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Date: 09/10/85 Revision: 12/13/22 Reviewed: 03/17/23 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CHAD CHRONISTER , SHERIFF STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE Number: GEN 560.00 Page: 1 of 8 SUBJECT : POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS I. PURPOSE : The purpose of th is standard operating procedure is to define guidelines for the administering of polygraph examinations in conjunction with investigations conducted by the Sheriff's Office. II. SCOPE : This shall a pply to all Sheriff's Office personnel. III. DISCUSSION : Polygraph examinations by qualified examiners are accepted nationwide as an investigative aid. However, they should not be used to circumvent good investigative procedures, or when sufficient phys ical or oral evidence is available to establish the facts . Integrity testing is part of the hiring process and will be conducted on employees in selected positions designated by the Sheriff periodically throughout employment. IV. DEFINITIONS : A. Period ic - An event occurrence that happens at regular, irregul ar, or intermittent intervals of time. B. Polygraph - A scientific instrument that records an individual's physiological responses including: 1. Respiration pattern . 2. Electrodermal activity . 3. Relative blood pressure and pulse rate . C. Polygraph Exa mination and Drug Screening Acknowledgment Form - A specific form used to document a person's acknowledgment of required polygraph examinations and drug screening. D. Polygraph Examination Notification Form - A specific form used to document the time and date of notification to submit to polygraph examination, the name and acknowledgment of the individual to be screened, and the name of the supervisor making the notification. E. Polygraphist - A person who, by virtue of education, training, and experience , is capable of conducting valid and accurate polygraph examinations. A school that is approved by the Florida Polygraph Association (FPA) or the Americ an Polygraph Association (APA) must have trained the polygraphist. F. Random - An event occurrence that happens without a definite pattern. V. PRIMARY PURPOSE : The primary purpose of a polygraph examination is to determine if the person being examine d is being truthful or untruthful to the issue under investigation. GEN 560.00 12/13 /22 Page 2 of 8 VI. BASIC USES OF THE POLYGRAPH : A. The polygraph examination should be a supplement to, not a substitute for, a field investigation. B. The effectiveness of the polygraph examination , largely , will be based upon the thoroughness of the investigation prior to having the person take th e examination. C. To maximize the effectiveness of the polygraph examination, the investigator and the polygraphist must work together as a team. D. The polygraph examination may be used to test the veracity of: 1. Suspects . 2. Victims . 3. Witnesses . 4. Informants . 5. Employees . 6. Applicants . E. Polygraph examinations shall not be used as the single determinant of employment status. VII. POLYGRAPH IST - CREDENTIALS & PROFICIENCY : A. Only fully trained polygraphists or intern polygraphists under t he direct supervision of a senior polygraphist shall be allowed to conduct polygraph examinations. B. All law enforcement polygraphists shall be bound ind ividually and collectively to the standards, objectives, and principles of practice of the American A ssociation of Police Polygraphists and existing law(s). C. The Sheriff's Office shall ensure that polygraph examiners receive minimum mandatory traini ng to maintain their proficiency. VIII. POLYGRAPH INSTRUMENT : A. Polygraph instruments must be capable of recording visually, permanently , and simultaneously indications of a person's: 1. Cardiovascular pattern and changes therein. 2. Respiratory patte rn and changes therein. 3. Changes in skin resistance ( electrodermal activity). B. The polygraph instrum ent shall be calibrated as per the manufacturer's instructions. IX. INVESTIGATOR - RESPONSIBILITIES : A. During an investigation in which the polygrap h might be used, the investigator shall not resort to any misleading statements. If the person determine s that he /she was deceived and later takes a polygraph examination, he /she may be overly suspicious of both the procedure and the polygraphist. Such a mental attitude may cause the person's reactions to be so erratic that no conclusive chart interpretatio n could be made. 12/13 /22 GEN 560.00 Page 3 of 8 B. The investigator must emphasize to a person , who may take a polygraph examination , that the polygraph technique is an extremely ef fective method of establishing the truth. Confidence should be expressed in both the accuracy of the pro cedure and the impartiality of the polygraphist. C. Prior to the examination, the investigator shall withhold from the person to be examined certain i nformation believed to be known only to the victim, the investigator, and a person with guilty knowledge. These facts could be of vital importance to the polygraphist in test and question formulation. D. When requesting a person to submit to a polygraph examination, the investigator shall inform the person that they will be given the polygraph examination o nly if they are freely and voluntarily in agreement to take