The 5 most common complaints about the written reports of polygraph examiners

The 5 most common complaints about the written reports of polygraph examiners, as per interviews with hundreds of persons who were clients of examiners:

1. Was a problem to get the promised written report, took many calls

2. Written report was mostly about the examiner himself

3. Written report that arrived was only a paragraph long-- with a surprise option to get a 'longer report' for another $100

4. Written report was in all capital letters, making it very hard to read

5. Written report was poorly written, with misspellings


The written report is of great importance, because it stands in the examiner's place when presented to the court or to the accusing party. If it looks like it was written by a beginner, then it doesn't matter how good the examiner was or how well the examinee passed the test-- there will be no confidence given to the exam.

'There are many good examiners who write reports like kindergarteners, in part because many polygraph schools do not teach about reports. They assume that your initial employer will teach you report writing', tells John Grogan, a polygraph examiner was has tested more than 6000 persons and reviews sample reports as part of the membership process of Polygraph Examiners Of America (www.peoa.US). 'If the written report is critical to the examinee, then he/she should ask to see a sample report before choosing an examiner. Don't believe it if an examiner refuses, telling you that a sample report is 'confidential'; the examiner can redact any private information from a past report before showing it to you'.