Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions at IIT

The Members of the AMERICAN POLYGRAPH ASSOCIATION hold themselves bound, individually and collectively, to the following Code of Ethics:

I. To maintain the highest standards of moral, ethical and professional conduct; to be governed by laws of equity and justice in the performance of all functions.

II. To respect the inherent dignity of all mankind; to deal justly, fairly, and impartially with each individual, irrespective of social, political, racial, ethnic or religious considerations, economic status or physical characteristics.

III. To discharge professional duties and obligations with independence, dignity, and self-respect; to keep all decisions and reports scrupulously free from any personal financial, political, fraternal, social or other extraneous influences.

IV. To refrain from false or misleading advertising; to accept no remuneration for services rendered unless such be fair and reasonable; to decline to represent knowingly both sides of an area at issue, except by express permission of those concerned, given after a full disclosure of the facts; to represent with undivided fidelity.

V. To refrain from express or implied public criticism of any Member of AMERICAN POLYGRAPH ASSOCIATION, except as may be required by due process of law, placing the welfare and advancement of the Association and the polygraph profession above personal desires and ambitions.

VI. To recommend for membership in the AMERICAN POLYGRAPH ASSOCIATION only those persons who are believed to be fully qualified for the class of membership for which they are applying; who subscribe completely to the moral and ethical Standards and Principles of Practice of the Association; and who will strive in every way to be a credit to the polygraph profession.

VII. To support to the best if their ability the professional goals of the AMERICAN POLYGRAPH ASSOCIATION: to support scientific research in the polygraph field; to contribute to better community relations; through word and deed to elevate the status of the polygraph profession.

STANDARDS AND PRINCIPLES OF PRACTICE

In order to achieve unity of purpose, to assure a clear concept of obligations to each other and the profession, and to provide for the continuing welfare and protection of the general public, all members of the AMERICAN POLYGRAPH ASSOCIATION have agreed to abide by the following Standards and Principles of Practice.

1. A Member shall recognize the fact that his primary responsibility must be to the person who has volunteered for a polygraph examination, regardless of the circumstances which created the need for the examination.

2. Recognizing that a polygraph examination cannot be conducted on a person against his will, no Member will attempt to conduct an examination when he has reason to believe the examinee has been subjected to coercion or duress. Further, no Member shall conduct any examination on a person without first advising the examinee of the rights enjoyed by every American citizen against self- incrimination and invasion of privacy.

3. No Member shall initiate an examination on any person unless he uses an instrument which makes a permanent simultaneous recording on a moving chart of at least three (3) physiological tracing, the pneumograph, the cardio-sphygmograph and the galvanic skin response. This shall not preclude the recording of additional physiological phenomenon on the same charts. No Member shall conduct an examination on an instrument wherein the manufacturer has not supplied information for self- calibration and sensitivity standard's for that instrument. Every Member shall calibrate his instrument periodically and keep a record of the dates of calibration. N. Member shall record any psychological or physiological phenomenon with an instrument or any part of an instrument without the subject being aware that their physiological or psychological phenomena are being recorded. The provisions of these paragraphs shall be subject to such additional indices as may be required to comply with any State or Federal licensing regulation.

4. No Member shall conduct an examination on any person whom he believes to be physically or psychologically unfit for testing. In case of doubt as to the propriety of administering a test in any given situation, the Member shall seek expert guidance from a competent medical or psychological authority prior to testing.

5. No Member shall render a conclusive verbal or written decision or report based on chart analysis without having administered two or more polygraph charts.

6. No Member shall terminate a polygraph examination without affording the examinee a reasonable opportunity to explain and to eliminate any reactions which are evident on the charts. Further, no Member shall accept the explanation of the examinee for a chart response without verification.

7. No Member shall, unless professionally qualified to do so, include in any written report any statement purporting to be a medical, legal or psychiatric opinion or which would infringe upon areas under the cognizance of professional in those fields. This shall not preclude the examiner from describing the appearance or behavior of the
examinee, if this is pertinent to the examination, as long as the examiner refrains from offering any diagnosis which he is professionally unqualified to make.

8. A Member shall not conduct an examination where he has reason to believe the examination is intended to circumvent or defy the law.

A Member shall not conduct an examination where he has reason to believe the examination is intended to interfere with or to prevent the lawful organizational activities of a labor union.

10. A Member shall not solicit or accept irregular fees, gratuities, or gifts which may be intended to influence his opinion or decision. Further, no Member shall set a fee for professional polygraph services; contingent upon the findings or results of such services; nor shall he increase any initial fee as a direct result of his findings during any polygraph examination.

11. A Member shall not knowingly issue or permit his employees to issue a polygraph examination report which is misleading, biased, or falsified in any way. Each polygraph report shall be a factual, impartial and objective account of the pertinent information developed during the examination and the examiner's professional conclusion, based on analysis of the polygraph charts.

12.A Member shall be guilty of gross negligence if it be proven that' he did not in fact obtain data reported as factual in any polygraph report. Further, it shall be deemed highly unethical for any examiner to express verbally or in writing a test conclusion which is based solely upon subjective opinion of personal assumption. This does not preclude a professional judgment based on analysis of the polygraph charts, in the absence of substantive admissions by the examinee.

13.A Member shall not publish nor cause to be published any false or misleading advertisements relating to the polygraph profession.

14. A Member shall not offer testimony concerning the charts or conclusions presented by another member unless he is thoroughly familiar with the techniques and procedures used by the other Member. This paragraph shall not prohibit a Member from testifying concerning his independent examination of the same examinee.

15. Any person who is convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude shall be ineligible for any class of membership in the AMERICAN POLYGRAPH ASSOCIATION.

16. A Member shall abide by decisions and recommendations officially adopted by the AMERICAN POLYGRAPH ASSOCIATION at any regularly scheduled meeting.