If someone has been convicted of a crime, it can be difficult to see them in a positive light. It’s even harder if the individual is serving term for a heinous offense, such as aggravated murder or rape.
Studies on inmate stigma have shown that the public perception of prisoners varies depending on the crimes they’re convicted of. Petty offenders are more likely to be integrated into the community than hard-core criminals.
However, everyone deserves a second chance. That opportunity may come in the form of finding true love, albeit while behind bars.
Suppose you’ve fallen head over heels with an incarcerated offender and feel like the relationship should advance to another level. In that case, it’s best to establish if the individual has turned over a new leaf before saying ‘I do.’ One reliable way to assess genuine behavior change is by administering polygraph tests.
However, it’s worth noting that polygraph is best utilized to test the inmate’s intentions and purpose for being in the relation in the first place.
Here’s a guide to the role of lie detector tests in prison marriages.
Benefits of Polygraph Tests While Dating an Inmate
1. Assessing Behavioral Change
Polygraphs play a critical role in detecting whether an inmate has truly walked away from their past.
The results obtained from a lie detector test enable a polygraph examiner to draw reliable inferences about the examinee’s credibility.
2. Gauging the Impact of Past Crimes on Your Love Life
Assume a convict is serving five years for assaulting their former partner on claims of infidelity. While such crimes may appear morally defensible, they speak volumes about the offender’s strong views on love and relationships.
Administering a lie detector test can help predict an individual’s natural response to emotive relationship issues, such as unfaithfulness.
3. Allaying Infidelity Doubts
Inmates exchange letters with dozens of other pen pals. There’s a decent chance that you’re not the only one they’re purporting to give their hearts to.
By conducting an infidelity lie detector test, you can uncover if your love interest is in other romantic relationships. Any hint of infidelity is your cue to end the relationship.
Significance of Conducting Reliable Tests
While polygraphs can provide invaluable clues into your partner’s character and personality, the assessments are only reliable if professionally conducted.
Insist on having all lie detector tests undertaken by an experienced examiner.
A qualified polygrapher will make prior contact with the examinee to prepare them for each lie detector test. This stage is known as the pre-test phase, and it also entails establishing crucial physiological baselines against which the actual test findings will be gauged.
Next comes the in-test phase. Here, the examiner will ask several questions to determine if the respondent is a safe bet or high risk for a romantic relationship.
The polygraph test culminates in the post-test phase, where the examiner analyzes the responses and draws a conclusion regarding truthfulness or deception.
Managing the Frequency of Polygraph Tests
The reliability of polygraph tests partly depends on the testing frequency.
While periodic testing may offer more reliable insights into an individual’s conduct, experts warn against scheduling multiple lie detector tests too close together because of habituation.
The ideal frequency would be once or twice annually, or at most once every three months. This improves the testing accuracy by minimizing habituation.
Case Studies on the Role of Polygraphs in Nurturing Relationships
One couple recounts how submitting to a polygraph exam pulled their marriage from the brink.
In a confession published in the New York Times, the couple observes that infidelity allegations almost tore their relationship apart. It was not until they took the polygraph test that they managed to reestablish trust in their relationship.
While none of the partners was an inmate, the case study underscores how lie detector tests can restore confidence in relationships riddled by doubts and uncertainty.
Levering Other Expert Advice While Actioning Polygraph Results
Polygraphs aren’t 100% accurate. The evaluations may often produce false positives or false negatives.
In certain cases, a lie detector test may be deemed inconclusive altogether.
So, it’s important to rely on the advice of inmate monitoring professionals alongside polygraph results.
Even if an examinee has passed a lie detector test, inquire from correctional officers about their overall conduct. You can then determine if the individual is truly credible or if they’re potentially being manipulative.
The Need for an Open Mind in the Relationship
Saying ‘I do’ to an incarcerated convict isn’t the end of the world. If the inmate managed to scam their way into your heart, it won’t be long before you notice red flags.
Watch out for signs of abuse and seek relationship counseling immediately. Domineering attitudes, unpredictable temper, and violent outbursts are your cue to seek urgent intervention.
If relationship therapy doesn’t work, it’s best to call off the union before matters come to a head.
Allaying Reoffense Fears With Polygraph Tests
Administering polygraphs to convicted offenders is highly recommended before walking down the aisle with an inmate. In fact, it’s best to conduct lie detector tests at various points of your courtship.
Polygraph results can provide invaluable clues on whether your potential partner has had a genuine behavior change or is simply taking your affection for granted.
Moreover, lie detector tests help to assess the risks of re-offense. This is particularly important for inmates serving shorter jail terms. It enables you to manage your expectations better when the individual is eventually freed from prison and into your tender arms.
