THE PREDATOR WITHIN

Scientists are researching the psychosocial aspects of the most dangerous criminal type--the violent predator. While representing only 10% of all U.S. criminals, the violent predator commits 50% of all violent crime. The typical violent predator started his criminal career before age 16. During the 1-2 year period before incarceration the predator commits robbery and assault and deals in drugs at a much higher rate than the "average" felon or those criminals who specialize in such crimes. They are also heavy drug users. Official records, however, rarely contain information necessary to identify the violent predator partly because it must come from protected juvenile records and partly because it is not recorded. In an effort to develop a more efficient system of sentencing criminals, researchers have developed a model that could use available criminal records and prison self-reports to reduce crime by imprisoning the violent predator for longer periods than less active criminals. This model, it is claimed, helps selective incapacitation and has the potential to produce better results for society than current sentencing methods. Although some officials oppose selective incapacitation, others support it together with continued intensive research into criminal behavior.

• Corporate Authors:

  Alliance of American Insurers

  20 North Wacker Drive
  Chicago, IL  United States  60606
• Publication Date: 1983

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: p. 1-5
• Serial:
  • JOURNAL OF AMERICAN INSURANCE
  • Issue Number: 2

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crimes; Penalties; Psychological aspects; Research
• Subject Areas: Law; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00386842
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-036 288
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 30 1984 12:00AM