NCJ Number
176491
Journal
Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Dated: January 1998 Pages: 37-45
Date Published
1998
Length
9 pages
Annotation
A literature review was conducted to assess the research findings regarding the use of polygraphy in community-based sexual offender treatment programs.
Abstract
Polygraph testing, and even the knowledge of an impending examination, often can have a profound effect on the disclosures made by offenders in treatment. Since community safety is the first consideration in community-based treatment of sexual offenders, the availability of a tool to assist in monitoring the behavior and treatment compliance of these clients is desirable. Although the polygraph has been found to be useful for increasing disclosures (Edson, 1991; Emerick and Dutton, 1993), not all treatment providers have embraced the use of polygraphy due to questions about validity, reliability, and admissibility in court proceedings. The author hopes this literature review will enable treatment providers to reach a consensus about guidelines for the use of polygraphy in community-based sexual offender treatment programs. This review found that inconsistent empirical data from various studies challenge the validity and reliability of the polygraph procedure. The utility of the polygraph in treatment programs was nonetheless enhanced by the disclosures made by offenders during the preparation process before the actual examination. Empirically based standards for the use and interpretation of polygraph results were found to be lacking. Sixteen guidelines for the responsible use of polygraphy in community-based treatment for sexual offenders are proposed. One of the guidelines is that the treatment team should use the polygraph as only one of several ways that offenders are monitored in the community. Further, treatment teams should avoid dependence on any of the technological or psychological tools used in offender treatment until empirical data consistently support the validity and reliability of the instruments used. Issues needing further research are identified. 18 references