Polygraph Tests
Mar 19, 2019
Brian Martin
Polygraph Tests


 

Brian Martin grew up in San Jose, Ca, moving to Chico in 1991 to attend Butte College and then Chico State, graduating in 1996. He returned to the Bay Area to complete his Master’s and Doctorate.  After completing his graduate programs, he, along with another Therapist, opened New Beginnings in Chico.  New Beginnings was initially formed to provide counseling and educational services to court mandated clients in Butte and surrounding counties.  Initially, the primarily focus was on defendants convicted of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse / Child Endangerment.  In time, the focus expanded to include, Anger Management, Addiction and Sexual Offending clients.  As now the sole owner and Administrator of New Beginnings Counseling Centers in Chico (and 8 surrounding cities) Brian and his staff work with over 600 clients each week.  Additionally, Brian also specializes in the treatment of sexual addictions and sexual disfunctions.  Brian has been a Certified Sex Offender Treatment Specialist for over 10 years and a Certified Forensic Psychophysiologist (Polygrapher) since 2011.  Brian is also trained and certified in many other areas as well, including, EMDR, PPG, Anger Management, Psych Testing and Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT).

In 2011 Following the enactment of Chelsea’s Law, California began to mandate all Parolees (and most Probationers) being supervised for most sex crime convictions be directed to mandatory Sex Offender Treatment (SOT) including polygraph.  The law requires a specific type of polygraph known as Post Conviction Sex Offender Treatment known as “PSOT polygraph” generally twice each year while in treatment.  Currently New Beginnings administers approximately 40 PSOT polygraphs each month.  Since it became mandatory in California, polygraph has become an integral part of successful Sex Offender Treatment.   This work requires meaningful collaboration between the Supervising Authority (usually Probation or Parole), the Polygrapher, and the Treatment Provider.

Presenters Note - This presentation will focus on the role of polygraph in Sex Offender treatment.  I will give non-identifying examples of its use and limitations.  Public employees (ie Law enforcement) and those who may, at some point take a polygraph, may not want to be present for this presentation as it may limit their ability to benefit from polygraph in the future.  Also, though I will try to limit the discomfort inherent in the discussion of the treatment of sex offenders, some members may find the topic objectionable.