NCJ Number
154829
Editor(s)
H Chambers
Date Published
1994
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Therapists in the Snohomish County, Washington, Juvenile Court Sex Offender Treatment Program regularly used polygraph examinations as one of several techniques to enhance monitoring of compliance with juvenile sex offender probation and parole conditions and treatment requirements until one therapist was threatened with a malpractice suit by a defense attorney who objected to the use of polygraphs.
Abstract
To evaluate the legality and usefulness of polygraphs, polygraph reports on 36 adjudicated juvenile sex offenders were reviewed between 1991 and 1993. Of the 36 juveniles, 35 were male and all ranged in age from 10 to 18 years. Polygraph procedures included a pretest interview, testing, and a posttest interview. Disclosure data clearly demonstrated that certain clients were not forthcoming using procedures other than the polygraph. The total number of disclosures due to polygraph procedures was 99 additional victims and 502 additional incidents, plus four cases of sexual contact with animals. Therefore, therapists in the Snohomish County Juvenile Court Sex Offender Treatment Program believe the polygraph should be used with juvenile sex offenders, as a treatment tool and on a voluntary basis. Responses to criticisms of the polygraph are noted, and the need for standardization in polygraph administration and scoring procedures is stressed. 1 table