Handheld Polygraph

gee, I wonder when we'll see this in action at the checkpoint

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23926278

Women have been using handheld polygraphs on men for decades, only it's not a machine they're holding in their hand !

I wonder if veracity is indicated if one answers questions in the same vein as Tommy does to Officer Bing in Goodfellas?

"Ok, I'll tell ya something..."

from the article:

"“We're not promising perfection — we've been very careful in that,” said Donald Krapohl, special assistant to the director at the Defense Academy for Credibility Assessment, the midwife for the new device. “What we are promising is that, if it's properly used, it will improve over what they are currently doing.”"

"Defense Academy for Credibility Assessment"

Wow, can we ask them to do an assessment of TSA? Or the executive branch, for that matter?

The real value of polygraph machines -- the big ones or this snake-oil version -- doesn't lie in the science. The real value lies in its ability to spook people into spilling their guts, and incriminating themselves, just by the ominous-looking technology. The results of the polygraph aren't admissible in court. But, everything you say to the examiner is recorded and you are told up front that it can & will be used against you.

All the TSA would have to do is to give these things (or even fake ones) to SPOTniks or ID checkers. They could point it at people and make all sorts of bells & whistles go off. I guarantee people would spill their guts, and the TSA would have a lot more "big catches" every week to be proud of.

This will go well with my mobile phrenology kit.

Your Magic 8 Ball contains liquid, Citizen.

> "Did you fart?"

> "No."

> "He's lying."

> "I don't need a machine to tell me he farted, eh?!!!"

- The Mackenzie Bros., in Strange Brew.

My Sources Say 'Yes'.

That's my understanding, too. From what I read, lie detectors only work if the subject thinks they work. And is the quoted "represenative's" name really pronounced, "C*r*a*p H*o*l*e"?

I attended a corporate security seminar a few years ago where the lie detector was demonstrated and explained. The true intent of the polygraph is to scare the suspect into confessing. It's a deceptive tool of investigation and the results are subjective. If three testers give the same person a lie detector test, the suspect might pass one and fail two, pass all three, fail all three, etc. In the past the person administering the test would sometimes use card tricks, number games etc. to "prove" the effectiveness of the test to his/her mark. Most criminal defense attorneys and people in the know will advise you against taking a polygraph, regardless of guilt or innocence. It's utterly insane that anyone would even suggest having this type device at a security checkpoint. Lie detectors prove NOTHING, except for how quickly people are to give up their rights and help career minded hacks build a case against them. My policy has always been to say as little as possible to those who would want to use me as another "notch in their belt." This applies to TSA screeners, traffic cops, CBP, etc. It makes little difference if you are doing something "wrong." There are many unscrupulous individuals who would gladly build a case against you, guilty or not. Prisons are full of people, some of whom were innocent and thought they'd be ok by "telling the truth." Don't waste your time and if ever you see the polygraph, tell them politely to "Shove it."