Polygraph test
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Has anyone else's person had to do a polygraph test? I've done a search on here and nothing much has come up. My son, as part of his SOR, has been asked to do one, he says he was told about it at the time of his caution. Just wondering if anyone else has had the same.
My OH did one too after sentencing about 3 years ago and it's one of his biggest regrets. All came back as lying despite him knowing he wasn't lying. He never trusted them before and definitely doesn't trust them now. They didn't even ask him questions which were illegal in any way yet his MOSOVO's manager wanted to increase him to high risk from medium as a result. He's had a recent risk assessment with a forensic psychologist through SS proceedings which said he's low risk.
He has since been diagnosed with ADHD and they've asked him to do another now he's had the diagnosis but he's said definitely not. The failed one is still on his file forever despite the ADHD diagnosis and now taking medication for it.
He has since been diagnosed with ADHD and they've asked him to do another now he's had the diagnosis but he's said definitely not. The failed one is still on his file forever despite the ADHD diagnosis and now taking medication for it.
Polygraphs are usually voluntary, although some high risk people are forced to take them, often as a licence condition when they are released from prison.
If he has already received his caution, then he should not agree to a polygraph, but if the police are saying they will only agree to a caution on condition that he takes a polygraph first, then that is more tricky.
They probably cannot force him to take it, but they may decide to bring charges if he refuses.
If he has already received his caution, then he should not agree to a polygraph, but if the police are saying they will only agree to a caution on condition that he takes a polygraph first, then that is more tricky.
They probably cannot force him to take it, but they may decide to bring charges if he refuses.
That's confusing! He was given a caution and 2 years SOR because he is low risk, with only a handful of images. He was told about a polygraph test when he received the caution and also by Stopso and his therapist. Having googled it, it does seem to be something police forces are doing but hardly anyone has mentioned them on this forum so I'm still non the wiser!
It's not until June but I'll let you know how he gets on.
It's not until June but I'll let you know how he gets on.
It was always voluntary for my OH so it's strange that it's not in your son's case. It usually takes a few hours, they ask lots of questions about them first like when they last watched porn etc. Then they go through the questions first so he knows what he's being asked before being connected up. They agreed the questions together.
Once connected up to the polygraph machine, they ask them to lie to a question like their name and then they usually ask the questions 3 times to average out the results. It was 3 questions for my OH about his internet use, like in the last 2 years, has he searched for child (not an indecent image necessarily could literally be a famous child say). This bit only took about 10 minutes. Then they go over the results with the polographer so he knew the outcome straight away.
It might work differently in different areas / police forces but hopefully this gives your son an idea of what to expect as I remember it being completely unknown to us.
Once connected up to the polygraph machine, they ask them to lie to a question like their name and then they usually ask the questions 3 times to average out the results. It was 3 questions for my OH about his internet use, like in the last 2 years, has he searched for child (not an indecent image necessarily could literally be a famous child say). This bit only took about 10 minutes. Then they go over the results with the polographer so he knew the outcome straight away.
It might work differently in different areas / police forces but hopefully this gives your son an idea of what to expect as I remember it being completely unknown to us.
Thank you, that's really helpful and similar to what the police have told him xx