NCJ Number
199992
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 72 Issue: 4 Dated: April 2003 Pages: 16-22
Date Published
April 2003
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article examines the concept of lethal predators and explores ways of keeping these criminals confined to prison.
Abstract
Lethal predators are a small subpopulation of violent offenders who are likely to continue acts of violence upon release from prison. Currently, there is no uniform way of identifying predators who should be kept confined because of their propensity to kill and torture future victims if allowed to go free. The authors describe lethal predators as “deliberate, sadistic, and often highly intelligent.” They express no remorse or guilt about their acts of violence although they know right from wrong and are therefore, not legally insane. They authors offer four elements that define a lethal predator: lethal violence, multiple acts of sexual predation, mental abnormality, and legal sanity. All four elements must be present for a violent offender to be considered a lethal predator. Unfortunately, even when all four elements are present, lethal predators, as a result of their cunning nature, often serve prison terms that are far less severe than their crimes call for. As such, it is likely that such predators will be released from prison and kill again. This undermines the publics’ trust in governmental agencies. The authors assert that it is imperative to identify lethal predators in order to keep them confined in prisons to ensure the publics’ safety. The criminal justice system, in concert with mental health professionals, legislators, and the public, must find ways of identifying these lethal predators and removing them from society for good.