LIE DETECTION AND INTERROGATION

Prepared by:

Nolie Z. Ingcad

6th Placer, Penology Officer Examination (88.67%) (2nd Placer in NCR)

October 2012, Criminologist Licensure Examination (88.10%)
5th Placer, Certified Security Management Specialist
2014 Presidential Citation Awardee, PCAP
Author, Mastering Criminology Terms

Polygraphy – is scientific methods of detecting deception done with the aid of a polygraph machine.

Polygraph = (derived from the Greek words Poly) = many or several and Graph = (writing chart) is a scientific
instrument capable of recording simultaneously changes in blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration and skin
resistance as indicative of emotional disturbance especially of a lying subject when being questioned.

 Thomas Jefferson (first man to used the word “polygraph”)

Polygraph machine is a sensitive machine which is likened or compared to an X-ray, which requires proper
interpretation for validation and its accuracy is said to be directly proportional to the knowledge, skills,
education, desire, competency and integrity of the operator. Hence, the attitude of “let’s put them on the lie
box” should be firmly discouraged.

There are three fundamental bases on the polygraph test and they are:
1. Mechanical Leg basic Premise - polygraph is capable of making graphic record containing reliable
information regarding physiological responses of the subject.
2. Physiological Leg basic Premise - that among the physiological responses that may be recorded are
those that automatically occur only following the stimulation of specific nervous component system.
3. Psychological Leg Basic Premise - states that specific nervous system component whose stimulation
can thus be diagnosed are so stimulated by the involuntary and emotional processes of the individual
who is continuously attempting concealment of deception especially if that individual has something at
stake and the prevailing circumstances lead him to believe that exposure to deception is quite possible
although undesirable.

Definition of terms
1. Admission = is a statement of facts, partial acknowledgement of guilt and usually given with some
justification or exemplification in admitting.
2. Confession = direct acknowledgement of guilt or a statement of guilt.
3. Deception = is the act of deceiving or misleading usually accompanied by lying.
4. Diastolic blood pressure = refers to the downward blood pressure representing the low pressure to
the closing of the valves and heart relaxed.
5. Dicrotic notch = refers to the short horizontal notch in a cardio-tracing located at the middle of the
diastolic stem.
6. Electrodermal response = it refers to human body phenomenon in which the skin changes resistance
electrically upon the application of certain external stimuli. Also referred to a Psycho galvanic skin
reflex or galvanic skin response.
7. Emotion = it refers to an emotional response to specific danger that appears to be beyond a persons
defensive power.
8. Environment = is the sum total of the dissimulation that a person acquired from the time he was
conceived and his exposure to his surroundings.
9. Heredity = is the transmission of physical and mental traits of the parents to their offspring through
the genes.
10. Interview = simple questioning of one who is willing and cooperative.
11. Interrogation = forceful questioning of a person who is reluctant to divulge information.
12. Lying = is the act of uttering or conveying falsehood or creating a false or misleading impression with
the intention of affecting wrongfully.
13. Normal response = refers to any activity or inhibition of a previous activity of an organism or part of
the organism resulting from stimulation.
14. Ordeal = refers to the oldest form of crime detection done by subjecting a subject to an obstacle or
trial and sometimes even involving third degree.
15. Specific response = refers to the response given by the subject which considered a deviation from the
normal tracing or norms of the subject.
16. Stimulus = refers to any force or motion coming from the environment and which reach an organism
has the tendency to arouse.
17. Systolic Blood pressure = the upward blood pressure as the apex of the curve caused by the
contraction of the heart, valves are open and blood is rushing into the arteries.
18. Forensic Psycho-Physiologist – Modern term for Polygraph Examiner

Ayur Vida = a hindu book of science and health around 500B.C. Considered as an earliest known reference
to a method of detecting deception.

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Early methods of Detecting Deception

Trial by Combat - One of the ancient practice of detecting deception whereby an accuser will fight against the
accused or will hire a champion to fight the accused in a duel, whosoever lost the duel, will be adjudged
guilty.

Methods of Ordeal
1. Red hot Iron Ordeal (Accused touch his tongue to an extremely hot metal for nine (9) times.)
2. Boiling Water Ordeal (Practice by Borotso Native in Bengal India)
3. Balance Ordeal
4. Rice Chewing Ordeal
5. The red Water Ordeal
6. The Donkey’s tail ordeal
7. The ordeal of the axe etc.

Scientific Methods of Detecting Deception

1. Polygraphy test
 Aid and not a substitute or replacement for investigation.
 Not admissible in court to prove the guilt of the subject.
 Cannot be conducted if insufficient amount of information were gathered.
 Minors, mentally-ill or retarded are exempted.
 Cannot be conducted to unfit subject.
 Polygraph machine is not a lie detector machine.
 The accuracy of the machine is directly proportion to the credibility of the examiner.
 Cannot be used for diagnostic purposes.
2. Use of Alcoholic Beverages
 The subject is made to drink hard liquor in such a mount that would make him lose control
or inhibitions.
 Information gathered through this method is not admissible in court.
3. Narco-Analysis Test/Administration of Truth Serum
 Use of narcotic or anaesthetic drug.
 Drugs injected hypodermically or intravenously.
 Dangerous and not admissible.
4. Word Association Test
 Group of words, objects or photographs will be presented.
 Time pressure. This was first devised by F. Galton in 1870 and later was modified and
improved by others such as Munsterberg, Oreland, Luria and Jung. In the Galton’s technique
there are two main criteria for detecting indications of deception and these are: (1)
Incriminating answer words, and (2) Delayed answer.
5. Use of Hypnotism
 Information gathered through this method is also not admissible in court.

Development of the Polygraph

Cardiosphygmograph
a. Cesare Lombroso (1895) - Credited to be the first to conceived the idea of utilizing scientific lie
detection
b. Angelo Mosso (1895) - Utilized a scientific cradle and focus on the importance of fear as a strong
influence to deception
c. William M. Marston (1915) - He made used of a sphygmomanometer and focus on the importance of
the Systolic Blood pressure. He also devised the discontinuous technique in questioning.
d. John A. Larson (1921) - Devised the so-called “Bread Lie Detector”, a scientific instrument capable
of simultaneously recording changes in blood pressure, pulse beat and respiration.

Galvanograph
a. Sticker - Works on the galvanograph component and study the influence of the sweat glands to skin
resistance.
b. Veraguth - Formulated the term Psycho-galvanic skin reflex following the study of sticker
c. Richard O. Arthur - The person who developed a polygraph machine with two galvanic skin
resistances.

Pneumograph
a. Vittorio Bennussi - Focus on the formulation of the Inhalation and Exhalation ratio.
b. Harold Burtt - Considered respiration as a weak basis in determining deception and incorporate the
systolic blood pressure to respiration.

Keymograph (Leonarde Keeler) - Developed the kymograph machine and the Keeler’s Polygraph in the year
1926 as one of the great advancement to the development of the polygraph machine.

OTHER PERSONALITIES:

 John E. Reid – Developed the Reid Polygraph with an incorporation of muscular resistance compare
to the Keelers and the Stoelting. Also developed the SAT test and Control Question Test.

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  Francis Galton = Formulated the Word Association test.
 Cleve Backster = Formulated the Numerical Scoring on the polygraph chart and standardizing
quantitative polygraph technique.
 Sir James Mackenzie = a heart specialist who published in two British journal the machine he used
in his work and named it “ INK POLYGRAPH”

The Major Components and its Parts:

 The Polygraph machine is basically composed of three major components serving as the detecting
mechanism and five major sections by adding kymograph component and pen and inking system to
serve as the recording mechanism.

o Pneumograph – designed to detect changes in respiration of the subject consisting of the Chest
and the Abdominal Assembly with sub part:
a. Rubber Convulated Tube – a 10 inches corrugated rubber attached to the body of the
subject.
b. Beaded Chain – used to lock the rubber convoluted tube.
c. Recording pen unit – consisting of two 5 inches recording pen
d. Resonance Control Unit
e. Centering knob
f. Sensitivity knob

o Cardiosphygmograph – Designed to detect changes in blood pressure and pulse beat of the
subject
a. Blood pressure Cuff – attached to the upper right arm of the subject, above     the
brachial artery.
b. Sphygmamonometer – used to indicate the amount of air pressure inflated to the system.
Usually about 60 mm of mercury for male subject.
c. Resonance Control Unit
d. Recording pen unit – five (5) inches length
e. Air Pump – designed to supply air to the system

o Galvanograph – to detect changes in skin resistance of the subject.

a. Finger Electrode Assembly consists of:
 Finger electrode plate and retainer bond – attached to the left index and ring finger of
the subject.
 connecting plug – designed to attached the system to the machine
b. Recording pen unit – usually 7 inches
c. Amplifier Unit – designed to support the galvanometer in converting electrical to
mechanical current.

o Kymograph – serves as the paper feed mechanism of the polygraph machine. The one that
records the different tracing by driving the paper out under a recording pen unit.
a. Chart – (approximately 100 ft.) rolled graph paper composed of twelve division in one
minutes run designed to measure the rate of various body functioning.
b. Cutter bar = used to cut the paper at the end of the test
c. Rubber roller – the one responsible for pulling the paper out of the machine.
d. Pen table = flat portion where the pen write on the chart.
e. Paper rail guide – serves as the security for the unnecessary movement of the chart paper
or to ensure the paper’s forward movement without shaking.
f. Synchronous motor = to run the chart paper at the uniform rate speed regardless of the
voltage change.
o Pen and inking system = the one that provides for the permanent record of the test.

Stages in the Conduct of the Polygraph Test:

Initial Interview
 Conducted by an investigator handling the case, designed for the obtaining of pertinent information
necessary for the conduct of the test. This is falling short of the basic process of investigation. All
information gathered by the investigator will be copied furnished to the investigator. As a rule no
polygraph test can be conducted if there is insufficient amount of data gathered.

1. Pre-test Interview
a. An interview conducted by the polygraph examiner designed to prepare or condition the subject
for the actual test. It usually last for about 20 – 30 minutes. There are four basic things being
undertaken in this stage.
1. Informing the subject of His Basic Constitutional Rights
2. Right to remain silent
3. Right to be informed of the nature and the cause of his accusation
4. Right to council
5. Right against self-incrimination

b. Taking of the subject consent

1. Taking of the subject personal data sheet

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 2. Determining the subject physical, mental and psychological suitability to undergo the test
3. the subject should stop from smoking at least 2 hours prior to the test
4. the subject should avoid taking drugs at least 12 hours before the test
5. The subject if female should not be: pregnant, having menstruation or not wearing tight
shirt or girdle.
6. the subject should not be hungry
7. the subject should not be physically or emotional abuse
8. The subject should not be highly nervous. Etc.

2. Actual Test
a. Is the actual conduct of the test administered by a polygraph examiner:
a. Condition of the room
1. It should be spacious for two
2. Well lighted
3. Well ventilated
4. Sound Proof
5. Not decorated

3. Post-test Interview or Interrogation

a. Is an interview or an interrogation administered by a polygraph examiner after the test
designed to obtain confession or admission by the subject?
b. An interview is conducted when the subject indicates an innocent response and very
cooperative to the examiner. An interrogation is conducted when the subject shows sign of
deception and being uncooperative to open information.

Types of Reaction
1. Internal Reaction – reaction of the internal organs which may not be readily noticeable.
2. External Reaction – reaction of an individual which are observable and which can either be:
a. Facial
b. Postural

General Rules in formulating Test Questions:

1. Questions must be simple and direct
2. They must not involve legal terminologies
3. They must be as simple and as short as possible
4. Answerable by Yes or No.
5. They must not be in a form of accusatorial.
6. Their meaning must be clear and they must be phrased in a language that the subject can easily
understand.
7. They must never contain inference which presupposes knowledge on the part of the subject.
8. They must refer to one offense only
9. They must refer to one element of the offense.
10. They must not contain inference to one’s religion, race or belief.

Types of Questions

1. Irrelevant – questions pertaining to the basic background of the subject and are generally not related
to the case in issue but are designed to obtain or established the individual norms of the subject.
 Answerable by “yes”.
 Designed to absorb the initial response as to the question sequence commences and to produce
little or no emotion change in the subjects normal reaction under testing condition.
2. Relevant - the primary of key questions asked by the examiner in order to resolve specific subject
matter.
 questions related to the issue which may either be:
o Strong Relevant – directly proving the guilt of the subject
 Questions with intense and specific relation to the crime or problem being considered.
 Constructed to test for direct involvement only and specifically to produce emotional
response in guilty subject.
o Weak Relevant – indirectly proving the guilt of the subject and is further sub-divided into
three:
 Knowledge – questions given for the purposes of determining information known or
the subject possess.
 Evidence Connecting – designed to obtain link between the subject and the crime.
 Sacrifice – questions designed to determine truthfulness of the subject.
o Control Questions – questions that either relevant or irrelevant designed to established
response from an innocent subject.

Further classified into primary based on a known lie and secondary control question.

Types of Test
1. General Question Test
o Consist of series of relevant and irrelevant questions in a planned order.
2. Peak of Tension test

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 o Consist of only one relevant and a series of irrelevant questions.
o resemble, in every general way, the card test, for it consist essentially of the asking of a series
of question in which only one has any bearing upon the matter under investigation.
o Padding questions before the after the relevant questions.
3. Card test
o The subject is presented with seven (7) previously numbered cards face down.
o He will be instructed to take one, look at it and return it with the rest of the cards.
o The examiner will shuffle the cards and each card will be shown to him, with the
instruction that he will answer “NO” to all cards, even if the one being shown to him is the
one he has seen earlier.
4. Guilt Complex Test
o Used primarily for overly responsive subjects.
o a totally fictitious incident but a similar nature to the matter being investigated and make
him believe it is real.
o The purpose is to compare the response with those response made concerning the actual
matter under investigation
5. Silent Answer test
o Subject is instructed not to give any verbal answer; the subject will only answer in his
mind.
6. Yes test
7. No test
8. Guilt complex test
9. Mixed test
o Consist essentially of an arrangement of the first and third test questioned.
o administered response on earlier test or to compare the degree of reaction between relevant
and control questions

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