Assessing Dangerousness

Book excerpt: Research and clinical expertise are brought together in this practical volume to examine whether the following violence can be predicted : battered women being killed by their partners; battered women killing their partners; children being physically and/or sexually abused; and sexual offenders and batterers re-offending. Following an introduction to theoretical and clinical issues involved in the prediction of violence, the contributors present research and theory in language that is accessible to clinicians. They discuss accurate measurement using tested instruments, the role of clinical observations, and health and judicial implications.