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Outcomes in a Community Sex Offender Treatment Program: A Comparison Between Polygraphed and Matched Non-polygraphed Offenders

Vermont Department of Corrections, 105 Happy Valley Road, Middlebury, VT 05753, USA, rmcgrath{at}sover.net

Georgia F. Cumming

Vermont Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Sexual Abuse, Burlington, VT, USA

Stephen E. Hoke

Vermont Department of Corrections, Middlebury, VT, USA

Marcel O. Bonn-Miller

Department of Psychology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA

This study compared a group of 104 adult male sex offenders who received community cognitive-behavioral treatment, correctional supervision, and periodic polygraph compliance exams with a matched group of 104 sex offenders who received the same type of treatment and supervision services but no polygraph exams. Polygraph exams focused on whether participants were following their conditions of community supervision and treatment and had avoided committing new sexual offenses. The two groups were exact pair-wise matched on three variables: (1) Static-99 risk score (Hanson & Thornton 2000, Law and Human Behavior, 24, 119-136), (2) status as a completer of prison sex offender treatment, and (3) date placed in the community. At fixed 5-year follow-up periods, the number of individuals in the polygraph group charged with committing a new non-sexual violent offense was significantly lower than in the no polygraph group (2.9% versus 11.5%). However, there were no significant between-group differences for the number of individuals charged for new sexual (5.8% versus 6.7%), any sexual or violent (8.7% versus 16.3%), or any criminal offense (39.4% versus 34.6%). The results are discussed in terms of their clinical and research implications.

Key Words: Sex offender • Treatment outcome • Polygraph • Sanction • Community supervision

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Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, Vol. 19, No. 4, 381-393 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/107906320701900404


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by McGrath, R. J. Articles by Bonn-Miller, M. O. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by McGrath, R. J. Articles by Bonn-Miller, M. O. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?