Treatment Satisfaction in a Civil Commitment Facility for Sexually Violent Persons

Evaluating patient satisfaction in therapeutic settings is consistent with a Risk–Needs–Responsivity (RNR) model. This study provides results from a program improvement initiative in a sexually violent person (SVP) civil commitment facility that queried patients and treatment providers about their satisfaction with therapeutic processes and assessment methods. Overall, patients reported high levels of satisfaction with treatment at the facility, with the highest levels of satisfaction on items about being treated with kindness and respect and staff acting professionally. Providers rated current assessment methods such as the Penile Plethysmography (PPG) assessment, polygraph testing, and neuropsychological testing as most helpful for patients in treatment progress; however, patients rated PPG assessment and polygraph testing as the least helpful of the assessments conducted. Soliciting patient feedback periodically could be important for maintaining treatment engagement and discovering opportunities to enhance patient satisfaction to treatment in a SVP civil commitment setting.

Certains aspects of using a lies detector for the investigation of crimes

The author describes particular theoretical aspects of psychophysiological research with the help of a lie detector, and their role in the investigation of crimes. The research object is the current condition of the theory and practice of using a polygraph. The research subject is the problems of using the results of lie detector testing, their interpretation and role in criminal investigation. The purpose of the research is to study the principles of using, and the options of a lie detector and polygraph examiners, and to define the importance of such a type of research for the investigation of crimes. The research methodology is based on general scientific research methods including analysis and generalization, and specific methods: observation and analysis of psychodiagnostic research. The scientific novelty of the research consists in the comprehensive analysis of the theory and practice of using a polygraph based on the case studies of particular investigations. The author arrives at the conclusion about a further analysis of legal, technical and practical problems of using a polygraph in criminal proceedings, for the purpose of the consideration of the idea about the legislative consolidation of such a research as a proof, which determines the importance of the topic of the research. The practical importance consists in the possibility to use the research results during the evaluation of the polygraph testing and the consideration of the examiner’s report as a proof in the criminal investigation.    

Some aspects of improving the legal regulation of civil service in Ukraine

The article studies some aspects of improving the legal regulation of civil service in Ukraine. Domestic norms that provide for the application of restrictions on civil servants in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On Purification of Government” were analyzed. Moreover, it was found that such restrictions violate a person’s right to respect for private life. The procedure for assessing the performance of civil servants was studied. It was substantiated that the application of dismissal of civil servants as a result of receiving a negative assessment after the performance appraisal does not meet the principles of individuality, objectivity and proportionality when deciding on dismissal and general norms concerning disciplinary liability of civil servants provided by the Law of Ukraine “About civil service”. The experience of legal regulation of civil service in Poland, Moldova and Germany was analyzed. It was determined that the improvement of domestic legal regulation of civil service in some part may occur through the borrowing of those peculiarities of civil service, which are found in the legislation of the abovementioned countries. For example, the experience of the Republic of Poland is useful for borrowing in terms of improving the performance appraisal of civil servants. Moldova’s experience shows the successful use of polygraph testing of civil servants. The German experience is useful for Ukraine in terms of training and retraining of civil servants. Proposals were presented to improve the legislation on the civil service, namely the application of reprimands, rather than dismissal due to a negative assessment of the results of the civil servant’s performance appraisal. It is suggested to amend the lustration legislation, which would provide for an individual approach to a person who will be lustrated if his guilt in making decisions, committing acts that contributed to the undemocratic regime of Viktor Yanukovych is proved.

GENDER DIFFERENCES EXAMINED IN THE PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL EVALUATION IN RESPECT OF THE PRISON STUFF ACROSS THE SERVICE

В статье рассматриваются актуальные вопросы обследования на полиграфе мужчин и женщин - сотрудников уголовно-исполнительной системы в рамках кадровых перемещений. С учетом имеющихся в психологической науке данных описывается ряд характерологических особенностей, в которых были обнаружены традиционные гендерные различия. Акцентируется внимание на учете специалистом-полиграфологом типовых моделей поведения обследуемых в процессе предтестовой беседы и тестирования на полиграфе с позиций гендерных различий персонала уголовно-исполнительной системы. Приведена практика проведения специальных психофизиологических исследований в отношении мужчин и женщин - сотрудников УФСИН России по Томской области, назначаемых на должности среднего начальствующего состава. Составлен психологический портрет усредненного профиля обследуемых по результатам психодиагностического обследования и инструментальной детекции лжи с применением полиграфа. При взаимодействии со специалистом-полиграфологом для обследуемых женщин характерен выбор демонстративной модели поведения, для мужчин характерен выбор сдержанно-корректного стиля поведения. Выявлена взаимосвязь между выбором модели поведения обследуемого на полиграфе лица и пола специалиста, осуществляющего опрос. Формулируется вывод о том, что учет гендерных различий обследуемых окажет помощь специалисту-полиграфологу в плане прогноза поведения тестируемых сотрудников в процессе полиграфной проверки, позволит сузить круг намеренно скрываемых ими факторов риска. The article deals with topical issues of polygraph examination of men and women employees of the criminal Executive system in the framework of personnel transfers. Taking into account the data available in psychological science, a number of characterological features are described, in which traditional gender differences were found. Attention is paid to the consideration by a polygraph specialist of typical behavior patterns in the process of pre-test conversation and polygraph testing from the perspective of gender differences in the personnel of the penal system. The practice of conducting special psychophysiological research in relation to men and women - employees of the Federal penitentiary service of Russia in the Tomsk region, appointed to the positions of middle management staff. A psychological portrait of the average profile of the subjects was compiled based on the results of psychodiagnostic examination and instrumental lie detection using a polygraph. When interacting with a specialist polygraph examiner, women are characterized by the choice of a demonstrative behavior model, while men are characterized by the choice of a reserved and correct behavior style. The relationship between the choice of the behavior model of the person being examined on a polygraph and the gender of the specialist conducting the survey is revealed. The conclusion is formulated that taking into account the gender differences of the subjects will help the polygraph specialist in terms of predicting the behavior of tested employees in the process of polygraph testing, will narrow the range of deliberately hidden risk factors.

Not ‘Very English’ - on the Use of the Polygraph by the Penal System in England and Wales

One of the most striking developments in the penal system in England and Wales is the increasing use of the polygraph by probation services. Despite severe criticism from scientific institutions and academic discourse, the legal order increasingly deploys the long-discredited polygraph in order to extract adverse statements from released offenders. Our article is structured as follows: First, we summarise the statutory and regulatory framework for the current use of the polygraph in the monitoring of sex offenders released on licence, and the proposed expansion of the polygraph testing regime as set out in the Domestic Abuse Bill and the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Bill respectively. We then review our findings in respect of governing policies and procedures uncovered by our FOI-based research, highlighting the concerning lack of consistency in respect of both practice and procedure. In the subsequent sections we set out the main arguments deployed by polygraph proponents, and posit our view that none of these arguments can withstand scrutiny. We conclude by proposing a moratorium on any further use of the polygraph by the State, in order to thoroughly evaluate its effect on the integrity of the legal order, human rights and, more generally, the Rationalist aspirations of the penal system. In addition, and given already existing law, we propose a process of independent oversight and scrutiny of the use of the polygraph in licence recall decisions and other situations impacting individual rights, especially police investigations triggered by polygraph test results.

THE USE OF POLYGRAPH TESTING RESULTS IN CRIMINAL CASE PROVING

The article analyzes the practice of application of psycho-physiological polygraph examinations and testing in proving on various stages of criminal proceedings (on the example of operations of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation). Two procedural forms of such testing have emerged the expert’s report and the specialist’s report. The author notes the difficulties arising during the evaluation of such evidence by a court. The number of cases when reports of polygraph examiners are treated as evidence reduces. At the same time, polygraph is frequently used on criminal case initiation and pre-trial examination stages, and not only for the tactical purposes, but also in the process of proving.