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Dangerousness is the likelihood to commit physical or emotional harm to surrounding people. It is a term used within the United States criminal justice system in order to determine decisions on parole, criminal sentencing, and bail based off of the threat posed to society by the offender in question.

--Berson.g (talk) 04:22, 19 March 2014 (UTC)

Elements of dangerousness
There are various factors and questions that come into play when deciding upon the dangerousness of a specific offender, listed below are four of the main factors that contribute to a person's dangerousness

1. Community Ties- Law enforcement examines the relationship with the community. They must determine the reaction of the community if an offender is to be released back into their society. If they are going to be shunned upon returning or accepted as a contributing member to the community plays a large role in deciding the dangerousness of a person. Also, the relationship that previously existed will give judicial officials an understanding of their social standing and if they were a positive or negative contributor to the society. For example, an offender who was convicted of drunk driving, but was at the soup kitchen every morning will be looked at more favorably than an offender who never participated in community service.

2. Family Situation- Many convicted offenders have families that depend on them for income and survival. If the offender had been successfully contributing to the well-being of a family, whether financially or physically, they are looked at as less dangerous. If a person has a family, it is not a situation that can go unrecognized. As a single mother of six, it may be worth putting her on probation in order to take care of her kids, in hopes that she can attempt to provide for her family both financially, physically and emotionally.

3. Peers- Court officials will examine in depth the company that an offender keeps. They will look to see if they are hanging out with other criminals while outside of prison, a mix of criminals and good samaritans, or all good samaritans. The answer to this question is extremely important as it reveals where the offender may go back to if he is released early in many cases,. If his peers consist of convicted felons then it may not be wise to release him. Peers are highly linked to recidivism. When an offender is released to other offenders, they are consistently more likely to end up back in the judicial system than those that do not.

4. Prior Record- The prior record of an offender plays the largest role in understanding the dangerousness? If the prior record is full of convictions, specifically violent, it gives reason to not be lenient. When looking at prior record, the courts will look for any sort of patterns that would suggest recidivism. The prior record serves as an inside look to the offender in question that can reveal a bad, but also good side depending on the record. If the prior records shows that the offense may have been an isolated incident, it will be helpful to the offender throughout the judicial process.

Interviewing Dangerousness
The above points show how Law Enforcement will look at dangerousness in forming their own opinions on an offender. In some cases, they will assign a professional interviewer. This professional interviewer will ask a set of standard questions and through statistical analyses it will be determined if their level of dangerousness should allow them back into society, or if they currently need more time in the judicial system.

--Berson.g (talk) 04:22, 19 March 2014 (UTC)

Usage In Law
Below is an example of dangerousness being used in a law setting. The dangerousness of the offender is thought of in a negative tone in this case and results in harsh treatment of the offender. Massachusetts law is the example here because

Massachusetts Law: General Laws Chapter 276: Section 58A: Section 58A. (1) The commonwealth may move, based on dangerousness, for an order of pretrial detention or release on conditions for a felony offense that has as an element of the offense the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against the person of another or any other felony that, by its nature, involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person of another may result, including the crimes of burglary and arson whether or not a person has been placed at risk thereof, or a violation of an order pursuant to section 18, 34B or 34C of chapter 208, section 32 of chapter 209, section 3, 4 or 5 of chapter 209 A or section 15 or 20 of chapter 209C, or arrested and charged with a misdemeanor or felony involving abuse as defined in section 1 of said chapter 209A or while an order of protection issued under said chapter 209A was in effect against such person, an offense for which a mandatory minimum term of 3 years or more is prescribed in chapter 94C, arrested and charged with a violation of section 13B of chapter 268 or a third or subsequent conviction for a violation of section 24 of chapter 90, or arrested and charged with a violation of paragraph (a), (c) or (m) of section 10 of chapter 269; provided, however, that the commonwealth may not move for an order of detention under this section based on possession of a large capacity feeding device without simultaneous possession of a large capacity weapon; or arrested and charged with a violation of section 10G of said chapter 269.

See also: