THE DANGER OF AUTOMATING CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Advocates in Philadelphia say a new tool to assist judges in sentencing could perpetuate bias.
“Over the course of three hours, 25 people testified during the public comment period against a risk assessment instrument proposed by the state’s Commission on Sentencing. All 25 argued that the tool, based on an algorithm, would perpetuate racial bias in criminal sentencing. A similar hearing was held a week later in Pennsylvania’s capital, Harrisburg, and again there were no supporters among those who testified.”