USE OF THE POLYGRAPH IN PERSONNEL INVESTIGATIONS OF COMPETITIVE SERVICE APPLICANTS AND APPOINTEES TO COMPETITIVE SERVICE POSITIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00357R000700120012-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 5, 2000
• Sequence Number: 12
• Content Type: REQ

Approved For Release 2000/09/01 :CIA-RDP82-003578000700120012-3
Attachment to
N~I'c~i Letter No. 736--
Use of the Poly{graph in Personnel. Investi~,atiaz'z~
Competitive Service P~.p~-~.li.car~9_s ~:~nd ~l7oint~es_ to_
Competitive Service ~'ositiar~,~ __..
An executive department or agency Urhich }aa,s a. hi~;~zly sensa.tive
intelligence or counter--intel.7_igence mission dire_ct1.y affecting
the national security (e.g. a mission a,pproachiz~; the sensitivity
of that of the Central Intelligence Ageney) rnc~y uus.the.polygraph
for employment screening and personnel investigat~.ons of applicants
for and appointees to cozupetitive service positions only. after com-
plying with the following procedures:
The executive agE~ncy must submit to the Cha.irr:~an of the Civa.l
Service Conunissa.on a statement setting forth the nature of its
mission. The Chairman shall then determine whether the agency
has an intelligence or counter-intelligence mission directly
affecting the national security. 7:f he so finds, ,the foll.ovring
shall apply:
The agency sha1.1 prepare regulations and directives governing
use of the polygraph in employment screening`a.z?d personnel
investigations which must be reviewed by the Chairrr~~.n of the
Civil, Service Commission.. These shall. contain as a minimum:
Specific purposes for which the, polygraph m:~y be used,
and details colicerning the types of positions or organs-
national entities in which it ~~rill be used, and the
officials authorized to approve such exa.niina,tions.
b. A directive that a person to be exanu.ned must be i.n-
formed as fax in advance as possible of the,-.intent to
use the pol;~graph and of --
(i) Other devices or aids to the interrogation
which may be used simultaneously ti~rith the '~ '
polygraph, such as voice recordings, etc.~~
{ii) His privilege against self-incrimination
and his right to consult with legal counsel
or to secure other professional assistance
prior to the examination.
{iii) The effect of the polygraph examination: or
.his refusal to take such ~.mination on his
eligibility for employment. He shall be
informed that refusal to consent to a poly--
graph exa.r~tii.nation will oat be made a part
of his personnel file.
Approved For Release 2000/09/01 :CIA-RDP82-003578000700120012-3
 ' -Approved For Release 200/09/01 : CIA-RDP82-00357R000700~`~:12-3
The chara.eteri sti cs a.; ~d nat.ure o# the polygraph
machine: and e:~::~.rn-i.nat.-i.on, incl.u~:t_i.r3~; an expl~ina-
tion of the i>hvs.ical np~~ratian o.f the machine,
the procedures to be fo1.1.o;?~ed dur,in{; the erarn_i-
nation, and tine di.si:>ns-ition of ir{'ormation
developed.
(v) 'I'he general areas' of all questions to be asked
during an examination.
c. A directive that no polygraph exami_nat3on will. b~ given'.
unless the person to be ermined has voluntarily con-
sented in writing to he exa;i;ined after having been
informed of the above, (i) through (v).
d. A directive that questions to be asked during a~po].ygraph
examination must have specific relevance to the suk,ject
of the particular inquiry.
e. Adequate standards for the select:i.on ar-d training of.
examiners, keeping 1n mi.nd the Government's ob3oci:ive
of insuring protection for..the sLZhject of an ex~~m3.na-
ti.on and the accuracy of poly~;ra~.Z~ results.
f. A provision far adequate monitor~n~; of_ poly/;rapr-
operations by a high-level official to prevent abuses
or unwarranted invasions of privacy.
g. A provision for adequate safeguarding of files, charts,
and other relevant data developed through polygraph
examinations to avoid urn~rarranted invasions of. privacy.
Approval to use the polygraph will be granted. only for ono-year
periods.. A department, or~ency given approval to use the polygraph
for competitive service positions will be required to recertify
annually that the conditions which led to the or~.gi.nal certification
still obtain in the agency.
'Approved For Release 2000/09/01 :CIA-RDP82-003578000700120012-3