Abstract
Law and Human Behavior, Vol. 22, No. 4, 1998 Thomas Mathiesen I am grateful for Dr. Webster's response to my article, and would like to add the following few words. Dr. Webster is right when arguing that central researchers "early drove home the point that inordinate numbers of persons were being de- tained in hospitals unnecessarily and on the basis of highly inadequate and unfair clinical and administrative procedures." This is entirely in line with what I wrote: "To be...
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Law and Human Behavior, Vol. 22, No. 4, 1998 Thomas Mathiesen I am grateful for Dr. Webster's response to my article, and would like to add the following few words. Dr. Webster is right when arguing that central researchers "early drove home the point that inordinate numbers of persons were being de- tained in hospitals unnecessarily and on the basis of highly inadequate and unfair clinical and administrative procedures." This is entirely in line with what I wrote: "To be sure, in the beginning, say, 15 years ago, there was concern in research circles over prediction studies, from the point of view of accuracy as well as ethics." My point is that this concern has been diverted into a quest for more accurate predictions, and to optimism on behalf of the quest despite the insignificant gains and low correlations which have been obtained. Dr. Webster confirms the diversion in the following words: "what is the point in urging us to give up our gradually increasing proficiency in prediction and undertaking the task of advocating whole- sale reductions in the size of general prison populations?" Psychologically, the diversion is understandable. Politically, it is not. For one thing, correlations on the
Law and Human Behavior – Springer Journals
Published: Oct 14, 2004
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