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MCSS is licensed by the Nevada Private Investigator Licensing Board to conduct Polygraph Examinations. Federal and State laws prohibite the use of polygraph for pre-employment screening with the exception of government public safety positions and some industries such as armored car drivers and pharmaceutcal employees.

Polygraph exams are normally conducted for following purposes;

- Law enforcement pre-employment screening

- Armored car security firms

- Case preparation for attorneys

- Fidelity cases involving individuals desiring to clear their name of accusations

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Polygraph?

A polygraph is a device that makes a permanent recording of various physiological changes taking place within the body of the test subject as a result of certain psychological stimuli.

How does a Polygraph work?

A polygraph instrument records physiological reactions to questions presented during the chart-collection phase of the examination.

How accurate is a Polygraph?

The majority of available information indicates that the accuracy of a polygraph administered by a properly trained examiner and utilizing established testing procedures is between 87 and 95 percent for specific-issue investigations.

Isn't a Voice Stress Analyzer (VSA) just as accuate as polygraph?

No. A Voice Stress Analyzer is not considered a valid method of detecting deception. For more information, see, "About Voice Stress and the Law".

Are Polygraph Exams admissible in court?

Polygraph results are admissible in some federal circuits and some states. The results are most often admissible when the parties involved have agreed to their admissibility under terms of a stipulation before the examination is given. A stipulation is a legal document prepared and agreed to by the attorneys representing the defense and the prosecution.

How long does a polygraph exam take?

Examinations require a minimum of ninety minutes, but often take longer. A typical polygraph examination will include a pretest interview phase, a chart collection phase, and a test data analysis phase.

Will I know what questions are on the test?

Yes. All questions must be reviewed with the examinee prior to the actual polygraph examination. All questions must be limited to “yes” or “no” answers and there are not any surprise or trick questions.

Who should not take a polygraph Exam?

Any person with a serious heart condition, unless his doctor has given written approval. Any person who is determined to be mentally incompetent. Any person who has a respiratory illness or cold. Any person who has nerve damage or paralysis. Any person who has had a stroke or is an epileptic. Any person who is in pain (i.e., toothache, headache or a recent injury) or any person who is extremely fatigued.

What is EPPA?

The Employee Polygraph Protection Act. This is a federal law enacted in 1988 that established guidelines for polygraph testing and imposed restriction on most private employers. EPPA prohibits most private employers from using polygraph testing to screen applicants for employment. It does not affect public employers such as police agencies or other governmental institutions.

Any person can voluntarily agree to take a polygraph exam for any purpose not prohibited by law. Attorney's often ask their clients who are accused or charged with a crime to voluntarly submit to an exam. The results normally cannot be used in legal proceedings, but can help the attorney with case preparation.

MCSS utilizes state of the art polygraph equipment and can administer exams at our office or at other locations throughout the state. Exams are recorded by audio and video in DVD format. Polygraph examiner Jim Colbert has many years of experience as a law enforcement and private examiner. (Vitae)