ASSOCIATE Magazine FBINAA Q1-2026

DICK ARTHER

WAS RIGHT DR. MICHAEL WHITE, NA SESSION 206 This article argues that Dick Arther’s approach to polygraph examina tions correctly framed the polygraph as an investigative aid rather than a truth‑verifying instrument. Consistent with both legal standards and em pirical critiques of polygraph validity, Arther emphasized information gath ering, confession development, and—critically—the requirement that sus pects prove their involvement through independently corroborated facts. The article contends that wrongful convictions associated with polygraph use stem not from chart interpretation errors, but from investigative and prosecutorial failures to require corroboration. Arther’s philosophy antici pated modern concerns about overreliance on physiological inference and remains a sound framework for ethical and effective investigative practice. F or decades, debate over the polygraph has focused on chart accuracy, examiner skill, and competing scoring methodologies. Courts, however, have consistently rejected polygraph charts as scientifically reliable evidence. Against this backdrop, Dick Arther’s philosophy stands apart. Arther did not view the polygraph as a truth machine. Instead, he treated it as a structured opportunity to gather information, elicit admissions, and generate corroborable evidence. This article argues that Arther’s approach aligns more closely with legal reality, investigative best practice, and the lessons of wrongful conviction cases. THE POLYGRAPH’S LEGAL AND SCIENTIFIC LIMITATIONS Polygraph charts are generally inadmissible in court because they rely on psychophysiological inference rather than direct evidence. Even when administered according to professional standards, polygraph results remain probabilistic and vulnerable to bias, countermeasures, and contextual effects. Courts have therefore drawn a clear line between investigative utility and evidentiary reliability. Arther’s method implicitly accepted this limitation and redirected examiner focus away from chart analysis toward investigative value.

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