Law and Risk

The study and practice of risk analysis, risk management, and thecommunication of risk has been the subject of heated debates. This isno less so when law is added to the mix. Despite the law’sconstant search for certainty, the concept of risk itself is inherentlyuncertain. From the precautionary principle to the role of researchethics boards, risk remains a value-laden term, difficult to define andeven more difficult to address.

This book looks at law and risk in a variety of contexts andprovides insight into how courts use and interpret risk and how the lawallocates risk, as well as examining the regulation of riskyactivities. To demonstrate the linkages between law and risk, theessays tackle some difficult topics, including dangerous offenders, sexoffender notification, drug courts, genetic research, pesticide use,child pornography, and tobacco advertising.

This careful consideration of whether the law adequately andappropriately responds to risk will be of interest to students andscholars of law and the social sciences, as well as to lawpractitioners and lawmakers.