Monitoring paroled offenders ensures they keep up with their probation terms, thereby posing no significant threat to the general community. It’s a proactive way to minimize the risks of violent behaviors during their probationary period.
In many countries and states, polygraph tests have become a common tool for investigating potential parole violations and assessing compliance with post-conviction therapy programs. These evaluations are administered periodically by licensed polygraphers, who then report on their findings to parole officers for further action.
Besides tracking sex offender behavior, lie detector tests can also prove effective in supporting second chances for other parolees, such as recovering addicts.
Role of Polygraphs in Probation
1. Minimizing Risks to the General Community
It’s not uncommon for convicts to display good behavior prior to their release from incarceration, only to end up committing the very crimes they were convicted of.
Administering a lie detector test regularly assesses a parolee’s risk of reoffending.
By subjecting a probationer to a polygraph exam, polygraphers can uncover patterns that suggest the individual poses risks to the community. Parole officers are then able to use the findings to recommend appropriate interventions.
2. Monitoring Compliance
One way to support second chances is by ensuring parolees adhere to the terms of their probation.
While these requirements may appear stringent, they’re often meant to cultivate good behavior in the probationer and enable them to gradually reintegrate into society.
Polygraph evaluations can detect whether an individual is complying with their parole terms. The conditions may include steering clear of certain locations, abstaining from drugs or alcohol, and attending their treatment programs regularly.
3. Investigating Violations
Some parolees may violate their probation terms, but leave little evidence to go on.
In such instances, a polygraph can play a critical role in bridging the gap between truth and suspicion.
Each response to lie detector questions enables polygraphers to impeach or corroborate a parolee’s compliance statement.
Following Procedural Standards
The American Polygraph Association (APA) has established standards for conducting Post-Conviction Sex Offender Testing (PCSOT), which may be extrapolated into other forms of post-conviction testing.
One critical requirement for conducting PCSOT testing is that all evaluations must be administered by examiners who possess additional certification.
To ensure the credibility of PCSOT lie detector tests, probation officers must strictly work with PCSOT-certified examiners.
Navigating Failed Polygraph Tests
Every probation officer hopes their parolees will pass all scheduled post-conviction lie detector tests. However, failing these evaluations isn’t always an indication of deception.
Other common reasons a probationer may fail lie detector tests include:
- Poorly designed exam questions
- Failure by an examinee to disclose a critical detail about the test subject
- Failure by an examinee to fully comprehend a question, perhaps due to a language barrier
- Attempts by a parolee to employ countermeasures
Maintaining Ethical Standards
Before the actual testing (known as the in-test phase), a polygraph examiner must subject the parolee to preliminary interviews and inform them about the forthcoming exam. These pre-tests help establish a rapport with the examinee while affording polygraphers an opportunity to establish crucial baselines. Therefore, probation officers must seek out polygraph examiners who are current on the industry’s procedures and best practices.
Another critical ethical consideration relates to the dissemination of lie detector reports. Findings from post-conviction polygraph testing should strictly be shared with relevant persons, including the parolee themselves and their probation officers.
Needless to mention, a polygraph examinee must willfully submit to a lie detector test. Where a parolee was coerced into being polygraphed, the results are automatically deemed invalid.
Actioning Polygraph Findings
Results from post-conviction polygraph tests can be used by probation officers to impeach or corroborate allegations of parole violations.
Based on the reports, a probation officer can recommend further investigation, intensive counseling, or more stringent supervision.
Note that polygraph findings should only be used where there’s reasonable doubt on the parolee’s conduct.
Averting Parole Violation With Polygraph Tests
Not every conviction comes with the possibility of parole. Whether an individual has been convicted of sexual assault or other crimes, getting them paroled affords them a second opportunity to make amends.
During the parole period, a convict can take stock of the consequences of their crimes and purposely turn over a new leaf.
Scheduling regular polygraph tests helps prevent parole violations, assess the effectiveness of a post-conviction treatment plan, and minimize any danger the individual might pose to society.
