Research and analysis

The evaluation of the mandatory polygraph pilot

This report presents the findings of research commissioned to examine the impact of mandatory polygraph testing for adult sexual offenders.

• From: Ministry of Justice
• Published: 19 July 2012

Documents

The evaluation of the mandatory polygraph pilot

PDF, 500 KB, 69 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email web.comments@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

This report presents the findings of research commissioned to examine the impact of mandatory polygraph testing for adult sexual offenders.

The research sample of offenders were released on probation licence, having served a prison sentence of 12 months or more for a sexual offence. The evaluation compared polygraph sample offenders with a matched control group, and combined quantitative and qualitative methods alongside a preliminary cost-effectiveness analysis.

The findings from the research indicated that mandatory polygraph testing can be an effective tool in the management of adult sexual offenders and may help to elicit more clinically significant disclosures.

Published 19 July 2012