Ariz. agency backs off plan to record parents accused of abuse

PHOENIX — Arizona’s child-welfare agency has backed off its plan to allow for secret recordings of adults suspected of child abuse.

The policy allows investigators in the Department of Child Service’s Office of Child Welfare Investigations to covertly use a computer voice stress analyzer in certain situations, 12 News (KPNX-TV) reported.

Agency spokeswoman Cynthia Weiss said the policy is being “rescinded.”

“We have been looking at this policy and intend to rescind the portion of the policy relative to covert use of a CVSA exam. Although conducting ‘covert’ CVSA’s was initially discussed and entered into the CVSA policy, it was later decided that covert CVSA’s would not be conducted.”

She said no secret recordings have been made.

Promotional material for the computer voice stress analyzer calls it a “non-invasive” way to learn information, but there is little research into the effectiveness of the program.

Family law attorney Gregg Woodnick said DCS is effectively performing polygraphs on people without their consent.

Jennifer Kupiszewski, an attorney and former assistant attorney general, called the policy “shocking.”

“You have an agency that is conducting covert interviews and they may have their children,” she said. “How do you trust that agency to work with you, to take care of your children?”

Kupiszewski said the policy backs up claims she has hear from parents.

“They say they feel bullied or threatened, and they definitely have expressed that they felt like DCS is not honest with them during the investigation process,” she said. “This would indicate that maybe there is some merit to those claims.”