject must have not been subjected to physical
abuse or body contact.
 He must refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages,
taking sedatives, capsules or syrup for at least 12 hours
prior to the test.
 He must not be suffering from any temporary illness like
headache, toothache, stomachache, fever,
menstruation, sever colds and coughs.

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 He must not be hungry.
 He must not have sex indulgence prior to the test.
 TEST PROCEDURE IN
POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION

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PHASE 1 – Initial interview with the investigator
handling the case
This phase includes:
Obtaining the evaluating facts
Determining the areas the subject needs to be asked
The examiner must furnish the ff.
Sworn statement of the suspect, witness and victim or
complainant.
Incident or spot report
B.I. of suspects, witnesses, and victim/complainant
Rough sketch or pictures of the crime scene and other
facts such as
PHASE 2 - Pre-test interview
Purpose of conditioning and preparing the subject for
the examination and also to provoke and observe the
indications of guilt or innocence.
this includes:
The appraisal of the subject’s constitutional rights
Obtain consent to undergo polygraph test by signing
statement of consent
The taking of personal data of the subject
Determine the suitability as a subject
Evaluating the psychological preparation of the subject
Informing the subject of his involvement of the case
The average polygraph test will usually last 2-3 hours from,
beginning to end. Most people don't realize the longest
part of the examination will be the 45-90 minute "pretest
interview." During the pretest interview, the examiner
will:

 give detailed instructions for the actual testing phase,

and confirm the examinees understanding of these
 define the subjects legal rights
 explain the polygraph equipment and how it works
 discuss at length the "issue" (for private issues, such as
infidelity, both parties may be present during the
discussion portion of the test)

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 review all questions to be asked during the actual
polygraph examination
PHASE 3 -

The conduct of
instrumentation or actual
test
PHASE 4 - Post-Test interview or
interrogation
This phase includes all consideration that bear
on the examination just after the instrument is turned
off. The examiner then proceeds to conduct short
interrogation, the purpose of which is to obtain
confession or admission. However if the chart of the
polygraph indicates that the subject is innocent, the
examiner will just release the subject cordially and
thanks him for his cooperation.
How to formulate TEST QUESTIONS:
Must be simple and direct
Must not involve legal terminologies
Must be answerable with Yes or No
Must be clear and phrased in a language the
subject can easily understand
Must not be in a form of an accusation
Must never contain an inference that
presuppose knowledge on the part of the
subject
All questions must refer to one offense only
Must not contain influence to one’s race,
religion, race or beliefs
TYPES OF
QUESTIONS
Relevant -
Question
Having an extreme and specific relationship to the crime
or matter under investigation

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Two Classification:
1. Strong Relevant or Primary or Crucial question –
produce emotional response to guilty subject
2. Weak Relevant or Secondary Question – often
deal with guilty knowledge and partial involvement
Irrelevant Question

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it e re la t i o n s h ip
- Wi t h o u t de fi n
c a s e u n de r
with the
in v e s t i ga t io n
Evidence Connecting Question

This is designed to stimulate the guilty subject and focus

his attention on the probability of incriminating proof
that would tend to establish his guilt.

Ex. “Was the evidence found in the crime scene yours?”

Knowledge Question
This question is designed to probe whether the
subject possesses information regarding the identity
of the offender, or as to the location of the evidence or
other secondary elements of the facts of the case
under investigation.
Ex. “Do you know who committed the offense?”
Sacrifice or DYAT Question

This is designed to obtain the responses

generally generated by the introduction of the first
relevant question in the series. It reveals the subject’s
norm plus stimulus and excitement level.

“Do You intend to Truthfully answer all questions about

that?”
Control Question (Probable Lie)

This question is designed to

produce a response in the
innocent subject and
serves as a basis for
evaluating the subject’s
perceptual set.
Primary Control Question is based on a known lie. It
must concern about events that transpired within 3 to 5
years period before case under investigation occurred.
Ex. “Before reaching the age of 20, have you ever stolen
anything?”

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Secondary Control Question is more specific in nature
and is based on another experience or wrongdoing,
which will enhance the opportunity for responsiveness.
Its scope covers up to the present period. The question
for responsiveness must not be related to the case
under investigation. Ex. “Have you ever committed any
crime in your community?
Symptomatic Question

These questions are designed to detect and evaluate

the presence of outside issues that might suppress the
subject’s responses to the relevant question.
Ex. “Are you now convinced that I will not ask you any
question aside from these, we have reviewed?” or “Are
you afraid that I will ask you about something else
which I told you I would not?”
SKY Question
These are 3 groups of questions put together by
Backster. Designed to confirm the previous charts and
detect indirect involvement or guilty knowledge.
S – Suspects
K- Know
Y- You
ex. “Do you SUSPECT,KNOW, YOU anyone in particular in
stealing Ana’s money?