Post Conviction Sex Offender Testing (PCSOT)

Handling sex offenders post-conviction is a challenge for all parties. One approach is containment. Using this approach, when the offender is released on probation, a treatment provider/probation officer/polygraph examiner are established as a team. The three communicate and work with the offender during his or her time on probation. This is collaborative in nature.

Back in 1973, Judge John C. Beatty of Portland, Oregon first required polygraph and probation. In 1994, Texas formalized its efforts. And in 1998, the Joint Polygraph Committee on Offender Testing published its first guidelines.

To support the goal of Community Safety PCSOT has operational objectives which include:

• Disclosure of problem behavior that will be of value to professionals who work with convicted sex offenders,
• Deterrence of problem behavior among convicted sex offenders, will increase the likelihood that offenders who engage in such behaviors will be more readily brought to the attention of supervision and treatment professionals, and
• Detection of involvement in or abstinence from problem behavior will alert supervision and treatment professionals to any escalation in the level of threat to the community or potential victims of sexual abuse.

Index/Instant Offense exam

• This examination is an event-specific polygraph for examinees who deny any or all important aspects of the allegations pertaining to their present sex offense crime(s) of conviction.  The specific Issue test is also used if there is a specific event in question, such as re-offending, or failure to follow one or more of the supervision guidelines.

Maintenance exam

• This test is to thoroughly investigate, either periodically or randomly, the examinee’s compliance with any of the designated terms and condition of probation, parole, and treatment rules.

Sexual History exams I and II

• This examination is used to verify the accuracy of the offender's disclosure of his/her sexual history to the treatment provider. It is also used to investigate the examinee’s history of involvement in unknown or unreported offenses and other sexual compulsivity, sexual pre-occupation, or sexual deviancy behaviors.

Disclosure Over Sexual History

• The purpose is to verify full and complete disclosure of sexual history for treatment purposes. A sexual history questionnaire, completed by the offender and approved by the treatment provider must be submitted to the polygraph examiner before the examination.

Monitoring exam

• This test covers any sexual re-offending and any other illegal sexual behavior for a designated time period since being on probation/parole.

Verbal results of the examination are available directly after the test. A verbal report may also be made to the requesting agency at that time. A full written report is typically available to the treatment team within one working day.