This rejoinder responds to criticisms levied by Cunningham, Sorensen, and Reidy on the finding that death row inmates were significantly likely to commit acts of prison violence. We acknowledge two genuine errors in our study that could render the statistical finding spurious; however, Cunningham et al.’s response is ineffective in advancing the substantive issues pertaining to the future dangerousness of capital defendants. Although we respect future dangerousness as a legal doctrine and an area of research, it is ultimately a superfluous and largely academic topic that pales to other justifications for capital punishment.
Copas, J. B., & Tarling, R. (1986). Some methodological issues in making predictions. In A. Blumstein, J. Cohen, J. A. Roth, & C. A. Visher (Eds.), Criminal careers and “career criminals” (Vol. 2, pp. 291-313). Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
2.
Cunningham, M. D., & Reidy, T. J. (1999). Don’t confuse me with the facts: Common errors in violence risk assessment at capital sentencing. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 26, 20-43.
3.
Cunningham, M. D., Sorensen, J. R., & Reidy, T. J. (2004). Revisiting future dangerousness revisited: Response to DeLisi and Munoz. Criminal Justice Policy Review, 15, 365-376.
4.
DeLisi, M. (2001). Extreme career criminals. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 25, 239-252.
5.
DeLisi, M., & Munoz, E. A. (2003). Future dangerousness revisited. Criminal Justice Policy Review, 14, 287-305.
6.
Gendreau, P., Goggin, C. E., & Law, M. A. (1997). Predicting prison misconducts. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 24, 414-431.
7.
Gottfredson, S. D., & Gottfredson, D. M. (1986). Accuracy of prediction models. In A. Blumstein, J. Cohen, J. A. Roth, & C. A. Visher (Eds.), Criminal careers and “career criminals” (Vol. 2, pp. 212-290). Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
8.
Mathiesen, T. (1998). Selective incapacitation revisited. Law and Human Behavior, 22, 455-469.
9.
Webster, C. D. (1998). Comment on Thomas Mathiesen’s selective incapacitation revisited. Law and Human Behavior, 22, 471-476.
