ABSTRACT
Psychiatrists and other mental health professionals are often asked to assess an individual’s dangerousness, whether in the context of a forensic or treatment relationship. Laws concerning dangerousness flow from the state’s police powers in an attempt to promote public safety. As a result of a myriad of laws, dangerousness evaluations can be encountered in a variety of clinical or legal situations. Of critical importance is the application of a legal dangerousness standard that preserves due process.
