Outcomes in a Community Sex Offender Treatment Program: A Comparison Between Polygraphed and Matched Non-polygraphed Offenders

Abstract

This study compared a group of 104 adult male sex offenders who received community cognitive-behavioral treatment, correctional supervision, and periodic polygraph compliance exams with a matched group of 104 sex offenders who received the same type of treatment and supervision services but no polygraph exams. Polygraph exams focused on whether participants were following their conditions of community supervision and treatment and had avoided committing new sexual offenses. The two groups were exact pair-wise matched on three variables: (1) Static-99 risk score (Hanson & Thornton 2000, Law and Human Behavior, 24, 119-136), (2) status as a completer of prison sex offender treatment, and (3) date placed in the community. At fixed 5-year follow-up periods, the number of individuals in the polygraph group charged with committing a new non-sexual violent offense was significantly lower than in the no polygraph group (2.9% versus 11.5%). However, there were no significant between-group differences for the number of individuals charged for new sexual (5.8% versus 6.7%), any sexual or violent (8.7% versus 16.3%), or any criminal offense (39.4% versus 34.6%). The results are discussed in terms of their clinical and research implications.

The Utility of Post-Conviction Polygraph Testing Among Sexual Offenders

“…In thirteen studies it was reported that some/all of the participants were also receiving (inpatient and outpatient) psychological therapy (O'Connell, 1997;Stovering, Nelson, & Hart., 2013;Heil, Ahlmeyer, & Simons, 2003;Van Arsdale et al, 2012;Cook et al, 2014;McGrath et al, 2007;English et al, 2003;English et al, 2000;Schenk et al, 2014;Kokish et al 2005;Grubin et al, 2004;Grubin & Madsen, 2006;Buschman et al, 2010). However, one study controlled for these treatment effects in the analysis by comparing a treatment only with a combined polygraph treatment group (McGrath et al, 2007).…”

“…However, one study controlled for these treatment effects in the analysis by comparing a treatment only with a combined polygraph treatment group (McGrath et al, 2007). Treatment programs frequently targeted sexual offending and were implemented in a variety of settings including prisons and community treatment facilities.…”

“…The maintenance polygraph test was used in three studies (McGrath et al, 2007;Gannon et al, 2014;Grubin et al, 2004) and the specific issue test in two of the included studies (Schenk et al, 2014;Bourke et al, 2014). Combinations of test types were used in four of the reviewed studies (Grubin, 2010;English et al, 2000;Stovering, Nelson, & Hart.…”

“…Control groups were not a common feature in the included cohort, and only four of the included studies reported the inclusion of a control group in their methodology (Grubin, 2010;McGrath et al, 2007;Gannon et al, 2014;Heil, Ahlmeyer, & Simons, 2003).…”

“…Two studies explored selfreported accuracy and utility from a single intervention design (Kokish et al, 2005;Grubin & Madsen, 2006). Four studies followed a quasi-experimental design with a polygraph intervention and comparison group, (McGrath et al, 2007;Gannon et al, 2014;Cook et al, 2014;Schenk et al, 2014); others included a polygraph unaware group (Grubin et al, 2004), a between samples comparison, i.e. parolee vs. prisoner (Heil et al, 2000;Heil, Ahlmeyer, & Simons, 2003), or a within subjects comparison between multiple polygraphs (Ahlmeyer et al, 2000).…”