Are Risk Assessment Algorithms Fair, or Racist?

Summary

This script discusses how the US criminal justice system employs algorithms to forecast criminal behavior, aiming to reduce prison populations while ensuring public safety. Algorithms, akin to Netflix's recommendation system, analyze factors like age, criminal history, and education to predict recidivism. Despite their potential to alleviate mass incarceration, these tools are controversial due to concerns about perpetuating racial biases and inaccuracies in predictions.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The US has a high incarceration rate, with a disproportionate number of people of color imprisoned.
• 💰 High prison rates are costly and contribute to racial inequalities.
• 🔍 There's a push from both political parties to reduce prison populations while maintaining public safety.
• 💻 Law enforcement is using computer algorithms to help with this effort.
• 🎥 Algorithms are formulas used for various purposes, like predicting movie preferences on Netflix.
• 🔮 Risk assessment tools in the justice system predict the likelihood of reoffending.
• 👨‍⚖️ Parole boards consider various factors, including behavior and participation in prison programs, to decide parole.
• 🧠 Human biases can influence parole board decisions, which risk assessment tools aim to mitigate.
• 📊 These tools use data like age, criminal history, and education level to assess risk.
• 📈 Well-validated risk assessment tools often outperform professional opinion alone in predicting behavior.
• ⚖️ There are concerns that these tools could perpetuate racial biases present in the criminal justice system.
• 🔍 There is a call for more oversight and testing to understand the impact of these tools on racial disparities.

Q & A

What is the current state of mass incarceration in the United States?

In 2013, one out of every 110 adults in America were incarcerated, with a disproportionate number of people of color being imprisoned.

How does the racial disparity manifest in the U.S. prison system?

In 2010, black men were six times more likely to be behind bars than white men, indicating a significant racial disparity.

What is a parole hearing and why is it important?

A parole hearing is a process where a parole board, typically composed of former law enforcement professionals, decides if an inmate is ready for release. It's important for determining recidivism risk and public safety.

What role do computer algorithms play in the criminal justice system?

Computer algorithms, specifically risk assessment tools, are used to predict the likelihood of an individual reoffending, aiming to assist parole boards in making more informed decisions.

How do risk assessment tools function?

These tools use data such as age, criminal history, education level, and personal circumstances to predict recidivism. They compare an individual's responses to a database of past offenders to assess risk.

What are some potential biases that could affect parole board decisions?

Parole boards are made up of humans who may have personal biases that could influence their judgment on whether an individual will reoffend.

How do risk assessment tools compare to professional opinion in predicting behavior?

Research shows that well-validated risk assessment tools often outperform professional opinion alone in predicting recidivism.

What are the potential benefits of using risk assessment tools in the criminal justice system?

They could help reduce mass incarceration by keeping low-risk offenders out of prison or releasing them earlier, thus potentially winding down mass incarceration.

What are the controversies surrounding the use of risk assessment tools?

There are concerns that these tools might unintentionally perpetuate racial biases already present in the system, as they could be influenced by factors like arrest rates which disproportionately affect certain racial groups.

Why is it important to have oversight and testing for risk assessment tools?

Oversight and testing are crucial to ensure that the algorithms are fair, unbiased, and effective, and to understand their impact on racial disparities within the criminal justice system.

What are some of the questions that the script raises for further discussion?

The script raises questions about the accuracy and fairness of predictive algorithms, the potential for racial bias, and the need for transparency and regulation in their use within the criminal justice system.