Senate Intel Committee Asks for Alternatives to Polygraph

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106th Congress
Senate Report No. 106-48
(excerpt)

Mr. Shelby, from the Select Committee on Intelligence, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany S. 1009]

AUTHORIZING APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2000
FOR THE INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
AND THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY RETIREMENT
AND DISABILITY SYSTEM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

May 11, 1999.--Ordered to be printed

[...]

COUNTERINTELLIGENCE

The Committee understands that polygraphing is employed as a tool by the CIA, FBI, and DOE for counterintelligence purposes. Polygraphing has been described as a "useful, if unreliable" investigative tool. Given the potential unreliability of the polygraph system, the Committee believes that alternatives to the polygraph should be explored. The Committee understands that alternatives to polygraphing exist and have been explored by several agencies, including the CIA and the FBI.

Therefore, the Director of Central Intelligence and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation jointly shall conduct an assessment of alternative technologies to the polygraph for use in counterintelligence programs. The DCI and Director of the FBI shall report their findings to the Committee not later than 90 days after the enactment of this Bill. The report should include the three most viable alternative technologies, along with detailed cost projections for 25, 50, and 100 examinations per year. The report also should include a brief description of the contribution each technology might make over and above continued employment of polygraph procedures.