In a 2010 report, what percentage of police departments required applicants to take a polygraph?

• A. 60%
• B. 40%
• C. 26%
• D. 10%

Answer: (C)

This item asks you to recall a reported statistic about how many police departments required applicants to take a polygraph. The figure from the 2010 report shows that about one-quarter of departments did, specifically 26%. That makes it a minority practice—not widespread across all agencies. The other numbers would indicate much higher (60% or 40%) or much lower (10%) adoption, which is not what the report found. The 26% figure reflects polygraph use as a policy that some departments used in background investigations, while many others did not rely on it as a standard requirement, influenced by concerns about reliability, legality, and practicality.