LETTER TO HONORABLE BIRCH BAYH FROM W. E. COLBY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP77M00144R000800130021-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 13, 2001
• Sequence Number: 21
• Content Type: LETTER

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FROM:
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DATE
9 June 1975
TO: (Officer designolion, room number, and
DATE
building)
OFFICER'S
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
RECEIVED
FORWARDED
INITIALS
to whom. Draw a line, across column aFter each comment.)
1. Office of Security
9 JUN
Senator Bayh recently introduced a
b
ll
h
75
i
to pro
ibit the use of the poly-
z.
graph examination by Federal
agencies in an employment context.*.
In his introductory remarks he
indicated his willingness to be
persuaded by intelligence agencies
on their use of the polygraph. The
---^--
attached letter is an invitation from
the Director to the Senator for a
meeting on this.subject. Will you
S'
please verify the accuracy of the
statements I have made on the
Agency's use of the polygraph?
6.
The information was drawn primarily
from Mr. Brownman's June 1974
testimony before the House
T?
Committee on Government Operations,
but with some statistical updating
fro . Please review and
return by noon, 10 June. Thank
you.
9.
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 IIonox ~U1~A~rcFa1Release 2002/01/02 CIA-RDP77M00144R000800130021-0
'United States Senate
Washington, D. C. 20510
Dear Senator Bayh:
I read with great interest your remarks in the June 2 Congressional
Record accompanying the introduction of S. 1841, which would completely
bar the use of the polygraph examination in an employment context by this
and other Federal agencies. Your remarks indicated a willingness to listen
to reasonable argument regarding the need for a very limited use of the
polygraph in the intelligence field.
I believe the polygraph examination is essential to the security program
of the Central Intelligence Agency. The predominant use of the polygraph by
CIA is as part of the hiring process. After a decision to hire an applicant for
a staff position has been made (based on the needs of the Agency and the
applicant's qualifications), our Office of Security conducts an investigation
to determine the loyalty of the applicant to the United States The-latter stages
of the investigation--include th~~zclmin sti?atio i of-a polygraph exit inatioxx..
Statistics dramatically show the importance of the polygraph in screening out
potential security risks. During the period January 1963 to August 1974,
60 percent of all applicants disqualified on.security grounds were rejected
on information solely or principally developed during polygraph interviews.
We at CIA are cognizant of the danger of abuse inherent in the use of
any instrument used to distinguish truths from untruths. Consequently, we
have adopted strict procedures to forestall abuses and protect those taking
tEi,.~ examination. 'Chose include:
--the requirement of advance written consent of the
applicant;
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a vance interviews with fic: o ersonnel and
Office of Medical Services employees to uncover reasons why
a polygraph is not advisable for a particular applicant;
--notification of the privilege against self-incrimination
if a question may pertain to the violation of a criminal law;
--advance preparation of questions to insure that all
questions are directly related to security considerations (e.g.,
no questions on religious thought or practices or political
affiliations of a nonsubversive nature are permitted);
---random monitoring by an experienced supervisor
to insure no improper questions are asked; and
--maintenance of polygraph records in separate files,
with very strict need-to-know rules governing access.
Spot interviews of over 4, 000 applicants indicate that these procedures,
plus our rigorous training program for examiners, have been extremely
successful in preventing abuses.
I would very much like the opportunity to talk with you personally
regarding CIA's polygraph program. I understand my Legislative Counsel,.
Mr. George Cary, has already suggested this. I would be pleased to host a
breakfast meeting at the Agency's Langley headquarters, and I am asking
Mr.. Cary to contact your office to determine if this might be arranged.
Sincerely,
W. E. Colby
Director
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