The Dobbs Wire: Exposed: – high-priced JUNK SCIENCE in Colorado – ‘lie detectors’
High-priced ‘junk science’ in Colorado: A Denver Post investigative reporter, Christopher Osher, has a very interesting and detailed report about Colorado’s “aggressive” use of polygraph tests on persons convicted of sex offenses. Considered unreliable *junk science,* the results nonetheless help determine the fate of those subjected to the tests. Colorado is not alone; an estimated 70% of states are using polygraphs in sex offense cases. Why are these dubious and expensive ‘lie detectors’ so irresistible to officials? A separate story delves into the state’s decision-making process and follows the money! Kudos to Christopher Osher and editors at the Denver Post for this in-depth coverage. –Bill Dobbs, The Dobbs Wire
Denver Post | May 14, 2017
Colorado’s pricey polygraph testing of sex offenders under fire as critics target accuracy, expense
Psychologist calls state’s $5 million polygraph program “grossly excessive” as state legislature examines cost
By CHRISTOPHER N. OSHER
Excerpts: Colorado has spent more than $5 million to administer polygraphs on convicted sex offenders over the last seven years despite concerns that the tests are so unreliable they can’t be used as evidence during civil or criminal trials. Critics contend an entrenched and profitable cottage industry, rife with conflicts of interests, has grown up around polygraphing sex offenders in Colorado.
Polygraphs help officials decide which prisoners convicted of sex offenses are suited for release from prison by probing their sexual history, attitudes about their crimes and whether they are committing new offenses. They also guide how offenders on parole or probation are supervised. Studies show that up to 70 percent of U.S. states polygraph sex offenders, but experts have testified that Colorado uses the tests aggressively, even polygraphing juvenile offenders for consensual sexting.
“To me, there is no question that it borders on a scam,” said Senate President pro tem Jerry Sonnenberg, R-Sterling. “We incentivize the people who give the polygraph tests to have inconclusive results so an offender has to go back and pay for another one on a more regular basis.”
“The polygraph really gives useful information,” said Lenny Woodson, administrator for the Colorado Department of Corrections’ Sex Offender Treatment and Monitoring Program.
But a bipartisan cross-section of legislators and a retired judge have joined with offenders and their families to question the validity of the tests. They contend too much weight is placed on what they argue is little more than junk science.
In addition to the legislators, C. Dennis Maes, former chief judge of Pueblo District Court, has criticized the use of polygraphs in Colorado. “The Constitution was designed to protect those that might be the most easily attacked by the government, even sex offenders. You don’t see polygraphs in any other area of the law. You can be the most prolific bad-check writer ever and you don’t have to take them, but you do if you’re a sex offender.” MORE:
Denver Post | May 14, 2017
Professional polygrapher holds position of power on state’s sex-offender treatment board
Jeff Jenks’ firm will receive $1.9 million to test sex offenders in Colorado prisons as he sits on the Colorado Sex Offender Management Board
By CHRISTOPHER N. OSHER
A professional polygrapher has an influential role in rewriting the rules in Colorado for how often their profession conducts lie-detector testing on sex offenders, an arrangement that critics have called a conflict of interest.
Colorado will pay Jeff Jenks’ Wheat Ridge polygraph firm, Amich & Jenks Inc., up to $1.9 million to polygraph sex offenders in prison from 2010 to 2020, according to state contracts. Jenks is a member of the Colorado Sex Offender Management Board, a 25-member group that writes the rules on how sex offenders are managed. He has defended the use of polygraphs and also voted on polygraph issues the full board decided.
Laurie Kepros, director of sexual litigation for the state public defender, said she has unsuccessfully tried to get the committee to review research showing polygraphs do little to keep individuals convicted of sex crimes from reoffending. “The studies that do exist show no statistical reduction in sexual recidivism,” Kepros said. If it’s so important that we spend so much money on polygraphs, why don’t we have any data supporting it?”
“To ask polygraphers to decide and vote and have power over how much polygraphy is appropriate in a particular area is perhaps a fool’s errand because they aren’t going to have a very impartial view,” said Sen. Daniel Kagan, D-Denver, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, during a recent legislative hearing. “Yet, we are allowing polygraphers to play a large role in deciding how much polygraphy is appropriate in sex-offender treatment.” MORE:
http://www.denverpost.com/2017/05/14/polygrapher-conflict-of-interest/
I have been taking and passing an annual polygraph at my expense here in Florida for years, to no avail. It means absolutely nothing other than a ‘check in the block’ for probation. If it means nothing, then the use of and requirement for it should be terminated.
From personal experience, I can guarantee polygraph examinations conducted regarding emotionally charged issues can “indicate deception” when the individual is absolutely truthful. No matter how many times the polygraph examination is conducted, the results will continue to “indicate deception” when the subject is being absolutely truthful. I learned that just as the justice system is flawed, so are polygraph examinations.
I was only on probation for 4 years, But took atleast 5 polygraph tests. At first I challenged having to take them(I challenged everything !!!). Using the fact that they were not usable in Court !. A little back info, I’ve NEVER taken a Polygraph Test before Probation, And after refusing to take them and risking a Violation, I took several tests, I LIED ON PURPOSE about minor things (nothing pertaining to sex !!.) and STILL PASSED EVERY TEST !! I even told the Polygraph Examiner that I LIED, Or was GOING to LIE and somehow I still passed EVERY TEST !!. This just goes to show (prove) how UNRELIABLE a Polygraph Test is !!. My Probation officer slipped up and told me that it’s all about the money !!. They are trying to find ANY way to burden a EX Offender !!. Most of the Rules and “Conditions” of Probation are set up for the Offender to FAIL !!!. My Father used to Be the Head of Probation in Polk County (many years ago) and he told me that a Probation officer is SUPPOSED to HELP the Offender reiterate back into society, And do WHATEVER the Judge Orders. But today, The Judge answers to Probation, And a Probation Officers job now is to VIOLATE a EX Offender and Lock them up !!!!. The very first words my Probation officer ever said to me was, I’m gonna put you in Prison !!!. She knew my Dad !!. And she Dang Sure Tried !. 7 V.O.P’s in 4 years, I beat every one. But somehow my “Adjucation Witheld” became a “Convicted” and because I didn’t have the money to hire an Attorney and too many years have passed, I’m stuck as a Convicted Felon. When I have paperwork PROVING I’m NOT. Florida is CROOKED and doesn’t care about Laws and Rules, They do what they want !!!.
This needs to go viral!
If any S.O fails a polygraph test they can go to the county county house-file a $10.000 lawsuit against the polygraph co. for business fraud demanding that they prove through actual facts-evidence that they supposedly lied on the test. What I have found is the co. will basically delete the test-it is no longer valid if the lawsuit is dropped.
Years ago my polygrapher intimated that I was having an affair or trying to have one with a youth in church. I put $1,000 on the table and told him and my counselor that if they could come up with just one name in six months the $1,000 was their’s. I asked them to also ante up $1,000. Their response was to get angry. Of course the allegation based on the ‘phony’ polygraph was totally false. Yes, one can have marginal results if one takes the test feeling anger toward the system or has good reason to believe that the person giving the test probably couldn’t pass it. I was given a test many years ago by a female polygrapher in Virginia. There was little doubt in my mind that she was a pervert and got her ‘jollies’ by asking some of the questions and listening to the answers. One can be falsely accused based on a polygraph failure, but just pass a polygraph test and the results may end up as a piece of paper in some file cabinet. Florida didn’t even have the decency to forward each year’s results to Virginia. The longer Virginia can be kept in the ‘blind’ the more Florida can legally steal $360 a month from me.
I have taken 9 polygraphs and passed all. it’s all about the money.
they told me I would get 190 years. so I took probation got 20 years
got off after 10years and 6mo. I have new info trying to save money
ant: I keep hopping some day I will be free. I to am a vet.
I recently finished my second polygraph test (called a “maintenance” examination.) It costs $200.00 out of my pocket in Florida each time an examination is taken. It costs me $80.00/month to see the psychologist (mandated by probation). So far, I don’t have to pay to register (4 times a year), but I’m expecting that is going to come next.
I was just wondering, do all felons prior to completing probation have to make such payments?
Money, intimidation, and control….My son told me some of the things they ask are disgusting.