DANGEROUSNESS - FROM LEGAL DEFINITION TO THEORETICAL RESEARCH

Saleem Shah played a major role in the development of both policy and research concerning the prediction of dangerousness to others over two decades. During that period his commitment to the welfare of people w ith mental illness led him first to challenge the legitimacy of such p redictions and later to support research to improve them. His ideas we re central to most of the research that has been done in this area. Th is article suggests a direction for future research concerning the pre diction of dangerousness to others that elaborates and extends his thi nking by focusing on the research necessary to help individuals with m ental illnesses to minimize their involvement in violence.