UK to Combat Child Abuse with Mandatory Polygraphs
By Russ Warner, VP Marketing −
U.K. officials use mandatory polygraphs to combat child abuse.
Pedophiles are viewed as some of the worst criminals in the world. Sex crimes against innocent children twist the laws of man and morality and trap children in situations they cannot escape.
Many children that are sexually abused will later go on to need therapy and other assistance to be able to function in daily life. The British government is using technology in a creative way as it strives to discern repeat offenders.
Polygraph Tests for Sex Offenders
Beginning in October 2014, high-risk pedophile offenders in the United Kingdom will be subjected to periodic polygraph tests after their release from jail. This will be a mandatory practice to ensure the pedophile is “not hiding twisted thoughts to re-offend — or worse, moves already made” (Retter 2014). Retter indicated that the polygraph is the new weapon of choice for probationary and law officers to monitor such individuals.
The decision to use lie detector tests on pedophiles has taken a while to make, but forensic psychiatrist Professor Don Grubin indicated that even in trial testing, many dangerous criminals were sent back to jail due to revelations learned from a polygraph exam.
Results of Polygraph Tests
As an example, Grubin cited an incident in which a pedophile was sent back to jail due to the results obtained from his polygraph exam. In this case, the male ex-convict was dating a single mother with a young daughter; he was interacting without supervision with the daughter, who was approximately the same age as the previous victim.
According to the report, the former prisoner would remove his clothing while assisting the daughter in decorating a room in the home. He claimed he did this because the work was messy. However, due to his criminal record, the polygraph report of this behavior got him sent back to jail.
In a different case, another pedophile was caught in a lie with a polygraph test. The deception detected allowed law officers to increase their surveillance of the man, ultimately enabling them to catch him in the act of his next criminal activity.
The results of these polygraph tests are not to be used as evidentiary in court. The tests are used to determine offenders’ designs to recommit criminal acts. While these tests do not prevent initial offences, they are highly effective in curbing repeat behavior.
