Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

["Cathy Nardo" <>]

________________________________

 

Please Distribute Widely:  Survey on Polygraphing of Sexual Assault
Victims

 

Dear Victim Service Professionals, 

 

As implementation of the new provisions in the Violence Against Women
Act (VAWA) begins, we are developing materials to help you address these
changes across the country.  

 

One particular issue that we are interested in is the polygraphing of
sexual assault victims.  Since the practice and policy in regards to
polygraphing varies from region to region, we would like to learn more
about your experiences on the front lines.    We hope to gain
information about trends and promising practices for legislative and
professional responses.  Please help us by taking our brief survey
regarding victim polygraphing in your community.  

 

The survey is available online at
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=964012968052 ;

 

The survey will close on February 2, 2007, but please forward any
relevant information or questions about polygraphing of victims to

 at any time. 

 

Information gathered from this survey will be published in a Technical
Assistance Guide on the topic in early 2007. 

 

 

For your information, we have included at the end of this email the
portion of the new VAWA which prohibits polygraph exams of victims as a
condition for proceeding with the investigation of a sexual assault.
This prohibition impacts STOP and GTEAP grant programs.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

National Alliance to End Sexual Violence 

National Center for Victims of Crime 

National Sexual Violence Resource Center

 

 

(g) POLYGRAPH TESTING PROHIBITION.*Part T of title I of the Omnibus
Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C.3796gg et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following:

 

''SEC. 2013. POLYGRAPH TESTING PROHIBITION.

 

''(a) IN GENERAL.*In order to be eligible for grants under this part, a
State, Indian tribal government, territorial government, or unit of
local government shall certify that, not later than 3 years after the
date of enactment of this section, their laws, policies, or practices
will ensure that no law enforcement officer, prosecuting officer or
other government official shall ask or require an adult, youth, or child
victim of an alleged sex offense as defined under Federal, tribal,
State, territorial, or local law to submit to a polygraph examination or
other truth telling device as a condition for proceeding with the
investigation of such an offense.

 

''(b) PROSECUTION.*The refusal of a victim to submit to an examination
described in subsection (a) shall not prevent the investigation,
charging, or prosecution of the offense.''.

 

 


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