Update – October 2019

Note: This is a formal translation of the professional guidelines. I have used standard terminology recognized by international organizations like the American Polygraph Association (APA) to ensure professional accuracy.

Purpose: This document contains professional guidelines for polygraph examiners, drafted by the Executive Committee and adopted by the General Assembly of the Israel Polygraph Examiners Association (IPEA), with the aim of institutionalizing professional norms in the field. This document will be updated periodically with changes and additions as circumstances require. Members of the Association are obligated to act according to these guidelines unless a specific guideline is explicitly stated to be a recommendation only.

Chapter A – Definitions

     General: All terms in these guidelines shall have the same meaning as defined  in the Association's Articles of Association. Any reference to the masculine gender includes the feminine, and vice versa.

     Polygraph Instrument: An electronic and/or mechanical instrument that simultaneously measures and records psychophysiological activity in at least three channels, including a cardiovascular activity channel, a respiratory system activity channel, and a skin conductance (electrodermal) activity channel.

     Polygraph Examination: An examination intended to assess the veracity of an examinee's answers and statements and/or to detect information or the existence of information held by the examinee, based on the examinee's psychophysiological reactions recorded during the examination via the polygraph instrument.

     Examinee: A person undergoing a polygraph examination.

     Client (Requesting Party): A person or institution that requested an examiner or a polygraph institute to conduct an examination for an examinee(s) who consented to be tested on a specific subject, regardless of whether the test was ultimately completed. For this definition, it does not matter if the client paid for the exam or if the cost was deferred to the examinee.

     Polygraph Examiner: A person whose full-time or part-time occupation is or was conducting polygraph examinations and, as far as this document is concerned, is a member or candidate member of the IPEA, or an examiner in a recognized internship process.

Chapter B – Preliminary Conditions for Conducting Examinations

An examiner shall refrain from conducting a polygraph examination if one or more of the following conditions exist:

1.   The examiner has a personal a Vinity with the examinee that could ostensibly influence the course of the examination or how the conduct of the examination might appear to external parties.

2.   The examiner has certain knowledge of whether the examinee is truthful or deceptive regarding the test questions prior to the examination.

3.   The examiner is suVering from severe pain or extreme fatigue.

4.   The examinee is suVering from severe pain or extreme fatigue.

5.   The examiner knows the examinee was subjected to intensive interrogation immediately prior to the examination.

6.   The examinee is a minor under the age of 14.

7.   For minors aged 14 to 16, it is recommended to deeply consider the necessity and suitability of the exam; in any case, written parental or guardian consent is required.

8.   In event-specific (Specific Issue) tests: If the examinee did not receive notice of the purpose, subject, and time of the test at least  6 hours prior (the Committee recommends notice be given a day in advance). An exception is made for security- related (Counter-Terrorism) examinations.

9.   In periodic examinations: If the examinee did not receive notice of the time and existence of the test at least one day in advance.

10. Daily Workload Threshold: The examiner has exceeded the daily limit: five specific issue exams on separate topics (or six in exceptional circumstances); or seven elimination-type exams on a specific topic; or pre-employment screening/periodic exams (or nine in exceptional circumstances); or any combination of similar workload.

Chapter C – Examination Protocol

1.   Mandatory Equipment: The examiner shall only use a polygraph instrument operated according to manufacturer instructions with at least three channels (Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Electrodermal).

2.   Environmental Conditions: The examination should ideally be conducted in suitable psychological and physical conditions (e.g., a private room, minimal noise/stimuli, average temperature, reasonable furniture). Any deviation must be explicitly noted.

3.   Presence in the Room: Only the examiner and examinee shall be present, except for an interpreter. An intern or trainee may be present if explicitly noted in writing. Under no circumstances shall the client or a person close to the examinee be present, even as an interpreter.

4.   Case Facts: The examiner must receive all relevant event details from the client prior to the exam and verify that no further relevant information is available.

5.   Prior Examinations: If an examiner is asked  to test someone who has already undergone a test on the same subject:

• They must demand all materials related to previous tests.
• If materials are not provided, the examiner may proceed but must state in the report that a previous test occurred and materials were requested but not provided.
•  An examiner shall not conduct a test if the examinee has already been tested three times or more on the subject, except in exceptional cases justified in writing.

6.   Location: Exams shall not be conducted at the home of the examinee or client, except in cases of house arrest  or physical disabilities preventing the examinee from leaving home.

7.   Identification: The examiner must identify the examinee via an ID document, or via the client/representative. This must be documented in the final report.

8.   Physical/Mental State: The examiner must verify that the examinee is fit for testing, ensuring:

• No acute illness, pain, or significant mental distress unrelated to the exam.
• No real fear of exacerbating medical conditions (e.g., heart attack, asthma, epilepsy).
• If abnormal physiological reactions suspicious of a medical issue occur, the examiner must stop immediately.

9.   Consent: The examinee must express free and voluntary consent in writing and confirm no threats were used to compel the exam.

10. Test Formulation: Questions must be formulated with the examinee's consent, matching  their language  and level of understanding.

11. Technical Standards:

• The relevant question must be asked  at least  twice across at least two charts, provided a clear graphic tracing is obtained. (3 to 5 charts are recommended).
• The optimal interval between questions is 15 to 25 seconds.
• Any artifacts (movement, noise) must be noted on the chart.

12. Analysis: Charts must be analyzed using a scoring or evaluation technique established in professional literature or professional logic. Analysis must be documented in writing.

Chapter D – Reporting Results

1.   Veracity Opinion: No opinion shall be given unless the question was asked  at least twice/thrice during the exam.

2.   Attribution: The report must state the name of the actual examiner, not just the name of the institute.

3.   Confidentiality & Distribution:

• Results are reported only to the client and/or examinee.
• If the examinee paid for the test, the examiner must provide them with the findings, even if the client objects (unless the client is a court of law).
• In "side-vs-side" (bilateral) tests, it is recommended to coordinate expectations in advance regarding the sharing of results. Consent to share results in advance waives the duty of confidentiality between the parties for that specific context.

4.   Content: No questions other than the relevant ones shall be detailed in the report.

Information provided by the examinee during the pre-test that is unrelated to the subject shall not be reported without their consent, subject to legal reporting requirements.

Chapter E – Professional Training

1.   To maintain an up-to-date professional level, every member is required to complete professional training hours as determined periodically by the Committee.

2.   Training includes lectures and workshops at annual conferences. External training in related fields may be recognized by the Committee upon review.