The Utility of Post-Conviction Polygraph Testing Among Sexual Offenders

Elliott, Elizabeth; V�llm, Birgit

Abstract

It is often difficult to ascertain the true extent and nature of sexually deviant behavior, as much relies on self-report or historic information. The polygraph has been proposed as a useful tool in the treatment and supervision of sex offenders. The current review aims to provide a coherent, objective, and recent synthesis of evaluation studies exploring the utility of the post-conviction polygraph (PCSOT) in the treatment and management of sexual offenders. This was assessed based on offense recidivism rates and disclosure; self-reported utility was also considered. Nineteen studies were identified from the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands with no randomized controlled trials identified. Overall, there was a significant increase in relevant disclosures associated with the polygraph. The impact on reoffending rates was significant for violent but not sexual offenses. A number of methodological factors introduced the potential for bias in a significant number of studies reviewed in this review.

Citation

Elliott, E., & Völlm, B. (2016). The Utility of Post-Conviction Polygraph Testing Among Sexual Offenders. Sexual Abuse, 30(4), 367-392. https://doi.org/10.1177/1079063216667922

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 24, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Oct 17, 2016
• Publication Date: Oct 17, 2016
• Deposit Date: Oct 7, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 17, 2016
• Journal: Sexual Abuse
• Print ISSN: 1079-0632
• Electronic ISSN: 1573-286X
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 367-392
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1079063216667922
• Keywords: Sexual offender assessment, Polygraph, Risk assessment, Disclosure, Recidivism
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/823146
• Publisher URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1079063216667922
• Additional Information: This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Sexual Abuse. The final authenticated version is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1079063216667922