Post-Conviction Sex Offender Polygraph Tests (PCSOT) in 2017
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Training Description
Much has occurred from the first use of ‘Clinical Polygraph’ in the 1970’s to current polygraph applications for treatment & supervision of sex offenders. Post-Conviction Sex Offender Polygraph Tests (PCSOT)has evolved from an American phenomenon to Europe and Asia, resulting in many questions about PCSOT dependability, utility, accuracy, test methodology, and future applications. The leader in addressing these questions is the American Polygraph Association (APA) and most organizations designing or re-designing PCSOT programs now require compliance with APA standards. This training will clarify what distinguishes pre-conviction validated, diagnostic tests from post-conviction screening procedures that have minimal scientific support yet yield great utility. Several United States Courts have weighed PCSOTs value to treatment and supervision professionals against allegations of intrusiveness, violations of privacy, and self-incrimination resulting in closer scrutiny of PCSOT applicability. Presenters will identify the current seven APA tests for community based supervision and distinguished those applicable to civil commitment and institutional settings. The presenters will address PCSOT innovations including guidelines for verifying sexual thoughts and fantasies. Current PCSOT research will be reviewed and guidelines established for users to understand when PCSOT results are and are not best utilized, and when policies are consistent with best practices and incorporate most recent science. The importance for treatment and supervision officials to understand the limitations of PCSOT and Civil Commitment Institutional Testing (CCIT), a sub-specialty of PCSOT will be noted. Both presenters are innovative supporters but at times critics of PCSOT.
Trainer Biographies
Eric J. “Rick” Holden, M.A., L.P.C. is President of the Behavioral Measures Companies in the United States; co-founder with Professor Don Grubin, M.D. ofthe Behavioural Measures U.K. and Behavioural Measures U.K. Polygraph Training Centre in England; and past-President of the American Polygraph Association (APA). He has been a licensed Polygraph Examiner 44 years and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas. His professional career includes a Psychologist with the Texas Department of Corrections,a Psychometrist with the Texas Rehabilitation Commission, and Clinical Director of an NIMH community mental health center in Texas.From 1994-1998 Mr. Holden co-chaired the Joint Polygraph Committee on Offender Testing (JPCOT), a Texas multi-disciplinary committee that drafted guidelines for ‘clinical polygraph testing’ in Texas. From 2007-2009 he chaired the APA committee that adopted the current PCSOT guidelines. Mr. Holden is published and a member of several professional associations including the Society for Psychophysiological Research (SPR).
Eric “Jay” Holdenstarted with Behavioral Measures in 2004 after completing a bachelor’s degree and APA accredited polygraph school training. His career began at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division working with maximum security inmate populations. After joining the Behavioral Measures Companies as a polygraph examiner, Jay became Training Coordinator for the Behavioral Measures Institute before re-locating to England to conduct polygraph examinations for a British Government PCSOT research project directed by Professor Don Grubin, M.D. with the University of Newcastle. Currently Jay serves as Managing Director of Behavioral Measures Midwest in Wisconsin and is Chief Examiner at the Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center, Mauston, Wisconsin where he works daily with clinical staff and civilly committed patient populations. He is published in PCSOT and a member of the APA.
Learning Objectives
This training is designed to help you:
- To distinguish pre-conviction, validated, diagnostic tests from post-conviction screening procedures that lack scientific support yet yield great utility
- To review how United States courts currently address PCSOT examinations as treatment and supervision tools with sex offender populations
- To understand when PCSOT results are and are not best utilized; when they are consistent with best practices; and when they incorporate most recent scientific findings
- To identify the limitations of PCSOT and when and how to best utilize them
- To understand Civil Commitment Institutional Testing and issues associated with institutional testing
