Polygraph Training: DOD Program Meets Standards But Expansion Requires Better Planning
NSIAD-87-161
Published: Sep 18, 1987. Publicly Released: Sep 18, 1987.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) training program for polygraph examiners and its planned expansion.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy to revise DOD directives to specify the Institute's role in planning, conducting, managing, and evaluating the DOD polygraph research program, and establish a policy with respect to reimbursement for training nonfederal examiners at the Institute. |
Closed – Implemented
The standard operating procedure has been updated. Internal DOD comments on the polygraph regulation have been received. Negotiations are underway with the Army to resolve differences. DOD expects to issue a regulation in September 1991. Comments on the Institute directive have been received and evaluated. DOD expects to issue the directive in April 1991.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Army to defer constructing a new building until DOD more clearly determines polygraph research and training needs. |
Closed – Implemented
DOD believes that it has justified construction of a new school building with 36 examining rooms. GAO believes that the size of the proposed school substantially exceeds the government's needs. The 1987 DOD Authorization Act includes $1.9 million for the building. DOD has started construction. Thus, there is no benefit to keeping the recommendation open.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Army to assess faculty requirements, resources, and plans to ensure that the number of full-time instructors is maintained at the minimum needed to operate efficiently and effectively. |
Closed – Implemented
There has been no change in the authorized number of full-time instructors since the last report.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Army to reassess the number and type of polygraph instruments needed by the Institute and make any excess instruments available to other Army, DOD, or federal activities that may be planning to acquire such instruments. |
Closed – Implemented
No DOD components have requested any of the 20 instruments determined to be in excess to the Institute's needs.
|
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Topics
Education or training costsEducation program evaluationMilitary trainingTraining utilizationStudentsMilitary forcesConstructionSchoolsPolygraphFederal agencies