Polygraph Testing
Let a Sarasota Investigator and Former Intelligence Officer Help You Prove the Truth
At Capital Protection & Investigations, we will help you prove the truth by putting it to the test. Private investigator Michael Frassetti is a former police officer who worked in the NYPD’s Intelligence Unit and the United Nations Dignitary Protection Unit. As a result, he knows his way around investigation law and is committed to helping criminal defense attorneys on their cases. For instance, we can help you to conduct a polygraph test to better understand if your client is telling the truth and decide whether you should take their case to court. Or, we can conduct a polygraph test that you can show the state to prove your clients’ innocence. Either way, we can provide you the professional polygraph testing services you need for your criminal case.
Contact Michael Frassetti online or by phone at (888) 364-6185 to learn about what he can do for your situation.
What Is a Polygraph Test?
Polygraph tests, better known as lie detector tests, measure a person’s physiological reactions when asked a question. These tests can help to show when a person is giving a false or deceptive response. The test will generally examine a person’s breathing rate, pulse, blood pressure, and perspiration. A test is usually conducted in a private room with only the tester and the subject present and consists of “Yes” or “No” questions. Tests also often include a pre-test questionnaire and sometimes a post-test questionnaire to set the tone. The tester will examine the subject’s physiological reactions in real time and is based on the theory that a person who is lying will exhibit certain behaviors (e.g., increased pulse), whereas a person telling the truth will have a calm pulse.
The results of a test can prove significantly helpful in a variety of contexts, such as for criminal defense attorneys proving their client’s innocence. In optimal situations with skilled defense attorneys, a polygraph test can even contribute to dismissed charges, as we will discuss below.
Criminal Polygraphs
Criminal polygraph tests may be particularly important for criminal investigations. For instance, the results of a test can be used to show that the defendant is telling the truth of their side of the story. It can also help address important background information, depending on the questions asked. A criminal polygraph can show that the defendant is truthful, not deceptive, and innocent, for instance. An experienced criminal defense attorney can skillfully use the results of criminal polygraphs to prove their case for mitigated or dismissed charges. Also note that the criminal defense lawyer may choose what elements of the polygraph results to show the court; a test is not a binding commitment to disclose everything.
Note that historically, polygraph examinations have not admissible for use as evidence in federal court. However, a US District Court judge has since ruled that polygraph examination results may be used in certain situations, such as to verify a defendant’s statements to law enforcement. Such polygraph results can be useful for proving the defendant’s truthful account of events, often leading to a reduction or dismissal of the charges against them.
Post-Conviction Sex Offender Testing
An instance when polygraph testing is required is in the case of convicted sex offenders. Post-conviction sex offender testing (PCSOT) generally falls under one of 2 types – the maintenance polygraph and the sexual history polygraph examination (SHPE). The maintenance polygraph assesses the sex offender's compliance with treatment and supervision over a specified period of time, and the SHPE is used to obtain information about the offender's lifetime history of sex offenses and sexually deviant behavior. The SHPE is often used to guide the probation officer on how to best supervise the offender based on the sexual history (e.g., their past patterns, choices of alleged victims).
Note that the PCSOT mainly addresses the offender’s potential relationship with treatment and supervision, as well as whether they may still pose a significant risk to the community. A criminal defense attorney might find PCSOT to be a helpful tool in certain situations, such as if positive results show their client’s ability to safely reintegrate into society. More specifically, a PCSOT may be used in the context of plea-bargaining to show that the defendant poses a low risk to society and should face reduced charges. In any case, it is critical to have an experienced investigator oversee such a polygraph test to ensure that all factors are being accounted for to administer the test.
Pre-Employment Tests
The Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988 (EPPA) protects most private employees from polygraph testing as an application screening step, though this law only applies to non-government employers. This means that private Florida employers are prohibited from requiring job applications to take a polygraph test as a precondition for hiring, but certain industries and public sector employers are permitted to issue polygraph tests:
- security jobs (e.g., security guard, armored driver);
- pharmaceutical roles that involve distributing drugs;
- government or law enforcement jobs.
These tests may be important for securing employment, but they will also be useful in an additional context to show that you provided honest answers, if that ever comes under doubt. Our private investigation firm has significant experience issuing a variety of polygraph testing and can help facilitate the pre-employment polygraph tests needed.
Infidelity Polygraphs
Another reason for using polygraph tests may be more personal, but nonetheless important. Our firm takes on numerous infidelity investigations, and we offer infidelity polygraph testing to further supplement the process. In fact, infidelity polygraphs are one of the most common types of lie detector exams, and they could make or break an already dubious relationship.
Our firm can conduct a rigorous and confidential infidelity test to help doubtful spouses or partners uncover the truth they deserve. Some things our polygraph tests may examine include:
- secret sexual affairs;
- illicit meetings with another person;
- intimate online conversations.
Professional Polygraph Examiner Partnering with Criminal Defense Attorneys
Polygraph tests are used for many different reasons. If you are a criminal defense attorney, you may find that a polygraph test could make a key difference in your case. Our skilled investigator, Michael Frassetti, is not only a certified private investigator who can conduct your polygraph test, but he is also a former law enforcement officer with important connections and a deeper understanding of the laws relevant to your case. He will know the right questions to ask that can help your client’s defense. He is as credible and professional as criminal polygraph examiners get. From composing the questions to conducting the test, he knows how to best draw out the answers you need.
Contact us online to learn more about our polygraph testing services today.