DANGEROUS OFFENDER - PREDICTION AND ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS OF A SEMINAR

• NCJ Number: 49606
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 69 pages
• Corporate Author: Sydney University
• Sale Source: New South Wales
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: SEMINAR WAS AT THE STATE OFFICE BLOCK, SYDNEY, JULY 20, 1977

Annotation

PAPERS PRESENTED DISCUSS THE STRUCTURE AND THE RELIABILITY OF MAKING PREDICTIONS OF DANGEROUSNESS IN THE CONTEXT OF RELEASE DECISIONMAKING IN INDETERMINATE SENTENCES; A COMMENTARY IS INCLUDED.

Abstract

ONE OF THE PAPERS PRESENTED DEVELOPS A GENERAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF THE NOTION OF DANGEROUSNESS AND OF THE SO-CALLED DANGEROUS OFFENDER. IT IS ARGUED THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR A THOROUGH EXAMINATION OF EXISTING AUSTRALIAN LAW AND PRACTICE TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT TO WHICH RESORT TO DECISIONMAKING BASED ON PREDICTIONS OF DANGEROUSNESS CREATES ILL-CONCEIVED AND UNWARRANTED LEGAL CONTROLS. A SECOND PAPER MAINTAINS THAT PRESENTLY NO PREDICTIVE TOOLS EXIST THAT CAN REASONABLY ASSESS THE LIKELIHOOD OF FUTURE DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR FROM A GIVEN INDIVIDUAL, AND THAT DECISIONMAKING POLICY IN THE AREA OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE MUST TAKE THIS FACT INTO ACCOUNT. THE CLINICAL PROBLEMS CONFRONTED BY THE PSYCHIATRIST IN PREDICTING DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR ARE DISCUSSED, AND THE ROLE OF THE PSYCHIATRIST IN THIS CONTEXT IN THE DECISIONMAKING POLICIES OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS CONSIDERED. COMMENTARY BY PERSONS OF RELEVANT EXPERTISE IS GIVEN ON THE PAPERS PRESENTED. (RCB)