Sexual History Disclosure Polygraph Outcomes: Do Juvenile and Adult Sex Offenders Differ?

Keywords

sexual abuse, child abuse, treatment/intervention, child abuse, offenders, sexual assault, reporting/disclosure, sexual assault

Abstract

Despite the empirical and theoretical chasm between the opponents and proponents of polygraphy, its use is prominent among sex offender agencies in the United States. However, current research on polygraph examination outcomes among juvenile sex offenders, along with potential differences from their adult counterparts, is scarce and outdated. In the present study, we assess the difference between juvenile and adult sex offenders in terms of the propensity for passing a sexual history disclosure polygraph examination. A sample of 324 sex offenders (86 juveniles and 238 adults) who engaged in a sexual history disclosure polygraph examination as part of their treatment in an Intermountain West sex offender treatment agency was used for the analysis. Results from preliminary and logistic regression analyses indicate that juvenile and adult offenders do not significantly differ in the likelihood of passing a sexual history disclosure polygraph examination. Implications and limitations are discussed.

Original Publication Citation

Jensen, T.M.*, Shafer, K., Roby, C.Y., & Roby, J.L. (2015). “Full Disclosure Sexual History Polygraph Outcomes: Do Juvenile and Adult Sex Offenders Differ?” Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 30(6): 928-944.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2014-07-20

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/7209

Publisher

Journal of Interpersonal Violence

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Sociology

University Standing at Time of Publication

Associate Professor

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