Failed polygraph

[skindawg003]

Hey guys, i recently took a polygraph for a local department and got the rejection letter about 2 weeks later, saying that they are sorry to inform me that i have been removed from the eligiblity list. Anyways i am just looking for some overall advice. Should i keep applying to other agencies? Is it common for people to fail a poly with one agency and pass it for another? Also i'm not sure if i failed the test or was disqualified for something. My best guess is that I was disqualified for admitting to messing around with marajuana in high school (last time was 2 year 11 months ago.) Or admitting to unintentionally coming across juvenile porn in the past. Other than that i don't know what i would have been dq'ed for. Any input is appreciated. Thanks.

[RO56]

Hey guys, i recently took a polygraph for a local department and got the rejection letter about 2 weeks later, saying that they are sorry to inform me that i have been removed from the eligiblity list. Anyways i am just looking for some overall advice.

Impossible to answer without knowing WHY you were DQ'd.

Otherwise, we're just guessing.

[6902Stangs]

Like RO56 said, it's hard to know if they don't know exactly why you were DQ'd, but if you take time you'll find other posts where people have discussed that very thing where some have been hired by one department right after failing the psyc. test at another. Good luck!

[SpacemanSpiff]

Happens to the best of us! I failed a poly after being completely honest, so I have no idea how they analyze the results or interpret them. Doesn't make much sense to me, but nothing you can do but keep jumping through the hoops.

[Jay7376]

My best guess is that I was disqualified for admitting to messing around with marajuana in high school (last time was 2 year 11 months ago.)

Most departments are looking for more time since the last time you used any drugs. Most of the time it is around 5 years.

Or admitting to unintentionally coming across juvenile porn in the past.

Ummm...OK...I guess that I don't know how one would "unintentionally" come across juvenile porn, but, I would bet that this was a big reason for the disqualification.

[skindawg003]

Ok, thanks for the input guys. About the drug thing, do you recomend that i keep applying or wait until i finish my bachelors and try then? As for the porn thing, if your familiar with any of the p2p programs such as Bearshare, Limewire etc... it's all over the place if you don't have a filter on there. I've since put one on to block that crap, but when the file names aren't accurate sometimes you have no idea what your downloading. Anyways thanks to all that answered.

[SpacemanSpiff]

Hey Skindawg, although I don't use the limeware or do the filesharing thing anymore - I know exactly what you're talking about. I have friends who complain all the time about downloading a movie, program, song, or game, and then complain that they got a disgusting porno instead. I always tell them if they'd just legally purchase the product in the first place, it wouldn't happen! :p

[skindawg003]

Thanks spaceman, i'm glad to know that someone knows where i'm coming from on that issue.

[Valor55]

You could have had a problem out of several issues.

1) You were honest but revealed disqualifying information.

Or

2) They detected deception and disqualified you for it.

The second one is fixable. Often with different examiners people will have different results. It's not a big deal and applying to other agencies can't hurt.

If it is the first it doesn't matter that you were honest, the information was disqualifying. That will fall into two categories.

A) It will always disqualify you and you will never get hired in LE.

Or

B) It is disqualifying now because you are too close to the time it occurred. For instance, often departments are looking for a minimum of 5 years from the last experimentation with drugs. With only 2.5 years you haven't made it yet. It disqualifies you now but when a total of 5 have passed the department is satisfied you aren't going to get back into drugs and feels comfortable hiring you.

None of us know if this was 1 or 2 or A or B for you. The only thing we can tell you is that you should finish your degree and stay out of any trouble. Hopefully you won't appear deceptive on the future try and any information you reveal will no longer DQ you.