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Abstract

Until an alternative is developed to replace the notion of dangerousness, most involuntary treatment acts will continue to be based upon this concept. In the criminal justice system, there remains a high interest to release "non-dangerous" individuals. Although some methodologies are provided in the form of large-scale actuarial reports, these do not help the individual clinician on a case-by-case basis. Apart from administrative approaches to designating and releasing dangerous persons, the clinician must rely on the case study method, remaining accountable even with attendant problems with validity, reliability, and appropriateness. An ill-founded and unwarranted conclusion on the part of the clinician as a result of faulty methodology may find him/her in litigation with little ability to defend a chosen approach. The purpose of this paper is to provide the clinician a methodology in responding to the individual case analysis when asked to assess dangerousness.

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A Clinical Strategy to the Assessment of Dangerousness

Abstract

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