N.J. Study: Polygraph tests useful in managing sex offenders
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
By: Phil Gregory
philgregorynews@gmail.com
A study finds polygraph testing of sex offenders in New Jersey can help detect problem behavior and improve public safety.
The New Jersey State Parole Board began polygraph testing two years ago for sex offenders under lifetime monitoring. Researcher Heather Tubman-Carbone concludes that testing makes a big difference.
Tubman-Carbone: It benefits supervision and it benefits treatment because we can know what the offenders are doing. We know what's going on in their lives. We know who they offend against which studies tell us we didn't know that before. We know their triggers. Basically we know their M-O. We know where they're going to look for people. We know how they're going to plan their offenses and sex offenders are planners.
Only 400 tests have been conducted by the state's 11 polygraph officers, and officials are hoping to expand the program.