Dangerousness, Risk and Technologies of Power

Abstract

This paper provides a critical examination of the prevalence of dangerous offender legislation in modern criminal justice systems. The debate about this has been dominated by issues of ethics and effectiveness. Here, though, I want to examine the significance of this legislation and some of the theoretical issues that this raises. This involves discussion of the way in which ‘dangerousness’ as a social construct has changed historically and similarly the mode of its calibration. Ultimately, the dangerousness legislation today involves the use of a largely unnoticed strategy of control — actuarialism; and seems more likely to have an effect on the behaviour of potential victims of crime rather than dangerous offenders themselves.