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Info on Global Polygraph Network - by Elmer Criswell

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I received an e-mail recently asking for comments on a
solicitation that several polygraphists with which I am
associated received on their computers. The solicitation
involved an organization called the Global Polygraph
Network and is the brainchild of Michael Martin of
Pennsylvania. The sender wanted to know what I thought of
this venture of Mr. Martin since Mr. Martin and I had had
a "go-around" in the Polygraph Chronicles in the past.

Actually, this is not the "latest" venture of Mr. Martin
- he has had this network for quite a while, at least
since before I wrote an article concerning him several
years ago. Also, please, let me state for the record that
I have nothing personal against Mr. Martin. I have never
even met the man. I did find out, after the fact though,
that Mr. Martin sat at a table with me and some other
Pennsylvania polygraphists at a seminar last year, but I
was not aware of that at the time.

The Global Polygraph Network is a referral service
provided by Mr. Martin that deals mostly with
domestic-issue type polygraph examinations. He advertises
his service via internet and other sources, and charges a
$100 fee to the person needing a polygraph examination for
referring them to a polygraphist who is associated with
his network throughout the U.S. and other countries. The
referral polygraphist then charges whatever fee they
normally would charge which Mr. Martin will indicate a
range and costs that the requestor can expect for the part
of the world in which they reside for that type of
examination.

My concern when reading the information sent to me was
whether or not there was some type of screening process
used by Mr. Martin to add a polygraphist to his network.
There is a process that he uses, and I quote from his
website:

1. The polygraphist must be a graduate of an accredited
polygraph school, and that they have some minimum
amount of experience and have completed polygraph
training at an approved facility;
2. Completed internship and received certification;
3. Completed at least 300 exams following certification;
4. Completed at least 50 domestic-type examinations;
5. Must be willing to conduct domestic-type examinations;
6. Must be willing to contact all referred clients within
48 hours;
7. Must have a 24-hour fax number to receive referrals;
8. Must be located in an area not currently serviced by a
network examiner;
9. Must have no law enforcement "conflict-of-interest"
problems.

He also includes at his website a section that is
introduced with: "There is no such thing as a 15 minute
polygraph "!!

"Any examiner who says that an effective polygraph can be
run in 15-20 minutes is not providing exams to any
acceptable standard of practice, and can not be providing
reliable results. Some clients feel that the mere presence
of a polygraph will encourage confessions and deter
unlawful acts (e.g., cheating in a fishing tournament).
This may be true for a short time until a few subjects
learn that such an exam can be easily beaten, and then the
test becomes counterproductive. A properly conducted exam
must include the following steps. If any step is left out
of the process, the results cannot be relied upon:

1. Introduction and explanation of procedure and equipment
(requires 10-15 minutes);
2. Collect background information and medical history
(requires 5-10 minutes);
3. Discussion of case facts and obtaining of statement
(requires 10-50 minutes);
4. Examiner designs questions and reviews with subject
(requires 5-15 minutes);
5. Run polygraph charts (2-4 charts @ 5 minutes each)
(requires 10-20 minutes);
6. Chart analysis by examiner (requires 5-10 minutes)

MINIMUM TIME REQUIRED: 45 MINUTES
AVERAGE TIME REQUIRED: 90 MINUTES"

Obviously, I disagree that any valid polygraph examination
can be run in 45 minutes and that a valid specific issue
examination can be conducted in 90 minutes. I notice that
there is no mention of how long it takes to develop and
discuss control/comparison questions (CQ). I can
understand why he doesn't identify that particular area
since the public would not need to be notified of that;
however, he could have included it as "Discussion of other
pertinent information". If that is included under number
4, then there is a great disservice being given to the
examinee since, as we all well know, development and
discussion of the control/comparison question material is
the key to a successful polygraph examination when testing
those persons who are being truthful. There must be at
least as much time spent discussing control/comparison
question material as is spent discussing and developing
the relevant/crime (RQ) question material. Without this
"balance" between the RQ's and the CQ's, the
truthful/innocent examinee will not perceive the CQ's as
being important and a false positive result is likely to
occur.

Again, I am not saying that Mr. Martin is not giving the
proper time for CQ development, I am responding to what
he has in print as to how much time is needed for
specific functions required in a polygraph examination.
As mentioned earlier, however, I would argue strongly that
a proper specific issue polygraph examination, whether it
involves cheating spouses or a crime, cannot be done
properly in less than two hours if a CQ testing format is
being used. The only exception to this would be a
post-conviction sex offender monitoring or maintenance
examination (depending on the semantics of your sex
offender training) that would occur after the initial
maintenance/monitoring examination had been given.

The other issue that was brought to my attention on this
by the same person was that Mr. Martin is now referring
himself to be Dr. Martin. This is no issue to me because
I have no idea what Mr. or Dr. Martin's educational
credentials are so I cannot state that he does or doesn't
have a doctorate degree. If he has an honorary doctorate
rather than an earned doctorate, then this does not give
him the right to refer himself as Doctor, not only
according to academic standards, but particularly
according to ASTM Ethics standards. Like any of the rest
of us, Mr. Martin could have earned his doctorate at any
number of educational institutions, including those from
distance learning institutions. If he has earned a
doctorate, then congratulations are in order. If he does
have an earned doctorate, I find it strange that he only
holds the Associate Member status in the American
Polygraph Association which was designed for those who
graduated from APA accredited schools but held no college
degree. If he has a college degree, he should be a Full
APA Member - which he very well might be at this point;
however, his advertisements only list Associate membership.

One would think that he would have changed that after
attaining a baccalaureate degree and Master's degree,
which are both required before getting a doctoral degree
from any legitimate educational institution. Maybe we will
hear from him, and he will explain that, and maybe he
doesn't really care whether the readers understand it or
not.

As for the Global Polygraph Network and my opinion
concerning it, I think it is a good idea. I wish I would
have thought of it first. I wish him success. I'll wish
anyone success in any polygraph venture as long as they
are doing it right and abiding by the standards that have
been set for our profession to practice it the right way.

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