The IG found instances of hiring special agents and other that did not successfully complete some or all of the polygraph examination. Image: Standret/Shutterstock.com
The Justice Department inspector general’s office has issued a management advisory regarding the DEA’s use of polygraphs for screening prospective and current employees, saying that “we identified numerous concerns that we believe warrant the DEA’s immediate attention.”
Those concerns arose, it said, as part of an ongoing review of compliance with a 2019 policy that the agency will not hire applicants who receive a “countermeasures or significant response” result in such an examination; the agency requires pre-employment screening of applicants in occupations such as special agent, intelligence research specialist, diversion investigator, and forensic chemist.
“Specifically, we uncovered inconsistencies in the implementation of the 2019 polygraph policy and significant risks involving the DEA’s polygraph program, including hiring special agents and certain other applicants who have not successfully completed some or all of the polygraph examination,” it said. The IG already has found that occurred in the hiring of 66 special agents and 11 intelligence research specialists, it said, while another three special agents did not complete the testing as required.
Auditors also said they found incidences of the agency “allowing task force officers who have failed a polygraph examination to remain on DEA task forces. We also learned about issues with regard to the handling of polygraphs for applicants with relatives who currently, or formerly, worked for the DEA.”
“Given the DEA’s determination that the successful passing of a polygraph examination is an important part of the hiring process, these issues have resulted in potential security risks to DEA operations and the appearance of unfair hiring practices when individuals who have not completed the polygraph process are nonetheless hired by the DEA,” it said.
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