Polygraph examination of British sexual offenders: A pilot study on sexual history disclosure testing

Abstract

In the UK, the use of the polygraph has only recently been given serious consideration as a means of facilitating the assessment and treatment of sex offenders. This pilot polygraph study on sexual history disclosure testing (SHDT) was the first of its kind undertaken in Britain. This application of the polygraph has shown merit as a means of obtaining additional information about past sexual offending behaviours. Fourteen sex offenders who were attending a Community Sex Offender Groupwork Programme (C-SOGP) were given SHDTs. Substantial increases in the numbers of admitted victims and offences were determined when comparing polygraph disclosure results with previously obtained data from all other sources available. In addition, the subjects reported earlier onset of offending and a wider range of paraphilic interests than had previously been reported. This suggested that collaboration amongst treatment, supervision and polygraph professionals could help to contain sexual offending behaviour more effectively, to improve and enhance public protection.

Interview or Interrogation: A Critical Review of the Efficacy and Ethicality of Post-Conviction Sex Offender Polygraph Testing

“…In short, the current state of the empirical research concerning post-conviction sex offender polygraph testing is at best worthy of cautious optimism, and at worst, indirect and inconclusive. The studies that focus on the polygraph's ability to elicit more complete and forthright information (Grubin et al, 2004;Wilcox, & Sosnowski, 2005; from sex offenders demonstrate a marked increase in the number and severity of the high-risk behaviors the interviewees have engaged in, but suffer from numerous methodological weaknesses. With regards to the bogus pipeline research (Gannon, 2006;Gannon, Keown, & Polaschek, 2007), the inconsistent and methodologically unsound results produced by the contemporary literature also raise doubt in the polygraph's efficacy in a post conviction setting, and also bring up an important concern.…”

“…Some proponents of post-conviction polygraph testing, however, believe it is a completely useful means of obtaining more thorough sexual and offense histories from offenders in treatment. Thus, a research study was conducted to test and observe the effect of polygraph testing on the disclosure of past offenses and other sexually deviant behaviors (Wilcox, & Sosnowski, 2005). It was hypothesized that periodic polygraph testing would elicit further admissions to victims, occasions of sexually abusive behavior, and paraphilias previously than was previously known to treatment providers, as well as an earlier onset of sexual offending.…”

“…When examining the empirical literature, the most obvious weakness in the design of the experiment is the generally paltry sample sizes. Aside from three of the studies examined in this review Grubin, & Madsen, 2006;McGrath, Cumming, Hoke, & Bonn-Miller, 2007), all of the studies focused were conducted with sample sizes well under 100 participants, one of which utilized as few as 14 subjects (Wilcox, & Sosnowski, 2005). These relatively small sample sizes, coupled with the high dropout rate of many of the studies, can not only call into question the value and validity of the results from these studies, but also severely limit their generalizability.…”

Expeditious Disclosure of Sexual History via Polygraph Testing: Treatment Outcome and Sex Offense Recidivism

“…Such testing encourages offenders to fully disclose their history of sexually deviant behavior, which may reinforce other prosocial behaviors (e.g., completion of treatment). Practitioners who utilize and support sex offender testing to assess sexually deviant behavior generally believe that the sooner a client passes a full disclosure sexual history polygraph test, the sooner paraphilias and crossover-offense behaviors may be identified, and accurate treatment planning that facilitates desistance may occur (O'Connell, 1998;Ahlmeyer et al, 2000;Heil, Ahlmeyer, & Simmons, 2003;Wilcox & Sosnowski, 2005). For more on the benefits of polygraph testing as it relates to sex-offender management see (English, 1998;English, Jones, Pasini-Hill, Patrick, & Cooley-Towell, 2000;Hindman & Peters, 2001;Grubin, 2008;Levenson, 2009).…”

Sex offender management using the polygraph: A critical review

“…Among them, Wilcox and Sosnowski (2005) describe the results of 14 sex offenders on probation who were administered a single CQT. Important new information was obtained from all offenders: 93% of the sample admitted they had committed both contact (e.g., indecent assault) and non-contact (e.g., voyeurism) sexual offenses, compared to the known 29% in the probation records.…”