tag | risk assessment

In 2010, the state panel worked on an algorithm, a formula, that would allow a computer to predict how likely a person was to commit another crime and recommend when judges should get more information about a case.

A state commission that creates sentencing policy for Pennsylvania’s criminal courts is approving a new risk-assessment formula to help judges determine which defendants aren’t likely to be violent reoffenders, but critics say it’s based on discriminatory data and could expand prison ranks.