Management Advisory Memorandum – Notification of Concerns Identified in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Use of Polygraph Examinations in Pre-employment Vetting

Submitting OIG:

Department of Justice OIG

Date Issued:

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Agency Reviewed / Investigated:

Department of Justice

Submitting OIG-Specific Report Number:

23-095

Component, if applicable:

Drug Enforcement Administration

Location(s):

Agency-Wide

Type of Report:

Other

Questioned Costs:

Funds for Better Use:

Number of Recommendations:

Report updated under NDAA 5274:

View Document:

Attachment	Size
23-095.pdf	2.97 MB

Recommendation Number	Recommendation Status	Significant Recommendation	Additional Details
1	Open	No	https://oig.justice.gov/reports
Ensure compliance with DEA policy by no longer hiring applicants for the four core series positions (Special Agent, Intelligence Research Specialist, Diversion Investigator, and Forensic Chemist) who have not fully and successfully completed the pre-employment polygraph examination.
2	Open	No	https://oig.justice.gov/reports
Complete the initial efforts to identify the Special Agents and Intelligence Research Specialists, as well as any Diversion Investigators or Forensic Chemists, who did not fully and successfully complete the pre-employment polygraph exam as required by DEA policy.
3	Open	No	https://oig.justice.gov/reports
Mitigate the risks associated with having hired individuals identified in Recommendation 2, including ensuring all such DEA personnel satisfy the polygraph examination requirement when applying for positions within DEA, in accordance with DEA policy.
4	Open	No	https://oig.justice.gov/reports
Ensure DEA Task Force Officers who have not successfully completed the pre-employment polygraph examination are returned to their parent law enforcement agency, in accordance with DEA policy.
5	Open	No	https://oig.justice.gov/reports
Implement clear policy designed to prevent inappropriate influence and potential conflicts of interest in the DEA’s pre-employment polygraph process, including a prohibition on anyone with a direct or indirect connection to a candidate for employment contacting the polygraph examiner during the employment process.

Recommendation Number

Recommendation Status

Significant Recommendation

Additional Details

Open

https://oig.justice.gov/reports

Ensure compliance with DEA policy by no longer hiring applicants for the four core series positions (Special Agent, Intelligence Research Specialist, Diversion Investigator, and Forensic Chemist) who have not fully and successfully completed the pre-employment polygraph examination.

Open

https://oig.justice.gov/reports

Complete the initial efforts to identify the Special Agents and Intelligence Research Specialists, as well as any Diversion Investigators or Forensic Chemists, who did not fully and successfully complete the pre-employment polygraph exam as required by DEA policy.

Open

https://oig.justice.gov/reports