Sex offenders could face compulsory lie detector tests after study reveals success in exposing incriminating evidence - Telegraph.co.uk

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Sex offenders could face compulsory lie detector tests after study reveals success in exposing incriminating evidence - Telegraph.co.uk Posted: 18 Mar 2020 12:00 AM PDT Mandatory lie detector tests for all convicted sex offenders have been recommended after a police chiefs' study found the technology was at least six times more likely to reveal incriminating evidence. The study by Kent University for the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) found police or probation officers using the polygraphs - or lie detectors - were able to elicit more incriminating "sexual" disclosures from the offenders than if they had simply interviewed them. The so-called "risk-relevant disclosures" - obtained after the offenders were asked about their sexual interests and access to children - could then be investigated by police and probation officers, potentially leading to tougher restrictions on their movements to protect the public. Convicted offenders currently under supervision by the police were the biggest group tested with more 500 in the sample. Half of them underwent polygraph tests and were found to be six times more likely to make an incriminating disclosure than the other half who were simply interviewed. Individuals suspected of online sex offences and under investigation by police were found to be seven times more likely to disclose incriminating evidence than the "control" group asked questions without the polygraphs. However, among 104 sex offenders who were applying to have restrictions lifted, they were a remarkable 42.5 times more likely to make at least one "risk relevant" disclosure. Chief Constable Michelle Skeer, the NPCC's Lead for the Management of Sexual and Violent Offenders, said: "This research has found that polygraph testing leads to more disclosures from registered sex offenders and recommends the introduction of mandatory tests for convicted sex offenders as being the most effective method of monitoring them by police. "We will give this research careful consideration alongside others in policing and the Home Office as the recommendation would require a change in the law." The option to use lie detector tests on serious sex offenders on parole in England and Wales has been in place since 2007 but, since 2014, mandatory tests can be attached to an offender's release conditions. Currently, seven police forces in England and Wales use them with existing sex offenders and occasionally suspects, but this remains voluntary. The Government's proposed new laws on domestic abuse Lie detectors - or polygraphs - measure a number of bodily responses, such as blood pressure or sweaty palms, to detect traits associated with lying. Advocates claim that when carried out by professionals in the right conditions, the accuracy is estimated to be between 80 and 90 per cent. Jane Wood, professor of forensic psychology at Kent University, said: "Polygraph testing, regardless of whether voluntary or mandatory, elicits more information relevant to risk.  "However, this applies only if polygraph tests go ahead. Our findings show that when randomly assigned to voluntary polygraph testing, many individuals refuse to take the test." Police rated the polygraphs highly, scoring  them 5.75 out of 7 for their use in supervising offenders, (5.24 out of 7) for suspects, and (6.13 out of 7) for applicants. They also said they wanted to continue using the polygraph as an aid to supervision and application decisions.

Wolfforth man arrested on indecency charges - LubbockOnline.com Posted: 29 Mar 2020 07:47 PM PDT A 40-year-old man was arrested Wednesday in connection with a Wolfforth police investigation into allegations he sexually abused a 15-year-old girl. Marcus Garza was booked into the Lubbock County Detention Center on a charge of indecency with a child by sexual contact, a second-degree felony that carries a punishment of two to 20 years in prison. According to an arrest warrant, Wolforth police officers responded to an April 7, 2019, sexual assault report and spoke to the mother of a 15-year-old girl, who said her daughter told her that Garza gave her alcohol and sexually abused her. The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal does not identify victims or alleged victims of sexual abuse. The girl spoke to a forensic interviewer at the Children's Advocacy Center in Lubbock the next day and recounted multiple episodes of inappropriate behavior from Garza. The girl said in the beginning of the year, she said Garza reportedly showed her how to secretly watch pornogrpahy and bought her sex toys, the warrant states. Then on Feb. 26, 2019, when she stayed home from school and her mother was out of town, she said Garza reportedly gave her two alcoholic drinks and put on a pornographic video on the television. As the alcohol began making her drowsy, she said she felt Garza lift her shirt and touch her chest inappropriately. Then, she said, Garza asked her to perform a sexual act on him. The girl told the interviewer that she complied with Garza's request because she was afraid he would prey on her younger siblings. She said a few days later Garza reportedly sexually assaulted her when the two were alone in a bedroom, the warrant states. Garza spoke to investigators and denied the allegations and said he didn't know why the girl made her outcry, the warrant states. He admitted to buying sex toys, but said they weren't for the girl. According to the warrant, he initially agreed to take a lie-detector test, but canceled the appointment upon the advice of his lawyer, Mark Snodgrass, the warrant states. A warrant for Garza was issued on March 18. He was released from the jail Thursday on bond set at $20,000, according to jail records.

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