Crime and punishment are both accompanied by a great deal of uncertainty. Offenders often decide on targets without knowing whether their victims will resist or retaliate. Potential victims make guesses about how to avoid becoming targets, and must quickly choose how to respond if they guess wrong. Witnesses need to consider the consequences for their own safety and social relations if they cooperate with law enforcement officials. Police officers make judgments about the likelihood of contraband recovery when deciding on a stop or search, and about the danger to themselves and others when contemplating the use of force. Prosecutors and defense attorneys won der about the inclinations of potential jurors when choosing whom to strike from the jury pool. Jurors make up their minds about whether laws were broken without ever hearing complete stories. And judges and parole boards are often expected to estimate what crimes a defendant might commit in the future if permitted to be free. All of these decisions are made deep in the shadows of doubt.