NCJ Number
154554
Journal
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology Volume: 28 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1995) Pages: 3-31
Date Published
1995
Length
29 pages
Annotation
The prevalence of dangerous offender legislation in modern criminal justice systems is examined, with emphasis on its significance and some of the theoretical issues it raises.
Abstract
The concept of dangerousness currently appears to be one of the most prevalent themes in criminal codes in English-speaking countries. Recent legislation in Victoria, Australia; Canada; New Zealand; and Washington State provide examples. These laws reflect the way in which the right to life has been progressively both cherished and put at risk in modern Western societies in recent times. However, the legislation has more symbolic than real effects; it reflects not only the abhorrence of what is regarded as the most reprehensible behavior but also what the government is prepared to do to protect its citizens from such behavior. Ultimately, this legislation involves the use of actuarialism, a largely unnoticed strategy of control. This strategy marks an important shift away from the tactics of discipline and surveillance in the regulation and control of crime and deviance. However, it seems more likely to have an effect on the behavior of potential crime victims rather than dangerous offenders themselves. Notes and 83 references (Author abstract modified)