Reconsidering the burden of proof in dangerous offender law: Canadian jurisprudence, risk assessment and Aboriginal offenders

Dangerous offender ("DO") legislation is not a new initiative in Canada. Parliament has made numerous attempts to label individuals who follow certain behavioral and offending patterns as "dangerous" to society and thus subject to specialized sentencing practices and preventative detention. The current legislation, found under Part XXIV of the 'Criminal Code', implements the broadest sentencing procedures that have been introduced in pursuit of public protection.