What is Danger to Society?
A person is a danger to society when they are likely to commit acts that would result in significant harm to the community, such as murder, drug trafficking, or cybercrime.
Example
A man is arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. While he is in jail, he attacks corrections officers and is verbally abusive to other prisoners. This man is a danger to society, as he has a propensity towards violent acts that cause serious harm to the community.
Case Examples:
- Prisoners: When considering whether a prisoner should be released on parole, one of the factors a parole board examines is whether the prisoner poses a danger to society. See Flores v. Hartley, No. 1:10-CV-00032, 2010 WL 3448603, at *4 (E.D. Cal. Sept. 1, 2010). The factors that determine whether the inmate is a danger to society include whether the inmate has a juvenile record, whether they have stable relationships with others, whether they have shown remorse, the nature of their crime, their plans for their future, their motivation for committing the crime, their behavior while in prison, and their age. Id.
- Immigration: The Attorney General has the right to deny any immigrant entry into the United States who has been convicted of a violent or dangerous crime and is therefore considered a danger to society. See Peulic v. Garland, 22 F.4th 340, 347 (1st Cir. 2022).
Further Reading
For more detailed information, see our related Criminal Law terms:
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