1 Dangerousness and the dangerous offender 1
Introduction 1
Existing definitions 1
Historical and sociological constructions of the dangerous offender 3
Current constructions of the dangerous offender 7
Conclusion 11
2 Sentencing policy and dangerousness legislation 13
Introduction 13
Early dangerousness laws 13
Current legislation and policy 19
Discussion 26
Efficacy 31
Conclusion 32
3 From dangerousness to risk and risk assessment 33
Introduction 33
Risk and its importance in penal practice 33
The assessment of risk 35
Methods of risk assessment 36
Problems with risk assessment 40
Current risk-assessment tools 42
Conclusion 50
4 The use of imprisonment 51
Introduction 51
Sentences of the court 51
Prison categorisation 52
Serving a life sentence 53
The high-security estate 55
Close supervision centres 56
Therapeutic communities 60
Release and recall 71
Conclusion 77
5 Strategies of risk management 78
Introduction 78
The use of registers 78
Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements 87
Polygraph testing 91
Satellite tracking technology 95
Civil orders 98
Conclusion 104
6 Strategies of risk reduction 106
Introduction 106
Psychotherapy 106
Surgical interventions 117
Pharmacotherapy 118
Restorative justice techniques 123
Conclusion 128
7 Women offenders 130
Introduction 130
The prevalence of dangerous women offenders 130
Views and perceptions 132
Risk assessment 134
Imprisonment 138
Risk-reduction strategies 146
Conclusion 150
8 Children and young people 151
Introduction 151
Prevalence 151
Welfare versus punishment 152
Sentencing policy 155
The age of criminal responsibility 157
Youth court 159
Available sentences 162
Risk assessment 165
The juvenile secure estate 167
Risk-management strategies 176
Risk-reduction strategies 177
Conclusion 179
9 Mentally disordered offenders 180
Introduction 180
Definition, prevalence and public perceptions 180
Criminal justice issues 184
Sentencing policy 186
Risk assessment 189
High-secure hospitals 190
Release 192
Risk-management strategies 194
Risk-reduction strategies 195
Conclusion 205
Notes 206
References 209
Index 237