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Last week, a video of an alleged polygraph examination of the president GOLD, George Simion, followed by a call to all county presidents of the organization to do the same, made waves. However, the Romanian Association of Judicial Psychology draws attention to the fact that this violates the provisions of the law.
What was not mentioned by the AUR representatives is the fact that the polygraph test would have been carried out by a person who would not have the right to practice in Romania and who followed an online course of only two months in Spain. Also, this person would have been the subject of a criminal complaint related to this activity, a complaint that was later dismissed. This situation has caused concern among specialists in the field of polygraphy in Romania, who have extensive experience and knowledge in this field, according to the information presented by vasiledale.ro.
See also: The verdict of forensic psychologist Liviu Chesnoiu, after the polygraph test taken by George Simion
In an attempt to clarify the situation, the journalist Vasile Dale requested an official point of view from the Romanian Association of Forensic Psychology regarding this alleged polygraph examination. The conclusion of the response received is clear: the polygraph test performed did not follow the correct and standardized procedures for such an examination. Thus, it can be considered more of an image exercise than a genuine assessment, but it is possible to produce a significant impact on public opinion, especially the uninformed. Moreover, the institution asked the state’s competent institutions to check the conditions of quality and, above all, of legality in which the alleged polygraph evaluation was carried out.
Here is what the Romanian Association of Judicial Psychology notes in a press release:
“The Romanian Association of Forensic Psychology is the national organization, established in 2009, which brings together renowned professionals dedicated to this discipline. Whether they work in law enforcement institutions, in the interest of the Romanian government or in the private sector, over 97% of polygraph specialists and experts practicing in our country are members of our organization.
Through a collective effort, through the accuracy of the results obtained, we managed to convince the relevant ministries to declare this field, the detection of simulated behavior (polygraph), as a field of expertise, and for our specialists to appear alongside the traditional categories of forensic experts, in the table Ministry of Justice, which contains all the authorized forensic experts from the territory of Romania. (…) Convinced of the need for a form of thorough training, in 2010 we established the first educational institution in the specialty “Forensic psychology – Evaluation of simulated behavior through the polygraph technique”, in which context we accredited the Romanian Association of Forensic Psychology as a trainer of professional training, both at the College of Psychologists in Romania and at the National Qualifications Authority. The courses involve a number of 400 hours, held over 4 semesters, of which 250 hours are practical activities. (…)
Based on the courses attended and the experience gained, the members of our association who practice this profession hold, according to the law, one or more of the following documents proving their professional quality: certificate of free practice in the psychological specialty “Forensic Psychology – evaluation of simulated behavior through the polygraph technique ” – released by the Romanian College of Psychologists; graduation diploma of the professional training program “Forensic Psychology – evaluation of simulated behavior through the polygraph technique” – approved by the Romanian College of Psychologists and the Romanian Association of Judicial Psychology; certificate of professional qualification for the occupation of “Polygraph Expert”, issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Solidarity and the Ministry of Education; certificate and identification of an authorized forensic expert in the field of forensic expertise “detection of simulated behavior through the polygraph technique” – issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Justice, respectively; operating permit issued by the Romanian College of Psychologists for those who practice this profession as psychologists in the forms of exercise of the profession established by the previously mentioned regulatory entity.
‘The said entity carries out its activity in this field/specialty, illegally’
We draw attention to the fact that each of the previously mentioned documents are individual and non-transferable, because only on their basis can a person practice this profession. All applicants or recipients of a polygraph examination should verify that the person claiming to be a polygraph examiner has any of these documents before ordering or entering into a contract for services.
The operation of any economic entity whose activity is the evaluation of simulated behavior is conditioned by the possession of at least one of these documents. If a natural or legal person carries out this activity without any of the qualification documents presented above, we are of the opinion that the respective entity carries out its activity in this field/specialty, illegally.
Recently, an article appeared in the media1 followed by a series of comments that refer to a polygraph examination carried out, most likely, for electoral purposes. In general, the Romanian Association of Forensic Psychology, through its members, delimits itself and condemns any polygraph activity carried out without compliance with the law. Even more, we are against any examinations that do not comply with the minimum procedural rules for conducting a polygraph examination. Even if the materials that have recently appeared in the mass media appear to be fragments of a polygraph examination, they clearly violate several procedural provisions.
For this reason, for fair information of public opinion, we recommend to the population and any potential beneficiary that the so-called polygraph activity promoted recently should not be considered a polygraph examination. We understand the need for affirmation, promotion and profit, but we appreciate that when the polygraph activity is presented incorrectly, it risks falling into obsolescence and altering the thorough work, for decades, of an entire professional community.
We believe that the said filming, with the so-called polygraph examination, brings immense disservice to our profession and we request its immediate withdrawal from the public space. In this way, we ask the competent institutions of the state to verify the conditions of quality and, above all, of legality in which the alleged polygraph evaluation was carried out.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE ROMANIAN ASSOCIATION OF FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY”
