The American Polygraph Association, established in
1966, is the largest polygraph association consisting of examiners in
the private, law enforcement, and government fields. The APA continues
to be the leading professional association of its kind, establishing standards
of ethical practices, techniques, instrumentation, research, and advanced
training and continuing educational programs. The APA has approximately
2,500 members, who are required to maintain the highest standards of moral,
ethical and professional conduct and they are further required to discharge
their duties with complete impartiality, dignity and respect. Members
recognize that their primary responsibility is to the person being examined,
and are forbidden to allow considerations of race, religion, politics,
union activity, or economic status to play any part in their examinations,
and they are pledged to issue an objective and unbiased opinion and to
protect the confidentiality of the examination. The following is a sampling
of the benefits that you will receive as a member of the APA:
Toll free access to the National Office, staffed
with a full-time Office Manager that is a clearing house for all polygraph
related issues and is the primary custodian of all records and publications
Subscriptions to the quarterly journal "Polygraph"
which is the most authoritative, thorough, and up-to-date journal in
the field
Subscriptions to the bi-monthly publication of the
APA newsletter "The Truth" which contains everything from
APA and state organizations, to recent court decisions
An annually published Directory of Membership by
names and geographic location, along with listings of Officers, memorials,
state associations, licensing boards, and accredited polygraph schools
with a free listing of your membership status
Advanced notice and reduced rates for annual seminars
and continuing education programs with a seminar & Continuing Education
Committee dedicated to provide members with the most up-to-date training
and information on technological advances in the polygraph profession
A chance to obtain a Certificate of Advanced and
Specialized Training which exceeds the minimum APA membership guidelines
through continuing education
Reduced rates on numerous APA publications and reference
materials
Access to the latest information on legal issues
to include areas such as EPPA, ADA, police applicant screening, testing
victims of sex crimes and polygraph testing of sexual offenders
Recruitment incentives that can be used towards your
membership dues and/or seminar registration fees
Job referral and placement service
Access to the APA Archives for written, visual and
auditory materials relevant to educational information and the polygraph
profession, including taped seminar sessions
Access to the Research Center, its progressive research,
and its publications in areas of techniques, validity, scientific issues,
current practices, assessments, surveys of attitudes and problems facing
the polygraph profession, where its publications and papers have been
presented at APA seminars as well as at other criminal justice and related
conferences
Access to a Legislation Committee and state liaisons
who bring forth any areas of interest of the APA in all matters relating
to legislation, proposed or enacted, at federal, state and local levels
which affect or may affect the Association, it's members and the polygraph
profession in general
Assistance to any state organization for legislation
restricting or prohibiting the use of polygraph, as well as assistance
in other areas that may affect members and the profession
Annual awards presentation that identifies those
persons who through their unselfish and extraordinary efforts promote
and advance the best interest of the polygraph profession
An Ethics & Grievance Committee who receives
and investigates all allegations of misconduct against members of the
APA
An Educational Accreditation Committee that establishes
minimum criteria for evaluation and accreditation of polygraph training
programs to enhance the instruction and learning experiences of those
seeking to be polygraph professionals
Free referrals and advance notice of accredited training
programs and other approved advanced continuing education seminars
The chance to network with over 2,500 members in
the polygraph profession
E-Mail capabilities and Internet home page which
is constantly updated
In addition to the services you will receive, the APA
Board of Directors, it's Officers and Committee Members, are dedicated
to the polygraph profession and who, unceremoniously and unselfishly,
go about the tasks of running an organization to benefit the entire polygraph
profession. On any given day, you will find those Officers and Committee
Members corresponding, teaching, recruiting, developing new initiatives,
conducting research, establishing and reviewing accredited polygraph schools,
resolving ethical issues and disputes, preparing publications, fighting
anti-polygraph legislation, and providing liaisons between the individual
needs of state associations, as well as liaison between the needs of private,
law enforcement and government sectors. Services, guidance, references,
networking and publications are only a phone call away!
For more information about the American Polygraph Association,
contact Robbie Bennett, National Office Manager, 1-800-APA-8037 or at
(423) 892-3992; by FAX at: (423) 894-5435; or via mail at: APA National
Office, PO Box 8037, Chattanooga, TN 37414-0037
The APA Secretary, Vickie T. Murphy, can be reached
telephonically at: (410)987-6665 or by E-mail: secretary@polygraph.org
