EVALUATION OF DANGEROUSNESS - PROBLEM FOR PSYCHIATRY PRESENTATION OF PAPER (FROM DANGEROUS OFFENDER PREDICTION AND ASSESSMENT - PROCEEDINGS OF A SEMINAR, 1977 - SEE NCJ-49606)

• NCJ Number: 49610
• Author(s): W E LUCAS
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 3 pages
• Corporate Author: Sydney University
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

SUMMARY OF A PAPER ON THE STEPS INVOLVED IN A CLINICAL APPROACH TO ASSESSING THE LIKELIHOOD OF A PERSON'S EXHIBITING DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR IS PRESENTED.

Abstract

IT IS ACCEPTED THAT PSYCHIATRY HAS NOT AND PROBABLY WILL NOT ANY TIME SOON DEVELOP AN OBJECTIVE SCIENTIFIC PROCEDURE FOR PREDICTING DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR. STILL, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS REQUIRED TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT FOCUS UPON THE RISK OF AN OFFENDER ENGAGING IN DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR. UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, THE MOST THOROUGH CLINICAL APPROACH POSSIBLE IS RECOMMENDED FOR INVESTIGATING AN OFFENDER'S POTENTIAL FOR DANGEROUSNESS. IT IS INDICATED THAT A PSYCHIATRIST NEEDS TO BE AWARE THAT MANY FACTORS MAY AFFECT HIS JUDGMENT ABOUT A PARTICULAR CLIENT: AN UNFORTUNATE EXPERIENCE IN THE RELEASE OF OTHER PERSONS; THE POLICY OF THE INSTITUTION; AND THE POLICY OF THE RELEASING AUTHORITIES. IN ADDITION TO DOCUMENTATION OF THE CLIENT'S BACKGROUND FROM MANY SOURCES, THE CLIENT HIMSELF IS CONSIDERED PRIMARY IN PROVIDING INFORMATION AND ATTITUDES ABOUT PAST AND POSSIBLE FUTURE BEHAVIOR. WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT EVEN WITH HIS BEST EFFORTS THE PSYCHIATRIST WILL NOT ARRIVE AT A CLEAR ASSESSMENT OF DANGEROUSNESS IN AN INDIVIDUAL, A CAREFUL ASSESSMENT IS CONSIDERED TO ENABLE HIM TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT MAY REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF FUTURE DANGEROUS CONDUCT. (RCB)