Several months ago, my daughter Jane (11 years old at the time) was attending a church function when she suddenly broke down and started crying - she called home and disclosed to me that Joe, a friend's 16-year old son, had touched her inappropriately during a day-long visit to their home a few months prior.  I was shocked - we had known this family for over 10 years - I couldn't fathome that any member of their family could do anything like this.

I immediately called our family counselor and scheduled an emergency session where she disclosed everything that Joe had done to her.  The next day, our counselor reported the incident to the sheriff's office.  Weeks went by, and we were called into the sheriff's office for an interview.  They also interviewed Joe and decided to pursue the case.  After weeks of hearing nothing, we received a call from the sheriff's office - they said that Joe had passed two polygraph tests - one private test at his attorney's office, another at the sheriff's office.  They asked us if Jane (now 12) would take a polygraph.  If she passed, they could pursue action against Joe, otherwise the case would have to be dropped since there was no other evidence.

Relunctant to just drop the issue, I agreed to let them polygraph my daughter - what a mistake that was.  The scheduled 45-60 minute test turned into a 3 1/2 hour ordeal.  They couldn't find child size cuffs, and had to track those down.   She was too short to plce her feet solidly on the ground - they had to find a box for her to rest her feet on.  They had to stop the questioning twice as the cuff was cutting off circulation and her arm was going numb.   

I later found out that many of the questions were accusatory and confusing - "have you ever lied to fit in" or "have you ever told friends that you were abused so you could get sympathy", "have you ever lied to hurt someone when you were mad at them"

When the test was over, they said she failed.  Her answers were "deceptive".  Before discussing the results with me, they disclosed them to her - I guess to see what her reaction would be - she was hysterical when I finally got to see her and she was horribly afraid that I didn't believe her.

For a few minutes I really hoped that she had lyed about the incident - at least then she wouldn't have been abused.  But I could tell, just like I could tell when she first brought this to my attention, that she wasn't lying.  A mother just knows these things.

I'm not sure why I am writing this.  Maybe it's to vent - to complain about a system that just doesn't work - unless there's physical evidence.

Needless to say, I'd like to get opinions from others about the the practices by law enforcement of subjecting 12 year olds to intense interrogation.  How young is too young for an accurate result?  Could the heavy-handed line of questions posed by the polygrapher alter the result?  How could Joe beat two polygraphs?

I feel sorry for what your family has gone through, especially your daughter.  I am confident that in time your wounds will heal if you approach life with a positive attitude and support your daughter through this trying time.

The system is broken in more ways than one.  As I said in a previous post, the accuser and the accused often go through hell at the whim of prosecutors, investigators and defense attorneys who make their living playing these games.

On the one hand we have (had) a legal system that justifiably guarantees rights for the accused, and on the other hand you have the child-saving industry that churns up families on both sides and spits them out with little or no regard for the repercussions.

The fact that the young man took and passed a polygraph says nothing about his guilt or innocence, just as the fact that your daughter failed the polygraph says nothing of her veracity.

I have been falsely accused of touching someone innapropriately and I can tell you from personal experience that the entire investigative system is a complete disaster.  I was asked in for an interview in April of this year about an incident that alledgedly happened in August of last year and still have not heard a word about the results of the investigation or whether or not charges will be filed.

I have been through three months of sleepless nights, unable to concentrate on my work during the day.  My kids have been interviewed by DCFS because the State's Attorney investigator made and "anonymous" call to them (thank God they closed that investigation as unfounded) and all of my friends and neighbors have been interviewed.

Someone even went so far as to post FLIERS on every home on my street and two streets adjacent that stated my name and address and that I was an "alledged child molester".

I now have to move because I cannot allow my children to go to school in the area and be subjected to the cruelty of simple-minded children of simple-minded parents.  Although I have the support of my immediate neighbors, I have noticed strange behavior from others further down the street.  This week I was watering my lawn and noticed a mother and two daughters coming towards my home on their bikes suddenly turn around and head the other way when they would normally continue around the block...as if I would jump out in the street and molest all three of them as they rode by.

Never mind that I have been in this neighborhood for 6 years with no trouble...all of the sudden I am a serial killer to be avoided like the plague.

In a way you should be glad that you can put the entire ordeal behind you.  I wish I had that luxury.