In 2008, I was found guilty of a sex offense (non violent and not involving minors). Years ago, the political
winds   within   the   Commonwealth   of   Virginia   shifted   toward
'rehabilitation'  and  instituted  mandatory  programs  for  all   sex
offenders within specific counties. Hence, this past December,  I  was court  ordered to complete a 
sex  offenders  programs  in  Fairfax
County, Fairfax, Virginia  given  by:  The  Center  for  Clinical  and
Forensic Services ( CCFS).

Part of the requirement of  these  sex  offender  groups  is  to  take
polygraphs on  a  continual  basis,  the  first  being  a  history  to
determine a complete background on one's habits. This is followed by a
series of regular scheduled maintenance polygraphs to  determine  that
the individual has maintained compliance to all rules and  regulations
during the past period (give or take four to six months).

My first test, a history, was determined to be a overall ‘inconclusive” (eventhough some questions were scored as “not deceptive” and some were scored as “inconclusive”) which is seen as a failure in the eyes of probation and the CCFS. Knowing that I had  told  the  truth  (as  I  had
nothing else left to hide) I started the process of understanding what
the polygraph was all about. Having a solid background in science, I left no stone unturned.

I began to find out that the first order of  deception  was  the  test
itself (read: the silly card tricks to insult  your  intelligence  and
hopefully convince you of the empirically sound  science  involved  in
the device). I began to understand that having certain  disorders  can
ultimately give physiological responses that appear  as  deception  or
that people can be asked questions in such  manners  as  to  give  off
physiological changes that may be inferred as  deception  even  though
there is no guilt whatsoever.

The following 'make-up' test (another $300.00 to the newly found cash-
cow of polygraphy) was deceptive this time. no  changes  in  the
questions. This time 2 questions were “extremely deceptive” and the 3rd was “not deceptive”.  It found it interesting, that this time (3 months later) I scored “extremely deceptive” to certain history questions and I showed “no deception” just 3 months prior. That means I was not attracted to minors 3 months ago but now 3 months later I am. This confirms the unreliability and inconsistency of the polygraphs and shows why that are not admissible in court under normal circumstances. 

I communicated with both probation officer and  therapist  that I was being completely honest and put my total history on the table to no avail. Once again, my concerns were ignored and threats were made to violate and that my restrictions (9pm curfew,  GPS ankle bracelet, unable to visit father out of town whom was diagnosed with cancer, etc would stay in place). 

During my next meeting with my PO, I mentioned the overwhelming  pricing
of the polygraph and wanted to again talk about the deception  of  the
test itself but was immediately shut down. (I am getting a  reputation
as a 'squeaky wheel' rather than a person seeking truth.)

Of the 10 people in my group, I am the  only  one  that seems to be knowledgeable about the “issues” with the polygraph. I believe the others  feel  it
is safer to remain passive  and  simply  take  the  test,  suffer  the
results, and continue shelling out unrealistic  amounts  of  money  to
pseudo-science mongerers. Part of the requirement for  competing  this
program is to have two maintenance  tests  passed  which  I  think  is
absolutely ridiculous. The tests are so subjective and  honesty  about
the results compromised by the financial incentives involved,  I  feel
that a person receiving two passed maintenance polygraphs is  strongly
controlled. (read: it is more important to have a firm  grasp  on  the
sex offender's wallet). I also believe they attempt to console you into making a confession and being on your side and as soon as that comes up they will have the police at your front door.

I am looking for legal advice on this issue  but  also  hope  to
bring a few others out of the 'taboo  closet'  that  our  culture  has
created around  sexuality.  Sex  offenders  are  looked  upon  as  the
'bottom-feeders' of society, even  worse  than  a  person  that  takes
another's life. I have my pictured/address/job posted online, 9pm curfew, no alcohol, no travel, endless amounts of $ just stay at ground zero in treatment. While sex offenses are diverse and varying  in  detail
and purpose, it takes listening to understand each individual's story.
Unfortunately, because of the  witchhunt/crusade  we  have  chosen  to
undertake against  sex  offenders  in  general  today,  listening  and
understanding about something so fundamental to our nature and  reason
for being here today is lost.

I very seriously question the purpose of any sex offender program that
marries itself to a device such as the polygraph.  It  is  truly  myth
married to myth and  when  this  happens,  credibility  regarding  the
fundamental  direction  (read:  rehabilitation)  diminishes.  This  is
unfortunate  for  those  (like  myself)  who   are   seeking   serious
introspection into our human nature and divorcing ourselves from  many
degenerative belief systems.

So what might be the true purpose behind programs that are for  people
that offend others sexually? There are answers and  we  only  have  to
open the door slightly to begin to understand.

There is another message that is being  conveyed  to  anyone  that  is
subjected to the induction of the polygraph into any program:

"You are stupid and we (the polygraph machine) will take advantage  of
and exploit your ignorance to our advantage."

To make matters worse, they sell their wares via  the  countenance  of
local  and  state  governments.  Granted,  if  a  polygraph  test  can
intimidate, harass and exploit your  ignorance  to  the  point  of  a
confession, then fundamentally, pseudo-science aside, (and banking  on
your ignorance), it is a tool that is  cost  efficient.  This  is  the
reason that it is endorsed today but no reason to call it scientific.

Go beyond having  your  intelligence  insulted  and  become  proactive
against the polygraph. To others in my group or similar groups, I  ask
that you assert what you believe to be the  difference  between  right
and wrong, after all, that is the root of what rehabilitation  is  all
about: knowing the difference between the two and subscribing  to  the
acceptable cultural standards. To remain passive when  you  know  that
there are questionable practices surrounding you, is  not  progressive
and will only worsen your ability  to  approach  and  confront  life's
stage of actors and clowns tomorrow.

I ask now for others to take a positive first step  and  weigh  in  on
this  growing  exploitation  of  the  populace's  ignorance  of   such
contrived 'science'.
The thing that makes me suspicious is that in March I was approved to no got to CCFS. I was still receiving  voluntary treatment. The PO violated a few months based on failed polygraph, faulty alerts by GPS eventhough I had witnesses showing the GPS gave off false alerts. Now after going into CCFS, he admits that the GPS has black spots at my home and it is indeed faulty. Hmmm why was I violated the 1st time? So that I could be sent to CCFS? I have phone records and witnesses showing that I was where I was supposed to be during these alerts that he counted against me. But no one listens to a sex offender. 
P.S. – I really want to fight this and somehow get out of CCFS and into another reputable sex offender treatment program in the DC metro area. This CCFS group is way too controversial and seems like a one-way street back to jail for me. In the meantime, because I have not “passed” my 2 sexual history polygraphs, I must continue to live with the following restrictions for the past year:
•      9pm curfew
•      Unable to visit elderly parents who live in state but outside of my travel restriction
•      Probation violation threats
•      Refusal to progress me in treatment (eventhough I cry for help for my addiction it is refused due to polygraphs)
•      Weekly payments and monthly payments for polygraphs = beaucoup $$$ (it is bad enough we can’t get jobs with this conviction and now we have to pay our little bit of money to polygraphs
•      Continuing with the faulty GPS that gives false alerts nightly at my house because of lost signal and deprives me of sleep several days a week. These complaints go ignored by my PO. He says it’s a “nuisance” but I’m more concerned with public safety.
I could go on with this list but I will stop here.
I AM SEEKING AN ATTORNEY THAT WILL AT LEAST FIGHT FOR ME TO BE PLACED IN AN ALTERNATIVE SEX OFFENDER PROGRAM IN THE AREA THAT IS TRULY THERE TO HELP ME AND MY ADDICTION AND NOT TO JUST LINE THEIR POCKETS. I WANT HELP BUT THIS CCFS PROGRAM IS NOT WHAT I CONSIDER HELP. LIVING WITH THESE RESTRICTIONS OVER THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN VERY TOUGH AND I CAN ONLY GROW FRUSTRATED KNOWING THAT I AM NO FURTHER ALONG THAN I WAS A YEAR AGO.


Your comments are welcome and legal advice is even more welcome,

An Anonymous Subject