The Perils of Risk Assessment

The article considers how social solidarity has changed over the long march of human history. The distinction that the author Emile Durkheim makes between mechanical and organic solidarity is summarized. In his book "Suicide," Durkheim's pessimism about modern society was fueled by data which indicated that social pathologies were occurring at higher rates in metropolitan communities. The application of postmodern interpretations to the criminal justice arena, especially in terms of the practice of reducing risk via the development of risk assessment tools is illustrated.