Frequently Asked Questions
| Q: What is the primary purpose of the International Association of Voice Stress Analysts, Inc? |
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To oversee and provide professional training to examiners of IAVSA approved voice stress instruments. The IAVSA approved instruments are currently: the Vipre Systems, Computer Voice Stress Analyzer, and the Forensic Voice Stress Analyzer. The IAVSA has been recertifying examiners since our inception in 1998.
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When was the IAVSA established? |
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In 1998 board representatives of four regional voice stress associations met in Branson, MO. to combine our efforts and establish a National Assocation. Because we have examiner members from outside the United States our name was changed to the International Association of Certified Voice Stress Analysts.
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| Q. Why was the name changed from the IACVSA to IAVSA. |
A: When the Association's began, including the International Association, there was only one vendor that we affiliated with, and that vendor produced the CVSA. We worked arm in arm on many projects, but our responsibility and allegiance was always to our members and the voice stress industry. When the Vipre Systems instrument was introduced the instrument was evaluated by a sub-committee of the International Association and subsequently approved by the IACVSA Board. The IACVSA, following the approval of the Vipre, allowed their examiners, many of whom were former CVSA examiners, to join our regional associations and attend our continuing education and recertification training. Since the IACVSA was a neutral entity and not directly associated with any manufacturer it became necessary to remove the perception that we were an extension of the CVSA vendor. Thus, we removed the "C" from our name and acronym and are now the International Association of Voice Stress Analysts, Inc. or IAVSA.
| Q. |
How many voice stress instruments have been accepted by the IAVSA? |
| A. |
The IAVSA has evaluated (5) five voice stress instruments in its 10 year history, and has accepted three. The instruments currently accepted by the IAVSA Board are: The Vipre Systems, CVSA, and the most recent addition is the Forensic Voice Stress Analyzer. |
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| Q: |
How is the IAVSA different from other new associations? |
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We are not affiliated with a manufacturer of a voice stress instrument. Even though we have received pressure to conform to a manufacturer's edicts we have maintained our neutrality. If our Association was tied directly to only one manufacturer it would not be in the best interest of the industry or the member agencies that we represent.
Until recently the training classes of NITV cost approx. $495. per person, and the IAVSA sponsored regional associations only charged between $100 and $250., depending on the length of the class, whether they were 3-day or 5-day classes. Clearly, the reason for the huge disparity is because the IAVSA is a non-profit organization, and our interest is not in how much money we can make, but rather to give law enforcement agencies the opportunity to send more examiners to our classes.
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Q: What training is available to IAVSA members?
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We sponsor approximately nine seminars per year across the country. All of the classes offer the member an opportunity to recertify as a voice stress examiner; to obtain current testing techniques; remain on the same page with other examiners; and, to network with examiners from many other agencies. We have also had a variety of instructors that taught Interview & Interrogation techniques, Computer Fraud, Identity Theft, Sexual Predators & How To Interview Them, Internal Affairs, and many other law enforcement related topics.
The IAVSA is a non-profit organization, and while training is offered at very nice locations with numerous amenities available to the attendee, our cost is kept as low as possible. We are normally half the cost of an NITV sponsored event, yet all of our instructors have been either NITV instructors or former NITV instructors.
The IAVSA Board has recently approved our newest training class, which is currently in the planning stages. We will soon offer a basic examiners course for all IAVSA accepted instruments. NITV has charged as much as $1,495. per person, and currently is thought to be around $1,295. per person; but, that is still a lot of money for many departments that are experiencing budgetary problems. The IAVSA plans to charge only $500. per person. For more information on this terrific opportunity for departments please feel free to contact us. This training will be made available across the United States. We will initially promote police agencies that utilize an approved voice stress instrument that would like to train additional officers to become voice stress examiners.
There will be several other classes that we will be offering in the near future. Visit our website often for further information or contact us directly. Many of those classes will be offered on the West Coast for examiners that have not had an opportunity to attend anything like this in the past.
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| How can I attend an IAVSA sponsored training event? |
If you are an examiner utilizing one of the IAVSA approved instruments it is very easy. You must be a member of the IAVSA, and if you are not merely complete a membership application and submit the required annual dues. You can then attend any IAVSA sponsored training in the country at a member rate. Compare our prices to any other training and you will find that we use many of the same instructors, but at a much reduced rate. |
| Q. Where are the IAVSA dues spent? |
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| A. |
| The IAVSA Board of Trustees have one annual face-to-face board meeting, which encompasses two full days of meetings. The meetings consist of a lot of hard work by unpaid volunteer policemen. This meeting gives the Board direction and an opportunity to approach issues of concern directly. The rest of the year consists of board discussion and other board business via electronic mail or telephone. The outlay of money is minimal for the amount of work done, and the accomplishments made for our members. |
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Q. What has the IAVSA done for the Voice Stress Industry?
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For many years the IAVSA was a spokesman for voice stress. We assisted NITV in a pursuit to see that voice stress examination was permitted in every state. Members of the IAVSA attended state & federal hearings on proposed legislative changes. We offered testimony in the fight in Austin, Texas, Oklahoma City, OKlahoma, and other locations at our own cost. We have written many letters and made numerous telephone calls to Congressmen and their aids in an effort to see that voice stress analysis was permitted in their states. Again, at our own cost.
Also, for many years members of the IAVSA handled cold calls directed from NITV to our telephone line. We often handled 10 or more per day to assist NITV.
When the MACVSA first began in 1994 NITV was a growing business. They used the CVSA Associations to recommend their product, which we did on nearly a daily basis. NITV's Executive Director was often told that it wasn't their brochures that caused NITV to grow as rapidly as it did, but it was the recommendations made by our law enforcement agencies. Most agencies may become interested in a product after receiving a brochure, but they seldom buy it without consulting with another agency that utilizes it. The Associations worked very closely with NITV during their growing years and never charged them for any of our work. We tried to remain a neutral association, even when their was only one instrument that was approved.
For many years there was little interest in training, except for their annual training in Florida. So, the Associations, and later the IAVSA, provided a valuable service to NITV. That is until the advent of a competitor, the Vipre Systems.
The Vipre Systems appeared to be a viable competitor and after a subsequent evaluation of their product they became an approved instrument, as is the CVSA. The IAVSA was no longer a welcome entity with NITV because we were trying to evaluate instruments and provide information that was good for the voice stress industry, and specifically law enforcement agencies. Compare the advantages of competition: NITV sold their instrument for over $10,000 and their training class was $495 per person, and that has been reduced considerably. They promised a free automatic scoring system since approximately 1996, and suddenly they came out with it when Vipre announced they also had one. Of course NITV no longer agreed to offer their automatic scoring free of charge, but charged approximately $395.
Competition is good. We are getting better products at a cheaper cost. Training is being provided and the cost of that seems to be coming down for NITV, so law enforcement agencies and their examiners are the winners. Of course, NITV still has difficulty competing with the IAVSA sponsored classes because of our low rates. Those are a few of the examples of what a true non profit Association is doing for you. |
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