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.

There is a very large disparity between the cost of an NITV tm class and those sponsored by the IAVSA.  A recertification class is typically $295. to attend an NITV tm class and the IAVSA is only $200.  A basic examiner's class for new examiners typically costs $1,295. to attend and only $495. for an IAVSA class.  Most agencies can send nearly 3 new examiners to an IAVSA basic class compared to 1 NITV tm sponsored class. 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.

Q. What has the IAVSA done for the Voice Stress Industry?

A.

For many years the IAVSA was a spokesman for voice stress.  We assisted NITVtm 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 expense.

Also, for many years members of the IAVSA handled cold calls directed from NITV tm to our telephone line.  We often handled 10 or more per day to assist NITV tm. 

When the MACVSA first began in 1994 NITV tm was a growing business.  They used the Voice Stress Associations to recommend their product, which we did on nearly a daily basis.  NITV's tm Executive Director was often told that it wasn't their brochures that caused NITV tm 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 tm 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 NITV tm showed little interest in training, except for their annual training in Florida.  So, the Associations, and later the IAVSA, provided a valuable service to NITV tm.  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 tm.  The IAVSA was no longer a welcome entity with NITV tm 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 tm 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 tm 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 tm, so law enforcement agencies and their examiners are the winners.  Of course, NITV tm 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.